The Nancy Drew series is one of the longest-running and beloved franchises in the world of adventure gaming. Developed by Her Interactive, these games have delighted players with their mix of mystery-solving, puzzle challenges, and immersive storytelling. Since the release of the first game in 1998, the Nancy Drew series has grown to include 34 titles, each bringing a new mystery for the young sleuth to unravel. For both longtime fans and newcomers, knowing the release order of the games can enhance your experience and understanding of Nancy’s adventures. Here’s a complete guide to all the Nancy Drew games in order.
1. Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill (1998), Remastered (2010)
The First Mystery
The very first Nancy Drew game, Secrets Can Kill, introduces the young detective as she visits a high school in a small town to investigate the mysterious death of a student. This game sets the tone for future titles, with a focus on puzzles, dialogue, and investigation.
2. Nancy Drew: Stay Tuned for Danger (1999)
Lights, Camera, Mystery
In the second installment, Stay Tuned for Danger, Nancy heads to a television studio to investigate threats against an actress on a popular soap opera. The game mixes suspense with Hollywood glamor, giving players a behind-the-scenes look at the television industry while challenging them with complex puzzles.
3. Nancy Drew: Message in a Haunted Mansion (2000)
Haunted Historical House
In Message in a Haunted Mansion, Nancy travels to San Francisco to explore an eerie mansion full of hidden secrets. This marks a shift in the series, with more intricate puzzles and a greater focus on exploration and discovery. It’s a great mix of supernatural intrigue and mystery.
4. Nancy Drew: Treasure in the Royal Tower (2001)
A Castle Mystery
In Treasure in the Royal Tower, Nancy gets snowed in at a castle turned ski resort in Wisconsin to uncover the secret of a mysterious treasure hidden within its walls. The game introduces new mechanics and expands on the types of puzzles players will face, from riddles to hidden objects.
5. Nancy Drew: The Final Scene (2001)
Behind the Stage
In The Final Scene, Nancy investigates a condemned movie theater where mysterious accidents and a kidnapping takes place. It’s a classic whodunit involving sabotage and staged accidents, and it showcases Nancy’s skills in solving crimes in high-pressure environments.
6. Nancy Drew: Secret of the Scarlet Hand (2002)
Ancient Artifact Adventure
In Secret of the Scarlet Hand, Nancy travels to Washington D.C. to solve a crime at a museum. The game dives into historical artifacts, ancient symbols, and a robbery, making it one of the more educational and intriguing entries in the series.
7. Nancy Drew: Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake (2002)
Spooky Lake Side Mystery
In Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake, Nancy heads to a secluded lake house where she must unravel the mystery behind the ghostly howls and strange happenings in the woods. This game leans heavily into eerie atmospheres and ghost stories, offering a classic haunted mystery for fans of the supernatural.
8. Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel (2003)
Amusement Park Adventure
Set in an abandoned amusement park, The Haunted Carousel is a chilling mystery involving a haunted carousel and strange events. Nancy’s investigative skills are tested once again as she solves the riddle of a series of mysterious accidents.
9. Nancy Drew: Danger on Deception Island (2003)
PNW Island Adventure
In Danger on Deception Island, Nancy investigates a string of incidents involving an endangered whale species. Set on a rocky island off the coast of Washington, this game has a more outdoorsy feel, with puzzles based around nature and survival.
10. Nancy Drew: The Secret of Shadow Ranch (2004)
Western-Style Mystery
In The Secret of Shadow Ranch, Nancy heads to Arizona to investigate the ghostly events at a historic ranch. The game blends western motifs with paranormal elements and involves tasks like horseback riding and ranch chores, giving it a unique charm within the series.
11. Nancy Drew: Curse of Blackmoor Manor (2004)
Gothic Mansion With Secrets
A favorite among many fans, Curse of Blackmoor Manor takes place in a spooky English manor. With a gothic atmosphere, mysterious old portraits, and strange family secrets, this game is perfect for fans of the eerie and the unsettling.
12. Nancy Drew: Secret of the Old Clock (2005)
Vintage 1930s Mystery
A remake of the original Nancy Drew book, Secret of the Old Clock is set in the 1930s and sees Nancy solving a mystery around an inheritance. With a vintage setting and classic puzzles, this game offers a nostalgic look at the beginnings of the series.
13. Nancy Drew: Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon (2005)
Historical Train Adventure
in Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon, Nancy investigates a series of robberies on an old train that is being restored to its former glory. As she unravels the mystery, she explores a variety of train cars and uncovers secrets of the past.
14. Nancy Drew: Danger by Design (2006)
Fashion and Fraud
Set in Paris, Danger by Design follows Nancy as she investigates a high-end fashion house, where strange accidents and sabotage seem to be targeting the company’s top designers. It’s a unique entry in the series, mixing the world of fashion with thrilling mystery.
15. Nancy Drew: The Creature of Kapu Cave (2006)
Hawaiian Mystery
In The Creature of Kapu Cave, Nancy goes to Hawaii to investigate reports of a mysterious creature haunting an ancient cave. The tropical setting provides a vibrant backdrop for this adventure, blending local myths with a dangerous mystery.
16. Nancy Drew: White Wolf of Icicle Creek (2007)
Frozen Ski Lodge Mystery
In White Wolf of Icicle Creek, Nancy heads to a secluded lodge in the icy wilderness of Canada to investigate a string of accidents at an isolated winter resort. As players solve puzzles and uncover secrets, they’ll find themselves braving the cold as Nancy discovers hidden clues.
17. Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull (2007)
Voodoo Stories and a New Orleans Mansion Mystery
Set in New Orleans, Legend of the Crystal Skull leads Nancy to an old family estate to investigate the theft of a valuable crystal skull. The game features a unique setting with plenty of intrigue around voodoo, local legends, and mysterious happenings. It’s a spooky yet thrilling adventure.
18. Nancy Drew: The Phantom of Venice (2008)
Mystery in Venice, Italy
In The Phantom of Venice, Nancy heads to the floating city of Venice, Italy, to solve a case involving the phantom of the opera. The game features beautiful Italian locales, intricate puzzles, and a deeper dive into the world of operas and performance art.
19. Haunting of Castle Malloy (2008)
Kidnapping in Ireland
In Haunting of Castle Malloy, Nancy heads to Ireland for her friend’s wedding. Her trip quickly turns spooky and she must solve a kidnapping.
20. Nancy Drew: Ransom of the Seven Ships (2009)
Island Adventure
In Ransom of the Seven Ships, Nancy goes to a secluded island in the Bahamas. Her friend gets kidnapped and the only way to rescue her is to find a hidden pirate treasured. This game was discontinued in 2020 due to racial concerns (a white character portrays himself as a Jamaican native).
21. Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy (2009)
Prestigious Boarding School Mystery
In Warnings at Waverly Academy, Nancy goes undercover as a boarding school student to uncover who is sending threatening messages and attacking people. This game is filled with puzzles, secret societies, and fun minigames.
22. Nancy Drew: Trail of the Twister (2010)
Storm Chasers in Oklahoma
In Trail of the Twister, Nancy goes to the heart of tornado alley to join a team of tornado scientists as an undercover intern. She has to figure out who might be sabotaging the team. This game is a fun entry with a lot of puzzles.
23. Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water’s Edge (2010)
Spooky Japanese Ryokan
Shadow at the Water’s Edge takes Nancy to a traditional Japanese Ryokan in Tokyo. Her vacation soon turns into another mystery case after multiple spooky occurrences in the family-run ryokan. Nancy must navigate family drama, trauma, and the Tokyo subway system in this one!
24. Nancy Drew: The Captive Curse (2011)
German Castle Mystery
In The Captive Curse, Nancy travels to a German castle where mysterious occurrences and an ancient legend about a captive monster seem to tie into a current disappearance. The atmosphere is dark and gothic, with plenty of historical intrigue.
25. Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes (2011)
Fire and Investigation
In Alibi in Ashes, Nancy returns home to River Heights to solve the mystery behind a fire that destroyed the town hall. The game introduces a bit of a different format, with Nancy being wrongfully accused of starting the fire and working to clear her name.
26. Nancy Drew: Tomb of the Lost Queen (2012)
Ancient Egyptian Pyramids
In Tomb of the Lost Queen, Nancy gets to join an archeological dig in Egypt where scientists are searching for a lost tomb. During the previous expedition someone was attacked and we must find out who the attacker is.
27. Nancy Drew: The Deadly Device (2012)
Science Meets Crime
In The Deadly Device, Nancy investigates the murder of a scientist at a high-tech research lab. The puzzles and themes revolve around cutting-edge technology, including robotics and advanced engineering, adding a fresh, modern twist to the series.
28. Nancy Drew: Ghost of Thornton Hall (2013)
Southern Gothic Mystery
Set in a spooky Southern mansion, Ghost of Thornton Hall focuses on the mystery of a missing girl and her haunted family estate. With its eerie atmosphere and southern gothic charm, it’s a fan favorite for its haunting visuals and intricate storytelling.
29. Nancy Drew: The Silent Spy (2013)
Spy Mission
In The Silent Spy, Nancy’s mother’s mysterious past as a spy is revealed, and Nancy must uncover the secrets surrounding her mother’s death. The game delves into espionage, creating a unique mix of family drama and covert operations.
30. Nancy Drew: The Shattered Medallion (2014)
Survivor-Style Game Show Competition
The Shattered Medallion takes Nancy across the globe to New Zealand as she competes in a high-stakes, televised gameshow called Pacific Run. It’s a fun, more lighthearted entry in the series with plenty of puzzles.
31. Nancy Drew: Labyrinth of Lies (2015)
Greek Mythology and Theater
In Labyrinth of Lies, Nancy investigates a series of strange incidents at a Greek theater, where the boundaries between myth and reality begin to blur. It’s a rich, culture-filled mystery with a deep dive into ancient Greek history.
32. Nancy Drew: Sea of Darkness (2016)
Scandinavian Adventure
In Sea of Darkness, Nancy travels to Iceland to investigate a pirate’s treasure that has been lost for centuries. The cold Nordic setting provides a mysterious backdrop for uncovering secrets that date back to Viking times.
33. Nancy Drew: Midnight in Salem (2019)
Witch Trials and History
Midnight in Salem brings Nancy to the infamous town of Salem, Massachusetts, where she uncovers mysteries linked to the historical witch trials.
34. Nancy Drew: Mystery of the Seven Keys (2024)
Jewel Theft in Prague
The most recent game in the series, Mystery of the Seven Keys takes Nancy to old town Prague to solve a jewel theft involving secret societies and the crown jewels.
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