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

Overall rating

5 / 5

56 of 63 found this review helpful

A TOTALLY CREEPY AND SCARY HALLOWEEN STORY

PostedNovember 9, 2018

biscuitsmama

fromI’m holding onto my chair as I play – frightened and afraid to look up. Ewww, what is that hanging from the ceiling?

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

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Let me begin by saying that I am mostly a fan of the fantasy HOPA game BUT as we approach Halloween we have seen a few creepy games and Halloween Stories the Black Book is by far the best of the best. This is one awesome, scary game. There were times I had to stop and catch my breath as I was playing. I never liked horror movies or even wanted to go near a haunted house when I was a kid even though my dad, being the big kid that he was, set one up in our garage each Halloween. If you love being frightened, and I mean having some great jump-scare moments, then this is definitely the game for you.

Although I don’t generally care for this type of game, Elephant Games did such an awesome job creating the characters and the real haunted house feel. While playing the game as Jen, I actually felt like I was walking the halls and entering the rooms of the haunted house and other areas in the game. Never knowing what was behind a door, or hanging from the ceiling kept me playing this game. When I had to stop and play a HOP scene or a puzzle it was almost a relief from the scare factor that I felt as I moved around the scenes. The HOPs and Puzzles were well integrated into the game and they didn’t feel as if they were added to the game as an afterthought simply to have the required HOPs or Puzzles.

If you love Halloween, you will most likely love this game. The Black Book is much better than the first game in the series that was child’s play compared to this one. I would not recommend this game for young children as this is a game that really should have a PG-13 rating or at least one of those generally meaningless warnings that BFG once put in some of the games. This is one very scary game that I think most older players will appreciate. I don’t do creepy, but I found myself involved in this well-crafted game and although I can’t say I loved it, I do think it deserves a 5-star rating because the game is everything that Halloween is all about. As always, PLEASE try the demo to see if this is the Halloween game you have been waiting for. Happy gaming! Show less

I recommend this game!

+49points

56of 63voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes56No7

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

28 of 32 found this review helpful

Halloween Stories: Black Book

PostedNovember 12, 2018

doneganart

fromCA, USA

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object, Strategy

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I could not stop playing this game until the end. Speaking of which, the game is longer than most of the "Collector Editions" yet is was it was a Standard game. Excellent graphics, great storyline and something always going on so you will not be bored at all.

I think I have only written a couple of my reviews of Big Fishes game - but this is at the top of the list!!!!

I recommend this game!

+24points

28of 32voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes28No4

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

16 of 16 found this review helpful

It's the Great Pumpkin, Elephant Games!

PostedJune 29, 2019

MatildaRabbit

fromMS

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Hidden Object, Large File, Puzzle

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

If you're looking for a game that's somewhat creepy without being really scary, then this is one for you. This game is the second in a series that has become one of my must haves. With all of the trappings of Halloween, with pumpkins, skeletons, crows, and spiders, the game is fun with excellent graphics. Clearly, this is not a filler game, and Elephant Games has pulled out all the stops!

The ...Show more

The first thing that is apparent that I enjoyed was that each scene had multiple active areas (Man, three "thats" in one sentence. How did THAT happen? :) ). Sometimes, I feel like a pretty scene is just wasted with minimal active areas, but this one keeps you looking all around, even as motions and continuously sparkling zones try to distract you from your mission. There's never a dull moment!

The puzzles in the game are different from the ones I've seen before, but that's a good thing. There are some games that I will play and swear that I've seen this exact puzzle with the same graphics before, but not in this game! They were unique, challenging, and fun. There were several really good ones that involved swapping similarly shaped tiles or rotating discs. If I had any requests about this feature, it would be that I wished that the puzzles and hidden object scenes weren't on the smaller pop-up windows and were larger. I like being able to make things bigger, which is why I invested in the largest laptop I could get. Oh, and it would be nice to give me an extra second or two to enjoy my work of art after completing an image before whisking it away. Perhaps have us lift it to reveal the hidden item? There's so much good art, that it seems a shame to have it just flash by.

