Teacup
Teacup
Game
Game2009
Nancy Drew®: The Haunted Carousel
Developer HeR Interactive
The Haunted Carousel is the eighth installment in the Nancy Drew point-and-click adventure game series by Her Interactive. The game is available for play on Microsoft Windows platforms. It has an ESRB rating of E for moments of mild violence and peril. Players take on the first-person view of fictional amateur sleuth Nancy Drew and must solve the mystery through interrogation of suspects, solving puzzles, and… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
207 reactions from 3 sources (Steam reviews, Mastodon, Bluesky) · newest Nov 2, 2026 · last updated Nov 4, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
95
LovedLoved
180 positive · 10 negative
95% range 91–97%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 180 | 10 | 0 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Bluesky * | 0 | 0 | 2 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
230 of 247 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What people are saying
A short, easy, and charming Nancy Drew mystery that fans adore.
Players overwhelmingly praise this game as a comforting, nostalgic entry in the series, with many calling it a favorite. The amusement park setting, music, and mini-games are frequently highlighted as enjoyable. [7][16][17][19]
However, some criticize the game for being too short and easy, with a predictable mystery and frustrating puzzles. A few also note technical issues like laggy mini-games. [5][12][20][29][35]
Praised setting and atmosphere · music · mini-games · nostalgia · replayability
Criticised short length · low difficulty · predictable mystery · frustrating puzzles · technical bugs
Summary drafted by an AI model from the 36 reactions it cites ([n] links open each post), then checked by code: every paragraph cites real posts and every quote is verbatim. Written Oct 9, 2026. Method
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
Nancy Drew®: The Haunted Carousel sits at 95% positive across 190 opinionated reactions from 3 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
Upon its release, The Haunted Carousel received favorable reviews from critics. On Review aggregation website Metacritic, the game holds a score of 85 out of 100, denoting "generally favorable reviews". The Haunted Carousel remains the Her Interactive game with the most favorable critical reception, according to MetaCritic. In a review for Just Adventure, critic Ray Ivey awarded the album a letter grade of "A." He commended the graphics as "crisp, clean, colorful and appealing", deemed it the "tightest game so far in the series", and praised the game's shortness, observing that its brevity is in keeping with that of the book series. Writing for GameZone, critic Anise Hollingshead commended…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 207 · most liked firstSo who's ready to go on a ghost hunt? Curse of Blackmoor Manor was my first Nancy Drew game I played as a kid and it's still my favourite to this day, so it's about time I tried doing some fanart for it! #nancydrew #nancydrewgames #nancydrewcurseofblackmoormanor #fanart #digitalart #art
neutral · AI labelView post →My first Nancy Drew game as a kid. I just beat it for the first time because I couldn't when I was little. The nostalgia is amazing. My uncle told me back then that if I beat the game he would give me $100 but no matter what I just couldn't figure out the coding puzzle on the back of the arcade game. Apparently you had to type Super in the first field and the serial number in the 2nd field but it just went over my head. I missed out on the money because I grew old before I beat it and my uncle…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Haunted Carousel is the eighth Nancy Drew adventure game. In this game, Nancy has to investigate some strange incidents that have shut down a theme park. Despite the fact that the park is supposed to be "haunted," the "ghost" activity never feels at all supernatural and that aspect of the mystery isn't focused on very much. This is one of the shorter games in the series, even among the early games. This game relies less on logic puzzles than some of the other games. Instead, you'll collect…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great stuff. Trust no one.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The game itself is exactly what you expect of a Nancy Drew game, and the puzzles, even the slightly odd ones, were mostly internally logical, which is nice. Edit: Originally, I went through a lot of hoops to get this to display in the correct aspect ratio, but I eventually learned you only need to make sure three settings are correct in the NVIDIA Control Panel to have it behave. Under the category "Adjust desktop size and position", have it on Aspect Ratio, and set it to perform scaling on…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nancy Drew: The Haunted Carousel is a mystery adventure developed and published by HeR Interactive, continuing the long-running detective series with another engaging case centered on investigation rather than action. This installment transports players to Captain's Cove Amusement Park, where an unsettling collection of incidents has frightened both employees and visitors. A valuable carousel horse has disappeared, mysterious mechanical failures continue to plague the park, and rumors…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →All my homies love Miles
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#NancyDrew and The Secret of the Old Broken Clock #MakeABookLate #HashTagGames
neutral · AI labelView post →Haunted Carousel is such a comfort game for me. Nancy Drew fans like to bash this one for being too short and too simple, but in my opinion, that's part of what makes it so replayable. None of the puzzles make you want to tear your hair out, the music is FANTASTIC, and suspicion is distributed pretty evenly among the suspects. The environment is rather limited, and while I do wish that we were able to explore more of the park, that's pretty much the only complaint I have. Overall, I think it's…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →short but sweet
