Haunted Hotel: The X – Review

Your sister, Samantha, has gone missing while investigating the decade-old murder at the historic Lexington Hotel! It is your job to rescue her from this creepy place, but can you escape from the vengeful spirits that haunt this hotel?

Haunted Hotel seems to be on a roll lately, as The X is the fourth Haunted Hotel game we get within the period of a year! Nonetheless, each Haunted Hotel game continues to impress us and this one is no exception. First of all, The X has a really captivating plot. Of course, the rescuing-the-sister-from-some-haunted-place thing is not really interesting, but when added all the suspenses together with the creepy backstory of the hotel – The X is hard to put down.

Also, Haunted Hotel: The X is perhaps is the most haunting Haunted Hotel installment yet. If you are looking for a slightly more adult-themed game; with real scares, blood and even disturbing images – then this game is for you! The environment in The X is extremely suspenseful, presented through the fantastic Elephant’s signature artwork and crystal-clear graphics, along with the very best cutscenes and stunning visual effects. Moreover, the audio team really excels in this game. The spooky soundtracks help with the thrills and chills of the game, the voice-overs fit well with the characters and the random creepy voices in the background get us everytime.

When it comes to the gameplay, Haunted Hotel: The X is solid. We wouldn’t say that The X is the most innovative game ever, because it is far from that. Formulaic as it is, it ticks all the boxes for an excellent hidden object puzzle adventure game. This includes a smooth gameplay, cohesive game mechanics, a helpful interactive-map and a custom difficulty setting. As for the hidden object scenes, they are mostly pretty easy, but enjoyable nonetheless. The puzzles come in a range of difficulties; many are simple and easy, while some are imaginative and require a bit more planning.

Haunted Hotel: The X is a fast-paced game, which can be a good thing, since there was not a single of boredom during both the main game and the bonus chapter. On the downside, it feels a little short. We finished the main game in about three and a half hours and the bonus chapter in 45 minutes. The Collector’s Edition of the game comes with all the standard extras; a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, soundtracks, replayable hidden objects and puzzles, achievements, collectibles and a secret room.