The game play was interesting with some scenes becoming puzzles and ghosts popping out at you everywhere. The back-and-forth was limited, and a map wasn't needed. I think I used the hint feature two or three times--once for a challenging puzzle and again where I forgot where I had seen a place to put something.

The graphics are beautiful, very smooth with lots of detail, even in areas that aren't critical. I really appreciate games where the developers have put out so much effort.

I had already bought the SE, but I checked out the demo of the CE afterwards to get a feel for some of the differences in gameplay. As a disclaimer, I did not play the full CE, and I have no idea what extra items or gameplay might be available upon completion of this game. From my limited experience with the demo of the CE, I noticed that you'll collect fragments, characters, and morphing objects in scenes. Although the SE has a couple of puzzles that involve morphing objects, if you're a fan of collections and morphing objects, you'll want to spring for the CE. I also like the challenge of looking for the characters, and it really does add to my experience. In the future, I'll spring for the CE.

To summarize, this game has all of the elements of a traditional hidden object puzzle adventure while also providing creative puzzles with beautiful art. I highly recommend it, no matter which edition you choose! Show less

I recommend this game!

+16points

16of 16voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes16No0

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

23 of 27 found this review helpful

Great Game and not just for Halloween

PostedNovember 10, 2018

cyndrap

fromTexas

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Very well done game, good HO scenes, good music, good colors and graphics. Good storyline. I liked the game and just bought it. I think you will like it too.

I recommend this game!

+19points

23of 27voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes23No4

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

18 of 22 found this review helpful

Dark Themed, Detailed and Devilish. STUNNING.

PostedNovember 11, 2018

SparkleGlow100

fromBeyond the Invisible-Darkness Came, Medium Detective- Fright from the Past, Empress of the Deep- 1,2 & 3, 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

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure, Card & Board, Hidden Object, Mahjong, Match 3, Puzzle

Current Favorite:

Halloween Stories: Black Book Collector's Edition

(58)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The devil is in the details...as they say!

Dark and spooky with nothing comedic. Not bloody or gory, but the images are weird, bizarre and...this is not a game for anyone below the ages of 10 minimum!

Very, very atmospheric, with surprises here and there to make you scare.

I wish ALL games, whether they're beautiful games or dark games, had this level of detail!!!
(I just can't play ...Show more

The devil is in the details...as they say!

Dark and spooky with nothing comedic. Not bloody or gory, but the images are weird, bizarre and...this is not a game for anyone below the ages of 10 minimum!

Very, very atmospheric, with surprises here and there to make you scare.

I wish ALL games, whether they're beautiful games or dark games, had this level of detail!!!
(I just can't play games, when they're slapped together with an afterthought for accuracy in the environment, because I can't lose myself in them when they're done like that. This game is the opposite of that.)

If you do decide to buy the Collector's Edition, the Bonus Game is seriously equally enjoyable! Show less

I recommend this game!

+14points

18of 22voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes18No4

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

7 of 8 found this review helpful

Will Put You In The Halloween Mood!

PostedOctober 5, 2019

JulzCat

fromCharlotte, NC

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

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I've waited all year to play this one and it did not disappoint!

Your little sister gets her hand on an evil black book for Halloween and she is stolen by its owner. You will adventure through 3 different spooky locales to find all the objects needed to save her! Many of the puzzles were unique, some a bit too difficult for me but no problem, thanks to the skip button. In the beginning there ...Show more

I've waited all year to play this one and it did not disappoint!

I recommend this game!

+6points

7of 8voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes7No1

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 3 found this review helpful

Was Impressed

PostedApril 10, 2021

pineapplesawrus

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I did not anticipate for this game to honestly be spooky but it was! Challenging and fun! Great game over all!

I recommend this game!

+1point

2of 3voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes2No1

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 3 found this review helpful

Halloween is my favorite time of year.

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

Great way for me to enjoy my favorite time of year all year long. Black book is part of the Halloween stories series it does not disappoint with the graphics and story line.

I recommend this game!

+1point

2of 3voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes2No1

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

4 / 5

32 of 36 found this review helpful

WHY WHY WHY DELIHAH ...

