The Secret Order: Return to the Buried Kingdom Collector's Edition > iPad, iPhone, Android, Mac & PC Game

Overall rating

5 / 5

35 of 41 found this review helpful

~~THE SECRET ORDER SAGA IS BACK WITH A SURPRISE.~~

PostedMay 18, 2019

skullfun

fromSunward games & Artifex Mundi did a good job with this continuing series!

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

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

Current Favorite:

The Secret Order: The Buried Kingdom Collector's Edition

(39)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

The Secret Order is undoubtedly a Fan Favorite and the fact that "Return to The Buried Kingdom" is the 7th addition to the series is proof. Playing the role of Sarah Pennington on her latest quest in this follow up to “The Buried Kingdom 2016” is another engaging adventure. Just as enjoyable as previous editions in the series of The Secret Order (a secret society sworn to protect against the ...Show more

The Secret Order is undoubtedly a Fan Favorite and the fact that "Return to The Buried Kingdom" is the 7th addition to the series is proof. Playing the role of Sarah Pennington on her latest quest in this follow up to “The Buried Kingdom 2016” is another engaging adventure. Just as enjoyable as previous editions in the series of The Secret Order (a secret society sworn to protect against the Dragon clan). Sarah is once again reunited with her sister Julie in the buried Kingdom beneath the sea, but the Kingdom is in danger again now that Mother Dragon has passed away. Both of you, Julie and Droi the dragon must journey thru countless obstacles in search of the precious egg Mother Dragon has devoted her life to protecting, but a menacing villain may be your biggest threat or could it be something far more sinister? Be prepared for the unexpected in this edition and trust no one!!!

In my opinion, the quality of the Secret Order series is somewhat inconsistent with each release, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that this latest installment is one of the better The Secret Order games. The plot in The Secret Order: Return to The Buried Kingdom is nothing new, but at least the delivery is creative and innovative. The Secret Order series games are developed by Sunward Games and published by Artifex Mundi and together this team uses many creative tools to help present the storyline; from the gorgeous cutscenes to clever interactive puzzles. I love all the editions in this series, so this was a definite purchase for me. The main game is a solid four to five hours of great fun and wonder, and the bonus chapter is certainly worth playing.

It’s great to see another clever edition of The Secret Order series especially since they decided to take us back to the adventure that proceeded “Blood Line” and “Shadow Breach”. I wonder if fans will remember this? Cheers!

In this series:
•The Secret Order: New Horizon
•The Secret Order: Masked Intent
•The Secret Order: Ancient Times
•The Secret Order: Beyond Time
•The Secret Order: The Buried Kingdom
•The Secret Order: Bloodline
•The Secret Order: Return to The Buried Kingdom Show less

I recommend this game!

+29points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

73 of 106 found this review helpful

RETURN TO THE BURIED KINGDOM IS EVERYTHING I HOPED IT WOULD BE!

PostedMay 18, 2019

biscuitsmama

fromAny game that has dragons is a keeper for me

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

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

It’s been three years since my favorite game in The Secret Order series, The Buried Kingdom, was released and finally Return to The Buried Kingdom is here. I loved the original and when I played the beta for this game I knew it would be an instant purchase for me. The game does not disappoint and it is well worth the wait.

You play the game as Sarah who has been called upon by her friend Julie ...Show more

It’s been three years since my favorite game in The Secret Order series, The Buried Kingdom, was released and finally Return to The Buried Kingdom is here. I loved the original and when I played the beta for this game I knew it would be an instant purchase for me. The game does not disappoint and it is well worth the wait.

You play the game as Sarah who has been called upon by her friend Julie who needs your help. With the loss of the Mother Dragon much has changed since your last visit to the Buried Kingdom and now it faces grave danger if it is to survive. With the help of Droi, Julie, and Princess Lillian can you find out who or what is behind the unrest in the kingdom and restore it to its peaceful existence? Return to the Buried Kingdom has a wonderful well-told storyline that unfolds as you make your way through the game. The graphics are as amazing and as beautiful as I’d hoped. Everything about this game is exactly what I want in a great HOPA: a game to keep me entertained and involved as I play my way to the end.

I enjoyed the HOPS in the game far more than I did the puzzles. There was variety with both the HOPS and puzzles but nothing really stood out as being anything new or different. For me the HOPS were excellent although many were the mini type or storybook which is my least favorite. That being said the list ones were very good and I even had some difficulty finding items.

