Halloween Stories: Invitation > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

22 of 23 found this review helpful

Moody, Eerie and Very Detailed

PostedDecember 18, 2017

SparkleGlow100

fromOther Favorites: Spirit of Revenge-Unrecognized Master, Legacy-Mercy of the Gallows, Untold History-Descendant of the Sun, Dominic Crane 1 & 2.

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Match 3, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Harrowed Halls: Hell's Thistle Collector's Edition

(39)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Really enjoyed playing this game. When you've had enough of colorful bling and want some great graphics, with lots of detail, spooky lighting, and lots of realistic-looking items included,- then here's your answer. It's definitely a serious game, with scares here and there. The HOPS were interesting to look at, and the puzzles varied. There's lot's of rooms to explore and the story line and ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+21points

22of 23voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes22No1

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

24 of 27 found this review helpful

~~TRICK OR TREAT, A DECEPTIVE PLOT JANE AND JOE MUST DEFEAT!~~

PostedNovember 5, 2017

skullfun

fromIf only Bela Lugosi's Dead by Bauhaus were the soundtrack!!!

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Puzzle

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

What an exciting adventure to celebrate Halloween. The best party of the year is happening at Mrs. Blackwell's house or is it? What begins with a party invitation soon turns into a web of deceit. When orphans Jane Stone and Joe Benson arrive at the party Mrs. Blackwell and her ghoulish "beyonder" side kick kidnaps Joe and locks him in the bedroom. Seems Mrs. Blackwell promised Joe that if helped you (Jane Stone) get to the party, she would tell him who his birth parents are. Jane is part of an order called "seers" as were her parents. The "seers" devised a magic seal to prevent "beyonders" from reaching our world. There's only one problem, the magic seal can be reversed once a year and the "beyonders" have figured out a way to remove it! Now it's up to you Jane to figure out how to stop Mrs. Blackwell, save Joe and use your magic to save the day and escape Blackwell's dastardly plans. This tumultuous task will definitely be one party-goers will engage in and Elephant games have made it spooktacular!!! The heart-pounding music and the creepy ambient sounds also help increase the suspense of the game. Most of the HOP's offer a small interactive puzzle to solve. Don't forgot to look for the Morphing Object in each scene. More than worthy of a 5 star rating and a must-buy for me. Happy Halloween gamers!!! Show less

I recommend this game!

+21points

24of 27voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes24No3

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

4 of 4 found this review helpful

Good value!

PostedJuly 25, 2019

grunny50

fromFolsom, CA

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Playing this before buying it, and I'm into it ten minutes and ready to purchase! This is the kind of game I love to play: lots of puzzles and HO's, and none of the cinematic fluff that gets in the way of game play. Too many developers these days want to make movies and forget that this is a game website! Love this one, and glad to spend my money on it.

I recommend this game!

+4points

4of 4voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes4No0

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 2 found this review helpful

Another favorite of mine

PostedJuly 21, 2020

beauti77

fromSummerville SC

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Mahjong

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Story line and graphics are amazing. Game kept my attention and kept me thinking. I do own a few from this series and plan on getting more.

I recommend this game!

+2points

2of 2voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes2No0

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

10 of 21 found this review helpful

Terrific solitaire game!

PostedNovember 4, 2017

raydog

fromNew Jersey Shore

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Arcade & Action, Brain Teaser, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Large File, Mahjong, Marble Popper, Match 3, Puzzle, Strategy, Word

Current Favorite:

Jewel Match Twilight Solitaire

(29)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

This game is just wonderful! I finished it but now I am going back to get three stars on all the levels. You really need power ups to finish the higher levels. I also love the mahjong bonus levels too. The graphics are wonderful. The haunted castles that you build are just beautiful!

I recommend this game!

-1point

10of 21voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes10No11

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

8 of 20 found this review helpful

it was great

PostedOctober 31, 2017

Annamaria777

fromHerne,Germany

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

have very much fun wish it never ended

I recommend this game!

-4points

8of 20voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes8No12

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

4 / 5

33 of 37 found this review helpful

MARY, MARY, QUITE CONTRARY, THOSE BEYONDERS WILL MAKE US SING LIKE CANARIES!