PostedNovember 9, 2018

charlene_lane

fromWellington, New Zealand

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, Large File, Match 3

Current Favorite:

Mystery of the Ancients: Black Dagger Collector's Edition

(38)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

REVIEW FROM COMPLETED GAME AND BONUS

(Sorry, still singing that song while writing this). Yes, this is another terrific Halloween game. In this game you play Jen who has to rescue your little sister, Mary. There are a huge amount of tasks to undertake in each scene, so please get comfortable.

There are:

* Voiceovers (with dialogue);
* Casual, Advanced, Hardcore and Custom modes;
* Interactive ...Show more

REVIEW FROM COMPLETED GAME AND BONUS

There are:

* Voiceovers (with dialogue);
* Casual, Advanced, Hardcore and Custom modes;
* Interactive map.

The graphics are extremely well done. Most scenes are somber and muted, but well defined, and items you need are easy to locate. I loved going through each scene never knowing what to expect next.

Sound and music are great with lots of creepy noises and whispering. It definitely added to the ambience of the game and I had it up very loud - to the point that I had family members asking me what the heck am I playing!!

There are a good variety of hidden object games - straightforward, silhouette and finding a certain amount of one object. These were fun to do.

I enjoyed the mini-games which ranged from easy to medium. Some took me longer to do - you know the ones where you have to rotate rings, tiles, etc to get in the right order. None are too hard or boring.

So do you get the CE or SE? The bonus game is about you once again rescuing Mary - or the alter ego of Mary where Delihah ripped them apart and now she serves evil. There are 20 Achievements, a secret room with 14 replayable mini-games and 16 repayable HOPs and also you will need to find 12 character figurines, 24 morphs and 32 fragmented newspaper articles throughout the game and bonus. My preference - get the Collectors Edition.

All up the game and bonus took me about 6 hours to play and I enjoyed every minute of it. There is so much to do in each scene, however you don't wander off too far and its easy to remember where tasks are to do.

Overall, a fantastic and creepy game to play for Halloween. Elephant did a terrific job, so well done devs.

Happy playing fishies. Show less

I recommend this game!

+28points

32of 36voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes32No4

Flagged as inappropriate.

Overall rating

4 / 5

53 of 66 found this review helpful

THINK OF IT AS A HALLOWEEN THEMED GAME 11 MONTHS EARLY INSTEAD OF A MONTH LATE

PostedNovember 9, 2018

pennmom36

fromPerhaps we should burn this book, in this case I agree with book-burning!

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

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I still really love this game, I just prefer the Collector's Edition version because I love Morphing Objects and sometimes the Collectibles if there is an option to stop the cursor from changing to a hand over them. Most of the time collectibles are located within zoom zones and the zoom zone doesn't close up if you haven't clicked on the available item, so if devs would just put them in the ...Show more

I try to show the differences between the two versions, CE & SE, but I don't know what details people want to hear about so I just go with the major key details. The CE version has 24 Morphing Objects, 7 of which are located in the Bonus Chapter. The CE version also has 32 Newspaper Fragments, 8 of which are in the BC which will complete the 4th Newspaper Article. The CE also has 12 Collectible spooky Character Figurines, 3 of which are in the BC. The BC takes place directly after, timeframe wise and little sister disappears once more. Here's a recap of my review from the CE version:

Nobody knows for certain if Delilah was the culprit responsible for those missing children all those years ago, but the townsfolk needed answers, they needed a guilty party to end their suffering. In a fit of rage, they chased her to the point of no return, a horrific and tragic death that would not go without punishment. Some say Delilah returns every few years to steal the children of those who wronged her all those years ago, but that's just another urban legend... or is it?

I know that many of you are not fans of this creepy genre, but Elephant Games is obviously pushing the envelope to see how far they can go with a psychological thriller. This is what I want, this is exactly the kind of storyline I crave, so please, please, please let them run with it, let them continue to push the envelope even further! HOPA games and HOPA players have evolved, and many of us are no longer content with the same old watered-down storylines of HOPA PAST, we want to be creeped out, we want to be frightened from the comforts of our computer chairs, we want more, we want what Elephant is giving us. Elephant Games-this genre is your niche-run with it!