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i relate to Joy now (not at the end tho)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game was maybe almost too easy. I had an easy time solving puzzles and progressing through the story. Only took me 4 hours to complete.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I used to vacation during summers at my grandparents house when I was little, my grandma was OBSESSED with Nancy Drew and other detetctive/ mystery games. So I would spend a lot of time playing through her collection of games, I remember being absolutely in love with this specific Nancy Drew game but I was too young to really understand how to play or what to do, so I usually just got on and played the arcade games then walked around the park exploring. I've always really liked ocean/ beach…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Normally I like the older ND games, which is why I'm super shocked I didn't like this one that much. The Haunted Carousel has a super predictable ending, and it has some of the easiest puzzles in the series. I would recommend this game only for people who struggle with the puzzles in the other games, as this one will be in the walk in the park for you.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →*Playing this on my Steam Deck* This is my FAV Nancy Drew case on the pc, and I've played all of them! I've replayed this one the most and it works really well on the Steam Deck.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Haunted Carousel is cute. Most every challenge can be completed without too much hair-pulling. However... what we have here is yet another Nancy Drew game where no amount of attention to detail or deductive skills will lead you to the baddie. The writers love giving you excellent motives & evidence, pointing in clear directions, then sticking the crime on the guy/girl who is most unsuspecting and quiet. Every. Time. Let me solve the case, damn it! Still, the above complaints are standard…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nice game. Some quests are frustrating, so it's better to google answers (if you don't want to loose several hours for trying). Good choice as first game for those who start Nancy Drew games.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I'd list this Nancy Drew game among the easier ones. Once again, too many phone calls to make -- which bugs me. But, the puzzles are fun and solving the case was enjoyable.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →where is harlann????????? :(
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I like this game a lot. The characters and dialogue are hilarious, the setting is really interesting, and the story is fascinating. Some of the puzzles were a little tricky, but ultimately not in a way that led me to get too frustrated with the game. Learned a lot about the history of carousels! lol
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Its an okayish ND-game, rather close to a No for me. The story and characters are both fairly shallow and the grand finale and motive of the culprit leave a lot to wish for. It however has a fairly charming setting.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Game is fine in terms of story and puzzles. The typical Nancy Drew experience. But on Linux, it's as laggy as a Santa Clause on peg legs. There's this arcade mini-game á la '80s Breakout that is required to finish the main game. But that mini-game is so unresponsive with its 2 frames per second framerate that making the ball connect with the paddle is just sheer luck. 2/20 times or so, it happens. Technically impossible. I'm afraid that's where this story will end for me. UPDATE: Okay, for…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of my favorites! I really loved the rides, the games, and the carousel history. The characters' dialogues were engaging enough and I had fun the little side tasks. One of my favorite parts was Joy and Miles. Riding the carousel and getting the ring was a ton of fun. It's one of the more straight forward games for me - not too difficult even as senior detective - but it still gave me the fulfilling feeling of getting things done. There were a few jump scares, some pretty creepy scenes, and…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →definitely one of my favourites! it's too bad i had to miss the clew clue trip to new jersey this coming year.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It is a shorter game. Growing up, I played Nancy Drew games and they always seemed to take days to complete but this title felt like a speed run even without trying. Definitely an easier Nancy Drew game and one for newer fans to the franchise.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →There were relatively more "game over" trap than the other previous games. I didn't need any cheating or looking for hints from the internet this time and I'm proud of it!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →LOVE this one. Hate how short it is but enjoy all the mini games Nancy gets to play. The characters are very easily likable too.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of my favorites! The American carnival vibe is so fun, and the map felt big! Only a few characters, but lots to do! Great mini-games and puzzles in this one. Eat some peanut butter toast while you play to make sure you get your dose of niacin!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's a fun game. It has a good villain, interesting characters, lots of potential death (poor Nancy), and helpful hints (unlike some of the other games where they aren't so helpful). The mini-games are well enough. Miles' voice is kind of annoying, but everything else is great.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →what I didn't like: - awkward navigation - can only see the journal notes and task list by going back to the hotel room (important to check, as game Nancy doesn't always see the same things I as player see) - unable to ask questions when I want to (even when there was a task to call Paula about it) - the requirement to play the stupid arcade games -- the final straw for me On the plus side + I learned about how to use a lathe + the story line and characters were interesting -- I'm sure by the…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is the best ND games I've played yet and I've played close to half of them at this point. It was just fun and had achievable puzzles, plus great guidance from the checklist and calling the Hardy Boys plus B&M. Highly recommend!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A lot of fun! I like the location of this game, the mechanics are fun, the story made sense. Only downside is the one million ways to get fired..