PostedNovember 1, 2017

pennmom36

fromDoesn't everyone's car have a picture of the remote control plastered to the hatch window?

Top Reviewer
This "Top Reviewer" is one of our most frequent game reviewers. We think you'll trust what they have to say and find their reviews helpful and informative.
Top Reviewer

Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Phantasmat Collector's Edition

(100)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Halloween Stories is an awesome introductory game that I'll look forward to playing next year's release. It is a bit on the short side, offering only 3 chapters, but that doesn't bother me as long as it has a good plot, and this one certainly does. I agree with kerith90angel's statement that it would be nice if the devs would offer replayable videos as a standard option, or at least a play by play storyline journal to refer to. I too always wait for a good CE sale, and I usually don't finish playing the game until the SE is released, and by that time you usually forget many of the details. I highly recommend this game as a Collector's Edition because this is one of the few games that's truly CE worthy with Morphing Objects, Puzzle Fragments, and cleverly hidden spooky dolls. Here's a recap of my review to help you decide which version if either is right for you:

Haunted Hotel move over! This is the big leagues baby, and this will be an evening Jane and Joe will never forget, unless they die of course. Halloween costume, check. Huge pumpkin head mask, check. An extra pair of clean underwear, ugh, prolly not, but this looks like the most awesome Halloween costume party ever! That's because it's real, these guys are the real McCoy's, and these two orphans are in for an unforgettable evening, as they try desperately to find each other first, and then a way out, before the Beyonders do terrible beyonder things to them!

This is my favorite kind of game, filled with creepy Ninja dolls that climb the walls, evil sadistic looking clowns (I couldn't stop making the clown do his creepy eye laughing thing, I spent more time interacting with the weirdness than playing the game) Just when I thought this game was going to be the first game to push the limits of the horror genre games here at big fish, they backed off and added some pretty comical features. I'm pretty sure they weren't doing this intentionally, but for once I want to play a game that doesn't hold back, and I'm bettin' a game like that would skyrocket sales. I know a lot of people don't like dark games with things that go bump in the night, and I'm okay with glittery games filled with unicorns occasionally, but there's way more horror genre fans than not, otherwise there wouldn't be so many games like this offered. I say, make me show proof of age (cause I can double it!) and make me tremble with fear!

In the Collector's Edition version, there are Morphing Beyonders Objects to find in each scene, Album Picture Fragments to collect and assemble 4 eight piece puzzles, and 12 Rare Halloween themed Dolls to find.(love the dancing skeleton) I'm glad I don't have to hang on to them for real, everyone knows creepy dolls are always possessed just like Annabel!

Right at the get go, Joe suspiciously disappears, and come to find out, he's been taken hostage. Surely it will be difficult to find Joe in this huge mansion filled with things that go bump in the night, right? Oh look, here's your sign..Hostage This Way, written in blood...red paint. That was easier than I thought it was going to be! So once I find a map leading to THE very room I need to find, I decide to investigate my surroundings, while trying my best to be stealth like so as not to alert the Beyonders.

First things first, fix the broken wire to the lights so I can see, I'm sure a light won't alert the bad guys to use as a beacon to find me. (why are wires always on the outside of the wall, and always frayed in half just shy of the switch?) By this point, I've already removed the famous broken skeleton key from the door lock, found away to open the ole "trap door hidden under a rug with a missing handle, used a coin as a screwdriver, solved a mini game to open a ridiculously complicated purse lock, used a rag as a tourniquet to compress solid iron pipes, found and used a razor blade to find a hidden treasure inside a sewn up patch, and of course found and replaced every emblem ever made since the beginning of time, to open up every trinket box and hidden caches I've come across, and this is just the third room!

Moving on to the hostage situation, I enter an underground maze of complicated tunnels, most of which lead to a dead end. At one point did this lead somewhere? Did they scrap this passage mid-way during construction? It's a good thing I have a map to follow, don't all mansions come stock with a map? Did I mention there's a horseshoe shaped magnet just out of reach that I simply must have, because I need it to remove an important object inside a Spider cage? Did I mention the bars on the cage are so wide I could stick my hand through them, if it weren't being guarded by an attack steroid ridden spider? He's still just a spider, I'm pretty sure he can slip through the bars with no problem!