The storyline and the dragons were the best part of the game for me. I love dragons and even an adult Droi is wonderful as he accompanies me through the game and acts as a helper when needed. As I mentioned earlier the graphics are beautiful and simply add to my enjoyment of the game.

The Secret Order Return to the Buried Kingdom is a game that I highly recommend particularly if you love underwater kingdoms and dragons. This game had it all for me and I hope you will try the demo to see if you will enjoy the game as well. Happy gaming! Show less

I recommend this game!

+40points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

22 of 30 found this review helpful

Beautiful, Weird, Dark and Mysterious

PostedMay 19, 2019

SparkleGlow100

fromMICHIGAN

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Skill Level:Expert

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

Current Favorite:

The Secret Order: Return to the Buried Kingdom Collector's Edition

(21)

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Based on demo.
This game has exactly the kind of weird and wonderful atmosphere I love!

Dungeon-type caves, skeletons, and treasures!
Get past the first 10 minutes, and there’s even a dose of unexpected hilarity sprinkled in.
The HD graphics are awesome and the musical sound effects definitely add to the story.

Characters are just ok, and are only there to prop up the story. I ...Show more

Based on demo.
This game has exactly the kind of weird and wonderful atmosphere I love!

Dungeon-type caves, skeletons, and treasures!
Get past the first 10 minutes, and there’s even a dose of unexpected hilarity sprinkled in.
The HD graphics are awesome and the musical sound effects definitely add to the story.

Characters are just ok, and are only there to prop up the story. I fast-forwarded the dialogue by clicking on it and speed-reading to avoid spending too long on them. Show less

I recommend this game!

+14points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

128 of 227 found this review helpful

SAIL AWAY TO A FANTASY WORLD UNDER THE SEA

PostedMay 18, 2019

sunnyglow

fromLocation? At the tomb of Nezul, trying to force resurrected skeletons back into their graves. I wonder, however, if I will need a “skeleton key” to lock them up permanently?

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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

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME:
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages

OPINION: Pack your bags and set sail into a fantastic fantasy under the sea. This game has some incredibly beautiful graphics. It is a fairy-tale come to life! This is a decent sized game. The story is a well-written sequel with the major characters returning, including Droi, your pet dragon, who is ...Show more

REVIEW BASED UPON THE ENTIRE GAME:
6 Chapters Plus a Bonus Chapter – Strategy Guide: 43 Pages

OPINION: Pack your bags and set sail into a fantastic fantasy under the sea. This game has some incredibly beautiful graphics. It is a fairy-tale come to life! This is a decent sized game. The story is a well-written sequel with the major characters returning, including Droi, your pet dragon, who is now all grown up. He will be transporting you throughout the kingdom in this game. The game is devoted to one task, searching throughout the kingdom to locate and stop a misguided evildoer from causing chaos in the kingdom.

This game should appeal to all ages. There is a menagerie of adorable, cute dragons along with other animals and a plethora of fairy tale creatures. Nevertheless, thankfully, there are no helpers in this game. The pace is decent with plenty of interactive activities, including some creatively designed mini-games and HOP scenes. The collectibles, puzzle pieces and morphing objects, are easy to locate within the scenes.

There are only fourteen (14) HOP scenes within the game with some being mini-HOP scenes with searches for a small number of one item. There are the usual lists of items and silhouette scenes. There are also two FROG scenes. Some of the scenes are interactive ones in which the player searches for items and then replaces them back within the scene. Some of scenes have the option to play a matching puzzle in lieu of the scene.

There are thirty-three (33) mini-games and all can be replayed after the game is completed. They vary in style. Most are easy. Although most of the puzzles are creative, some of the puzzles seem more like HOP scenes than puzzles. As you listen to a story you locate and interact with items within the scene. To me, these are storybook HOP scenes, not puzzles! The puzzles are variations of those seen in other games.

OVERVIEW/STORY: Play Sarah, who has been summoned by her friend, Julie, to return to the buried kingdom under the sea. The kingdom is in grave danger. With the passing of the Mother Dragon, the kingdom is in chaos with the once docile dragons becoming hostile. Someone has awakened Nezul, a powerful shaman from his tomb. With resurrection crystals, skeletons have awakened and are attacking the kingdom. Help restore this kingdom to tranquility while discovering the surprising source behind this chaos.

