Wanderlust: The City of Mists – Review

Following Wanderlust: What Lies Beneath, you are off to another exhilarating adventure. You received an urgent letter from your mother Isabella, a renowned adventurer who is out seeking the mythical City of Mists. As a fellow explorer, you pack up your bags and the Grandfather’s charm your mother requested for without hesitation. Will you be able to find your mother and learn the secrets of this ancient civilization in Wanderlust: The City of Mists?

I, for one, am glad to see Wanderlust expands into a series. The first game was incredibly entertaining for all the right reasons and this sequel certainly does not disappoint. Firstly, the storyline in The City of Mists is nothing short of fascinating. The game features plenty of action sequences and dangerous obstacles, which add to the excitement of the game. Moreover, the characters all have distinct personalities and are very likable. In my opinion, the sidekick Andrew Collins provides some great interactive comical moments, even though the majority of Big Fish Games’ reviewers might think otherwise.

Wanderlust: The City of Mists takes its explorer concept very seriously, which differentiates the game from other more predictable explorer-themed games like Hidden Expedition and Secret City. The game includes a Tools Belt, which contains a knife, pliers, and the special charm – a very practical and thoughtful gadget, especially for the explorer protagonist. Other aspects of the game follow the HOPA formula, although to great results. I found the pacing to the game to be incredibly consistent and engaging. Further, the hidden object scenes and the puzzles are not the most complex, but creative enough to work in favor of the game.

As expected, Wanderlust: The City of Mists is an absolutely gorgeous game. The art style is more cartoonish than what Mad Head Games usually offers, but is appropriate for a more light-hearted game such as this. I enjoyed the realistic and relaxing color palette, the exquisite animations, and the spot-on voice acting.

Despite only consisting of three main chapters, Wanderlust: The City of Mists has a satisfying length of roughly four hours. The bonus chapter is a prequel and is just as fun and sophisticated. The Collector’s Edition comes with all the usual features; a strategy guide, wallpapers, concept art, character gallery, soundtracks, an ultimate puzzle, replayable hidden object scenes, achievements, collectibles, and morphing objects.

Wanderlust: The City of Mists is a rewarding experience on all levels – one of the best explorer HOPAs in recent memory.