By now I've had several close encounters with a ghost who seems to just float back and forth, with seemingly no rhyme or reason, surely it's a trick? Finally I reach the bedroom where Joe is being held hostage, bummer, the door is locked with a keypad. It's a good thing the code is written on the glass next to the lock. (the keyword is glass, Joe could have easily busted the glass and escaped) In all fairness Joe's hands are bound with magic rope? It's okay though, he knows they hid the special Magic Knife in the same room he's in, he just doesn't know where??

In order to find this knife, I need to look for some anti-rust remover, this stuff impresses me more than a Magic rope does hands down. But wait, first I need to find a drawer pull because its missing one, and simply placing a new drawer pull on the opening always seems to do the trick! While I'm searching for a way to free Joe, I may as well place these fragments on the picture and do a little Hidden Object searching. Man, this picture suddenly does seem larger up close, it's so big I have to look at it in 5 different sections as I practically do a 360 degree panoramic viewing!

I'm totally exhausted at this point, this is a big house after all. On a serious note, although it sounds as if I was unimpressed with this game from my review, I'm not. Quite the opposite, I just like to look at unrealistic things with a sense of humor. I loved the creep factor, and even though all of the tasks are predictable and obvious, I still had a blast playing it, in fact I've already bought it!

The Collector's Edition mostly has a bunch of creepy dolls and clowns speaking Latin, Spiders and cobwebs, shadows and objects that come to life and some even jump out at you. It also has 8 Concept Art pictures, 8 Wallpapers, 4 Music Soundtracks, 24 Achievements to earn, a Secret Room, Collectible Fragments to assemble 4 Album pictures with 8 pieces each, 12 Collectible Halloween themed Doll Figurines, and Morphing Objects, enjoy the escape! Show less

I recommend this game!

+29points

33of 37voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes33No4

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

4 / 5

31 of 36 found this review helpful

Based on completed game

PostedOctober 31, 2017

kerith90angel

fromI've added a link to Shadows, Price For Our Sins- If you like the demo to Halloween Stories, chances are you'll like this other Halloween favorite of mine here @ BFG

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Expert

Current Favorite:

Shadows: Price for Our Sins

(95)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

For a Halloween themed game, this has a little something for everyone and I think it will appeal to both adults and children. The entire game felt more “old school” Elephant game….a compliment. The graphics were colorful, clean and clear on a larger monitor. There were enough cuts-scenes and character interaction to keep your interest the entire game. The HOS were detailed and well thought out-- I liked them all but these two stood out for me. Chapter 2, area Lobby, had one of my favorite TYPES of HOS where you put objects back into the scene. Also, the next HOS (also in Chapter 2), area dining room, slides through several screens and each one was more incredible than the next. It starts out with silhouette items (I prefer “shadow items” to silhouettes in general- only because often there are just too many options it could be) but it still played great.
Be sure to take the time and really look at all the fun objects on that dining room table. I commend Elephant, for their great sense of humor!
The amount of time and effort the DEV used to think through everything the player sees in this game is obvious but as others have stated, this game is short.
I bought the CE to this game and put more details about the bonus play & extras under that page for those that may prefer more information about that version.
The SE portion of the game took me 2hr28min
The CE bonus play took me 1hr
TOTAL GAMEPLAY with CE bonus play was 3hr28min
(Timed gameplay on custom mode, at an average pace, play all the HOPs, and try then skip any MG I get frustrated with so it may take you a little more or less.)
There is no diary; and no way to review the cut-scenes in this one. I would just love if the DEVs would include a summary of each chapter & incorporate the cut-scenes into it. Because quite often I will play a demo-wait for a sale, play other games, then resume the game where I left off once I’ve bought it. But due to that lapse of time I've forgotten the story. So it would be so appreciated if that came standard in a game.
I seemed to have a love/hate feeling for this game at the midway point of chapter 3. I say this because I really loved the demo, chapter 2, most of chapter 3 but it takes a turn from whimsical Halloween to a weird, dark, portal fantasy world. A few scenes are revised-repeated too by the end Chapter 3. I absolutely loved the intro scenes of the demo, and on in to the festive party but wished we’d actually played in the room with the party and colorful party-goers and had more scenes like that. The game picked up with a great end cut-scene and I really liked how the main game ended. The SE end is not reliant on the CE play.
Elephant is so much better lately with the amount of time the inventory items are carried so you tend to remember where they go in this game. I loved that you usually used an item in the room next to the pick-up and/or just a quick glance at the task map to see where to go quickly (plus any puzzle pcs. you may have missed). I also liked being able to see, at a glance, where most the items went, without having to open the smaller frames.
IF YOU LIKED THIS DEMO/GAME- Here are some others I thought that were similar, or fun to play around Halloween.
1. Shadows: Price for our Sins (2013, a HOPA that also has a Halloween Party, beautiful graphics— and so fun. I usually replay it once a year). I'll add a link to it......................
2. Fright CE- (2014) you play in autumn like areas, with live actors, it’s an all-time favorite of mine. 3. League of Light- Wicked Harvest (2014)
4. Witches Legacy: Covered by the Night (2017)
5. Evil Pumpkin The Lost Halloween (2014)
Scarier Type HOPA to play at Halloween:
1. Maze: Subject 360 (2015)
2. True Fear: Forsaken Soul (2014)
3. Phantasmat: The Dread of Oakville (2015- The end of SE is scary! Scary great…)
My favorite matches 3’s at Halloween are:
Queen’s Garden Halloween, Jewel Match Twilight, & Spooky Bonus