MECHANICS:

• Four (4) levels of play including a customized version.
• 18 achievements. (5 story-based and 12 skill based)
• Collect twenty (20) morphing objects
• Collect twenty-five (25) puzzle pieces
• Fifteen (15) Wallpapers along with concept art and music.
• Replay eight (8) HOP scenes and thirty-three (33) mini-games

BONUS GAME: It is a sequel. When you are knocked unconscious, find yourself imprisoned in a tower by an evildoer. This person has stolen a special dragon egg to seize control of the kingdom. Your task is to stop him and hatch this very important egg through a ritual. There are two (2) HOP scenes and six (6) mini-games within this chapter. There are no collectibles. It has a heartwarming ending which provides a nice finale for the game. I felt it was of a decent length and worthy of the collector’s edition designation.

SPOILERS: HERE ARE SAMPLES OF THE PUZZLES AFTER THE DEMO:

A. Connection puzzle. Connect one tube to another by rotating tiles to create a path.
B. Matching puzzle. Uncover leaves to match up like footprints.
C. Sequence puzzle. Move through a geyser-filled swamp by stuffing mushrooms into the holes of the geysers repeating a given sequence. 3X
D. Moving tiles puzzle. Move 16 red and yellow marbles along paths so that each marble is located within its like-colored half of the grid. Yellow marbles are on one side and red on the other.
E. Mirror puzzle. Place mirrors to direct 3 beams of colored light to their like-colored disks.
F. Storybook puzzle. As you listen to a story, place items into their proper location (There are several of these within the game)
G. Slat puzzle. Slide five slats up-and-down to restore an image. Moving one affects the others.
BONUS CHAPTER:
H. Connection puzzle. Move a marble through every point on a map without retracing steps.
I. Sequence puzzle. Remove bars in sequence to open a portal.
J. Rope puzzle. Untangle a rope so segments do not cross each other.
K. Switch puzzle. Switch pieces of an image until all are in the proper location Show less

I recommend this game!

+29points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

3 of 4 found this review helpful

AAA+

PostedJune 18, 2019

kickenbass

fromDENVER.CO

Skill Level:Expert

Favorite Genre(s):Adventure

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Fantastic Fun. Colorful graphics, different and clever inner games , interesting story line . A keeper.

Mz. Q

I recommend this game!

+2points

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Overall rating

5 / 5

2 of 3 found this review helpful

long and both hard and easy

PostedJuly 22, 2019

frog44

fromIllinois

Skill Level:Intermediate

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

Played this follow-up game to see where the story was going to take me and enjoyed every minute of it. Great story line and graphics. Some HOP's and games were easy while a couple others were hard only because I never understood exactly what I was supposed to do. With a little more input on advice, this game would be one of the best I have played recently. Hope these developers continue with this ...Show more

Played this follow-up game to see where the story was going to take me and enjoyed every minute of it. Great story line and graphics. Some HOP's and games were easy while a couple others were hard only because I never understood exactly what I was supposed to do. With a little more input on advice, this game would be one of the best I have played recently. Hope these developers continue with this outstanding presentation. Show less

I recommend this game!

+1point

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Overall rating

5 / 5

good game

PostedMarch 13, 2025

Aschweich

fromMissouri

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

5 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

I really enjoyed this game. !!

I recommend this game!

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Overall rating

5 / 5

For the Dragons!

PostedDecember 19, 2020

Farfeleenia

Favorite Genre(s):Hidden Object

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

4 / 5

Level of Challenge

3 / 5

Storyline

5 / 5

- it is short, but good

I love everything related to dragons and here we are. I am satisfied with the game a lot, it could just be longer to provide more entertainment.The story is pleasant and the puzzles will not make you get bored. You always discover more and more till it suddenly all comes to an end and you wish to do more in the game.

Enjoy ;)

I recommend this game!

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Overall rating

5 / 5

A Very enjoyable Game : )

PostedOctober 18, 2019

yowzasma

fromCOWTOWN (Ft. Worth),TX

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, Hidden Object

Current Favorite:

The Secret Order: Return to the Buried Kingdom Collector's Edition

(21)

Fun Factor

5 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

5 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

I agree with the well described positive reviews by my fellow Fishies.
This was not a difficult, burn-out the ole greymatter game but it was a nice relaxed and for the most part pretty game and I really enjoyed it. I like fantasy games with Dragons and such. I'm giving this one a 5 ***** out of 5 ***** on my personal enjoy-ability scale : )

I recommend this game!

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Overall rating

4 / 5

86 of 117 found this review helpful

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ORDER OF THE GRIFFINS? WHY HAVE THEY ABANDONED THE ORIGINAL PLOT?

