100 hidden turtles

Developer: Anatoliy Loginovskikh | Publisher: Anatoliy Loginovskikh | Release Date: 3 September 2022 | Genre: Hidden Object / Casual / Puzzle | Website: N/A | Purchase: Steam

After a long run of black-and-white illustrations, 100 Hidden Turtles immediately stands out by introducing something the series had only teased before: full colour. The Steam page advertises the game as beginning with monochrome artwork before transforming into a vibrant underwater world, and the change gives this entry a noticeably fresher identity than many of its predecessors.

The core gameplay remains as straightforward as ever. Players explore a large hand-drawn underwater scene in search of one hundred hidden turtles. Clicking each turtle unlocks its corresponding Steam achievement while gradually reducing the remaining counter until the entire collection has been found. There are no timers, scores, or penalties for incorrect clicks, making this another relaxing hidden object experience suitable for players of all ages.

The underwater setting is one of the strongest the series had produced up to this point. Coral reefs, seaweed, colourful fish and more create a far more visually appealing backdrop than many of the earlier monochrome releases. Instead of simply scrolling through one uninterrupted illustration, however, this time certain objects can be clicked to enter smaller one-screen sub-areas.

These bonus locations are a welcome addition. Rather than simply serving as extra rooms, they each feature their own background music, making them feel like miniature scenes instead of disconnected puzzle pieces. A few of the hidden turtles can only be found inside these sub-screens, encouraging players to investigate the environment instead of simply scrolling from top to bottom.

One of these areas even requires solving a small environmental puzzle before it becomes accessible. It is hardly a brain teaser, but it adds just enough interaction to make the world feel a little less static than previous entries such as 100 Hidden Fish or 100 Hidden Hares. 

The turtles themselves are hidden well. They blend naturally into the colourful reefs and underwater scenery without becoming unfairly distorted. A few even swim around instead of remaining completely stationary, forcing players to wait for them to emerge before clicking them.

The transition to colour is both the game’s greatest strength and its biggest weakness. On one hand, the vibrant coral reefs, tropical fish and marine life create one of the prettiest environments in the series. Animated bubbles drift upwards while schools of fish swim peacefully through the water. The world feels considerably more alive than earlier entries like 100 Hidden Dogs or 100 Hidden Fish, whose animations were generally limited to a handful of moving objects. On the other hand, the method used to indicate completed turtles is a noticeable downgrade. Previous games usually highlighted found objects in bright colours that immediately distinguished them from those still waiting to be discovered. Here, discovered turtles are merely darkened slightly. During the latter half of the search, it becomes surprisingly easy to mistake a previously found turtle for one that still needs clicking. It is a small complaint, but one that affects the entire experience. A clearer visual indicator would have made scanning the remaining areas considerably easier.

The controls remain wonderfully uncomplicated. Players use the mouse to scroll around the main illustration, enter sub-screens, solve the occasional environmental interaction, and click hidden turtles.

 Visually, 100 Hidden Turtles represents a significant leap forward for the series. The colourful presentation immediately makes it more memorable than 100 Hidden Fish, while the underwater setting provides plenty of opportunities for attractive coral formations, marine life and layered backgrounds. Animated bubbles and schools of fish constantly bring the world to life without becoming distracting.

The addition of multiple sub-screens also helps break up what might otherwise have been one long vertical illustration. Each new area feels like discovering another hidden corner of the ocean, rewarding curiosity instead of simply extending the length of the map.

The soundtrack deserves mention too. The main underwater theme is suitably relaxing, while each sub-screen introducing its own music was an unexpected touch that gives those smaller areas more personality than they otherwise would have had.

A complete playthrough remains relatively brief, usually taking only a couple of minutes, but this is reflected in the price tag. Replay value is naturally limited once every location has been memorised, although resetting the achievements allows players to repeat the hunt whenever they feel like revisiting the artwork.

Compared to earlier entries such as 100 Hidden Fish, 100 Hidden Dogs and 100 Hidden Hares, this feels like one of the biggest steps forward the series had taken. The colourful artwork immediately distinguishes it from its monochrome predecessors, while the interactive sub-screens add a welcome layer of exploration without abandoning the straightforward hidden object formula. The darker colouring used for discovered turtles is an unfortunate regression, but it is not enough to overshadow an otherwise charming underwater adventure.