I hope this helps someone, and Happy Halloween!
Many thanks to BFG & Elephant Games,
I will replay this for sure + can’t wait for the next one Show less

I recommend this game!

+26points

31of 36voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes31No5

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

4 / 5

8 of 9 found this review helpful

Entertaining HOP just shy of greatness

PostedNovember 26, 2017

ninja226

fromwichita, KS

Key Contributor
This "Key Contributor" plays, rates, and reviews a lot of games. We think you'll trust their thoughts and opinions about games.
Key Contributor

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

You're invited to a Halloween party taking place at a haunted house mansion, and quickly discover the party is more than you bargained for with your friend kidnapped by a sinister woman named Mary. As you attempt to rescue your friend, you discover you are part of the Seers....dum dum dum

The graphics should please those who like Halloween horror, without being overly gruesome or bloody. ...Show more

The graphics should please those who like Halloween horror, without being overly gruesome or bloody. However, it is not a pretty, pretty type of graphics.

The storyline is excellent, but the standard version leaves you wanting for more, and the ending is somewhat abrupt, perhaps deliberately.

The best part of the game are the puzzles, which range from easy, peasy to moderately challenging, but not exasperatingly hard. There's a good balance of HOPs to puzzles, about 1:1 ratio. Actions to take are easy to intuit, which enhances the detective mode of the game, and for me, makes it super fun to play.

I would have given 5 stars if the story for the SE were more complete/longer, but the series is off to an excellent start. Show less

I recommend this game!

+7points

8of 9voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes8No1

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

4 / 5

15 of 21 found this review helpful

Too Short

PostedOctober 31, 2017

LaTusita

fromWinnipeg, Canada

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Puzzle, Word

Current Favorite:

Campfire Legends: The Last Act

(13)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I had fun playing Halloween Stories: Invitation. Yes, you have to suspend logic in your brain, but it is a game. However, it is Very, Very Short and I think anyone who buys the SE will be disappointed. I am not as fast a player as many in the Pond due to real life getting in the way of fun time, so I was anticipating Halloween day to be long gone before I finished the game. Not so. There are only ...Show more

I recommend this game!

+9points

15of 21voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes15No6

Flagged as inappropriate.

1-10 of 22 Reviews prev 1 2 3 next>>

Browse by Genre:

Browse by Genre:

Halloween Stories: Invitation

Reviews

Halloween Stories: Invitation

, share your thoughts about this game!

Halloween Stories: Invitation

Heres what your review will look like once it’s posted.

Click Submit if you’re happy. Your review should appear soon. To make changes, use the Edit or Cancel buttons.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this game!

You’ve already shared your thoughts about this game.

Thanks for submitting the review below.


	, share your thoughts about this game! Halloween Stories: Invitation Trick or treat... Heres what your review will look like once it’s posted. Click Submit if you’re happy. Your review should appear soon. To make changes, use the Edit or Cancel buttons. Thanks for sharing your thoughts about this game! You’ve already shared your thoughts about this game. Thanks for submitting the review below.