PostedMay 18, 2019

pennmom36

fromBeliefs about dragons differ by region, in western cultures they are depicted as winged, horned, four-legged creatures that breath fire. Dragons in eastern cultures are wingless four-legged, serpentine creatures with above-average intelligence ⚘

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Skill Level:Expert

Fun Factor

4 / 5

Visual/Sound Quality

3 / 5

Level of Challenge

4 / 5

Storyline

4 / 5

Completed Game approximately 5.0 hours
(including the CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)

Dungeons and Dragons-breath the Mother Dragon has perished causing sheer dragon-pandemonium! Sarah has been summoned to Return to the Buried Kingdom to save the world that survived a tidal wave annihilation. Without the mother of dragons, breaker of chains, the unburnt...oh wait, wrong series, any-hoo, ...Show more

Completed Game approximately 5.0 hours
(including the CE Bonus Chapter & all mini-games)

Dungeons and Dragons-breath the Mother Dragon has perished causing sheer dragon-pandemonium! Sarah has been summoned to Return to the Buried Kingdom to save the world that survived a tidal wave annihilation. Without the mother of dragons, breaker of chains, the unburnt...oh wait, wrong series, any-hoo, Sarah must bravely go where no man has gone before, oops, wrong series again, Sarah has been tasked with completing the Scorpion Staff which will hopefully appease Nezul, a powerful shaman gone rogue. The ship sets sail on the shore of this uncharted...buried kingdom?

I fell in love with this series from the start because I loved the thrill-seeking, time-traveling, secret order member Sarah. The Order of the Griffins was always at odds with the Dragon Clan and Sarah would hop aboard the Royal Griffin to travel to a different time period to thwart their dastardly plans. This is an enjoyable game but other than the title, there's nothing that even remotely ties it to The Secret Order series?? I realize it is a "Return to the Buried Kingdom" scenario, but not once does it elude to the fact that Sarah is a member of a secret order, it never even mentions The Order of the Griffins???

There are 9 Hidden Object Scenes and 3 Zoom Zone HOP's (+2 in the Collector's Edition BC) Sunward Games did a great job choosing interesting scenes, and some of the objects were nicely blended into the scenery. There are Interactive Listed Item Finds, Keywords in Sentence Finds, Multiples Finds, Silhouetted Shape Finds, and my personal favorites were the FROG's (fragmented objects) and scenes that were completely interactive, requiring several interactions within the scene before finding the single item requested.

There are 29 Mini-Games (+5 in the Collector's Edition BC) some of which were very creative. Below are brief descriptions of some of my personal favorites:

1~Place missing gate ornaments correctly & then click on each ornament to set the correct shapes & colors based on the clues shown. ღღღ
2~Rotate rings to connect partially hidden pipes. ღ
3~Repeate the sequence of geysers x3.
4~Place mirrors to direct each beam of light to their color-coded disks. ღღ
5~Rotate & place metal emblems correctly.
6~Select partial symbols to create each central symbol shown.

The Collector's Edition Bonus Chapter continues the same storyline with a time-frame that takes place immediately after the main adventure. This is an average length BC with about 8 or so new locations. There are only 2 Hidden Object Scenes and 5 Mini-Games, and absolutely no Collectibles or Morphing Objects remaining which was a tad bit disappointing. I won't elaborate on the BC plot because it will spoil the main games plot ending.

This Collector's Edition version has 15 Wallpapers, 15 Concept Art Pictures, 9 Music Soundtracks, 8 Movie Video Cutscenes, 12 Skill-based and 20 Story-based Achievements, 8 Replayable Hidden Object Scenes, 33 Re-playable Mini-Games, 25 Collectible Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces (no assembly required) 20 Morphing Objects, 6 Main Chapters +Bonus Chapter, and a Built-in Strategy Guide.

THE SECRET ORDER SERIES LIST
Title***Collector's Edition Release Date***Average

1-New Horizon SE only (December 17-2011)
2-Masked Intent (March 17-2013) 4.3
3-Ancient Times (April 26-2014) 3.9
4-Beyond Time (March 21-2015) 3.5
5-The Buried Kingdom (May 21-2016) 4.4
6-Bloodline (June 17-2017) 4.0
7-Shadow Breach (May 26-2018) 3.2
8-Return To The Buried Kingdom (May 18-2019) n/a

by: Sunward Games Show less

I recommend this game!

+55points

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