The Nancy Drew computer games can be a huge hit (Ghost of Thornton Hall) or pretty mediocre (Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake). I’m determined to play through them all. It still surprises me how challenging the Nancy Drew games are. The puzzles require in-depth thought, and it’s easy to get stuck, not knowing what to do next. Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel was one of my favorite Nancy Drew games that I played.

In this game, Nancy is recruited by Paula Santos, the owner of Captain’s Cove Amusement Park in New Jersey. One of the horses from the Carousel was stolen, and some of the rides seemingly began to move on their own. Nancy is introduced to several employees of the park, who each have a motive as to why they would be interested in the park shutting down. Since this game is set at a carnival, this game is a bit heavy on mini-games, especially when Nancy explores the arcade. Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel is one of the better games to start with because Nancy isn’t at risk of dying in this game. If Nancy makes a wrong choice, she’s fired from the case rather than dying. There are also fewer “jump scares” in this game than in other Nancy Drew games I played.

I liked how this game had more suspects. It made it that much more intriguing when the culprit was revealed. I liked the setting at the park. Certain areas in the game were super creepy. I was a little anxious going through those areas because I was convinced something would jump out at me. The soundtrack to this game complemented the haunted theme.

Overall, this would be a good beginner Nancy Drew game. It’s less scary, and the puzzles, while challenging, are doable. I have five other Nancy Drew games installed on my computer, so it’s safe to say another Nancy Drew review will be written soon.