100 hidden snails 2

Developer: Anatoliy Loginovskikh | Publisher: Anatoliy Loginovskikh | Release Date: 2021 | Genre: Casual / Hidden Object / Indie | Website: N/A | Purchase: Steam

After finding snails, gnomes, birds, eternals, aliens, and mice hidden in all kinds of strange illustrations, one might think that the formula would be wearing thin by now. However, 100 Hidden Snails 2 proves that there is still some life left in Anatoliy Loginovskikh’s long-running “100 hidden” series. As the title suggests, players are once again tasked with finding 100 snails, but this sequel has one very neat trick up its sleeve.

Like the first 100 Hidden Snails, this sequel returns to a surreal black-and-white hand-drawn setting. The image is packed with odd shapes, strange characters, and bizarre doodles that make it more visually interesting than entries such as 100 Hidden Gnomes or 100 Hidden Mice. The goal remains as simple as ever: scroll through the illustration, click on every snail you spot, and unlock one Steam achievement for each discovery.

Initially, 100 Hidden Snails 2 appears to be business as usual. Players scan the monochrome image from top to bottom, searching for snails tucked into corners, curled around strange objects, or blended into the chaotic linework. Usually, with these games, we have found the majority of the hidden objects before reaching the bottom of the image. This time, however, we were surprised to discover that only around half of the snails had been found by the time we reached the end.

The reason becomes clear after finding the 50th snail, at which point the entire screen suddenly fills with color. It is a surprisingly delightful moment and easily the best trick this series has pulled so far. Not only does the colorful version of the artwork look great, but it also effectively gives the second half of the game a fresh feel. The transition makes 100 Hidden Snails 2 stand out from many of the other entries and is something we would like to see more of in future installments.

The color also changes how found snails are handled. In the black-and-white portion, players are simply searching the line art as usual, but once the colorful version appears, clicked snails vanish instead of turning red. This helps prevent the image from becoming too cluttered. It is a small change, but a welcome one.

Despite this neat visual twist, the gameplay remains extremely simple. There are no timers, penalties, hints, mini-games, or actual puzzles to solve. Players only need to scroll through the image and click on snails. The Steam page also lists the familiar series shortcuts, with “N” activating night mode and “Del” followed by “Esc” resetting all achievements and progress. 

One small disappointment is the limited use of animation. There are only three animated elements in the picture, which feels like a missed opportunity considering how much personality the surreal artwork has. The game also lacks the interactive elements found in 100 Hidden Eternals, such as clicking, dragging, or manipulating parts of the image to reveal hidden targets. The color transition is excellent, but a few more animations or interactive surprises would have made the experience even stronger.

In terms of difficulty, 100 Hidden Snails 2 is more engaging than 100 Hidden Gnomes or 100 Hidden Aliens, but still very short. The surreal linework helps the snails blend into the scenery better than the gnomes or mice did, and as tradition now dictates, the final snail was the hardest one to find. Even so, this is still a game that can be completed very quickly, especially by players familiar with the series.

Visually, this is one of the better entries in the 100 Hidden series. The return to the strange style of the first 100 Hidden Snails is appreciated, and the sudden shift to color gives the artwork far more impact than expected. The colorful version genuinely looks good enough that it makes the monochrome opening feel like a setup rather than a limitation. Compared to the plain mine of 100 Hidden Gnomes or the static laboratory of 100 Hidden Mice, this one has a lot more personality.

The audio is basic and does not play a major role in the experience. This is common for the series, and since the game is short, it is not a major issue. Still, considering how memorable the color reveal is visually, a stronger audio cue or more distinctive soundtrack could have made the moment even better.

Controls are exactly what players would expect. Everything is handled with the mouse, from scrolling through the image to clicking on snails. There is no complexity here, but the simple controls suit the type of game perfectly.

Overall, 100 Hidden Snails 2 is one of the more enjoyable entries in the series. It keeps the surreal artwork that made the first snail game memorable while adding a clever color reveal that gives the experience more personality than most of its siblings. It is still extremely short and very basic, but the visual surprise makes it more memorable than entries like 100 Hidden Gnomes, 100 Hidden Aliens, or 100 Hidden Mice. More animations and interactive elements would have been welcome, but for its low price, this is a neat little hidden object game.