The Black Book is actually a Gadget in the game, but it's not used that often and it's not your usual gadget or helper scenario. When the Book has a blue aura around it, you select the book to tear out a clue and place onto the scene indicated. It will show you how to play a game or what item is needed to overcome an obstacle. In the Collector's Edition version, each scene has a Morphing Object and there are Newspaper Fragments to collect that completes a picture in 4 different Newspaper articles about strange phenomena. Twelve of the scenes have a collectible statue that's Halloween related such as a witch, zombie or vampire. The graphics are amazingly realistic and the "horror" scenes are absolutely credible, I don't know what's going on lately, but Elephant Games is on fire! It's clear to see that the team has been rejuvenated and are trying very hard to create top-notched games.

The Hidden Object Scenes are mostly Listed Item finds with a few interactions required, but this is the old school style I prefer. Don't let the simplistic nature fool you though, because at the end of each scene, after finding all the items a sentence at a time appears saying "open the window" find door # 21, take the diamond, I found this feature alone a very interesting concept that wasn't as easy as you may think. The items are cleverly hidden, and there are a ton of Zoom Zone Hidden Object Scenes. Some have Silhouetted Shape finds and most combine a mixture of both. I particularly enjoyed the mannequin scene, as you click on a mannequin that has the item, they turn around to show themselves, and someone has a vivid imagination!

The Mini-Games are varied in difficulty levels, some are far too easy, some are standard favorites, and some are mind-bending, with just a dash of "selecting one affects others" (ps: I really hate those) I like that the mini-games slowly progress in difficulty, but they still throw in a relaxing "I've got this" quickie now and then. Below are brief descriptions of some of the games you'll encounter during the demo and a few worth mentioning afterward:

1-Paint by numbers that appear and disappear in groups.
2-Select columns & scroll until you've spelled the clue word.
3-Click a ball when an opening appears to navigate the maze.
4-Swap tiles to complete the image.
5-Select arrows to slide the bat into the slot using bumpers.
6-Rotate the board & slide gems into their slots simultaneously.
7-Use directional arrows to move colored tiles into matching columns.
8-Guide the ball thru the maze using directional arrows.
9-Rotate & place map fragments correctly.
10-Rotate 2 discs and attach color matching gear sections.
11-Turn all tiles silver, clicking 1 tile moves adjacent tiles. (nemesis)
12-Click 2 bats at a time to find hidden matching symbols.
13-Click to stop each disc ring when they align.
14-Align 3 matching disc sections using empty spaces.
15-Swap identical puzzle pieces to complete the portrait.
16-Slide all symbols to their matching colored slots.

The Collector's Edition version has 8 Wallpapers, 8 Concept Art pictures, 4 Music Soundtracks, 21 Achievements to earn, 32 Fragmented Newspaper Articles, 4 Completed Newspaper Articles (8 Fragments required for each) 24 Morphing Objects, 12 Collectible Halloween Characters (vampire, zombie etc.) A Secret Room with 14 Re-playable Mini-Games and 16 Re-playable Hidden Object Scenes (can only be accessed after completing the BC a feature I don't agree with because sometimes the BC is downright boring) 3 Main Chapters (don't let that fool you, they are lengthy chapters & the BC is even longer) +Bonus Chapter (sequel of returning to the Halloween Nightmare..curse that black book!) and a built-in Strategy Guide, enjoy the Halloween Nightmare!

HALLOWEEN STORIES SERIES LIST
Title***Standard Edition Release Date***Average Rating

1-Invitation (October 31-2017) 3.7
2-Black Book (November 9-2018) n/a

by: Elephant Games Show less

I recommend this game!

+40points

53of 66voted this as helpful.

Was this review helpful?Yes53No13

Flagged as inappropriate.

1-10 of 16 Reviews prev 1 2 next>>

Browse by Genre:

Browse by Genre:

Halloween Stories: Black Book

Reviews

Halloween Stories: Black Book

, share your thoughts about this game!

Halloween Stories: Black Book

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: Black Book Some tales never die... 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.