Nancy Drew has gone from a classic mystery book series to a classic mystery game series. Out of the total 32 Nancy Drew games released, there are definitely some that stand out among the rest. Here are our top five nosey Nancy games from the series.
Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge
Truly one of the creepier mysteries Nancy has to solve. While being in genuine danger is nothing new to Nancy, it's even more disturbing when those dangers pretend to be ghosts. In Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge, Nancy must solve what is plaguing the visitors of the Ryokan. This classic Japan-based game involves a mixture of cultural teachings and difficult puzzles. Nancy will have to rummage through a lot of family drama before getting to the bottom of it.
Related: How scary is Martha is Dead?
Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor
While in Jolly Old England, Nancy is needed to figure out what is troubling the household of Blackmoor Manor. Linda, the lady of the house is having some odd issues. She has some sort of condition that is so embarrassing that she refuses to let anyone see her. On top of this, there are tons of secret passageways throughout the manor and lore to learn about the Penvellyn's ancestry. Clearly, the young girl Jane knows more than she lets on. Between strange rituals at night and theories on werewolves, Nancy will come to a more logical conclusion.
Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake
While Ghost Dogs may not sound that scary, there are plenty of terrifying aspects to living out of a friend's run-down home in the middle of the woods plagued by vicious dogs. Nancy will need to find out everything she can about the gangster, Mickey Malone, who previously owned the place in order to resolve the dog issue. Due to someone desperately not wanting anyone to move into the home, Nancy and her friend Sally McDonald regularly deal with issues surrounding the dogs, the water, the motorboat, and more. Solving this case involves gangsters' secret hideouts, awkward birdwatchers, and unwelcoming neighbors.
Nancy Drew: Secret of the Scarlet Hand
Gaining an internship at the Beech Hill Museum in Washington D.C. Nancy was originally supposed to play the role of deputy curator. Unfortunately, that stopped because several pieces were stolen from the museum when the power went out. Left behind was a single red hand! From learning all about the Aztecs and Mayans to understanding how "legal" a lot of archaeology actually is. Nancy will need to absorb as much information as she can to find out where the lost pieces have been hidden.
Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall
Another spooky and fanciful home that clearly has some issues. This case is actually a kidnapping, or is it? Jessalyn has disappeared from Thornton Hall, and many suspect that it was by supernatural means. Savannah Woodham calls Nancy in specifically for her skeptical viewpoint. Colton, Jessalyn's fiance, brings up some interesting domestic reasons why she might have gone, but there is a lot more to this case than simply finding Jessalyn.
For more Nancy Drew content be sure to check out, All Nancy Drew games in order on Pro Game Guides.
India (Clay) MacGregor is a writer and artist, creating their own comic book series Harkøth's Blood. They are a lover of high fantasy in all mediums. India originally fell in love with games like Dungeons & Dragons, Morrowind, and Dragon Age in childhood. In 2018 they graduated from Full Sail University with their BFA in Creative Writing for Entertainment and have been writing ever since.