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's very mid. If players seek to complete every nancy game, then yes, go ahead and play this one. Otherwise, its worth a skip.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great beginners Nancy Drew game, fairly short and on the easy side but a very entertaining story and wonderful music. You can burn down a hotel and learn lots about carousels :)
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This was much harder than expected and was fun. Game played just fine in Win 11 even though the graphics show their age of a 2003 game, it was fun.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Nostalgia! Love the play through. Enjoyable at 13 years old, and 32 years old.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →🎲 RANDOM GAME, Nancy Drew®: The Creature of Kapu Cave (Steam) https://store.steampowered.com/app/31900 Nancy Drew: The Creature of Kapu Cave is a first-person point-and-click adventure. #SteamAndEpic #Nancy #Drew
neutral · AI labelView post →I really enjoyed the story of Nancy Drew and the Haunted Carousel. The actual game did crash/freeze a couple of times, so I made sure to frequently save my progress. This is definitely a fairly short little mystery, but it was still fun!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →OK, Take 2 of our riff of the second episode of The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew crossover we reviewed in our last podcast. This one should have the riff included. 🙄 #podcast #movieriff #hardyboys #nancydrew https://youtu.be/ws8Tux0-048
neutral · AI labelView post →If you've played any other Nancy Drew games, you may be surprised that this game needs little to no notetaking. An enjoyable yet short game. I'd say this Nancy Drew game is perfect for a beginner or someone looking for a more casual experience
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I do enjoy this game, even if it was a short one. The plot has a great storyline, it's got a few puzzles, you can even ride the Carousel lol. It was lacking something though, can't put my finger on it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I did not like some of the dialogue options or reactions of some of the characters, seemed a bit childish and illogical, but overall it's an interesting story and cute puzzles. Keep in mind that this game is based on books written for teenagers. It's an old game, but works fine with help from dgvoodoo.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#pridemonth #nancydrewthegraphicnovel #nancydrew
neutral · AI labelView post →someone tried to kill me in a children's game. 10/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →i love this game it's one of the best game i ever played
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game felt shorter than other Nancy mysteries; I don't know if it's because things felt more intuitive to me in this game or I called the Hardy boys too often, but it felt like I zoomed through. I may have had to use a lot of second chances from falling off the carousel, burning down the hotel with an iron, and being chased by the culprit, but it all ended well. The riddles were fun, and learning shorthand was interesting, but I really enjoyed all of the different skills you had to do as…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My favorite Nancy Drew game. I played this as a child, so I had to download it for the nostalgia...and because I never finished the game. Can be suitable for all ages, as some puzzles/ quests can be difficult to figure out. The game has a great storyline, funny characters and a spooky vibe.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →👻 Hey indie horror authors: What are you currently writing? I’ll go first: I’m writing a Nancy Drew horror mystery novella. Due to release this October. #horror #indieauthors #horrorLit #NancyDrew #writingcommunity
neutral · AI labelView post →This one is just okay for me. The puzzles are nice and easy, the characters are okay (Miles is iconic tho). My biggest issues is how limited the setting is, but it's an older and a shorter game, so we take it.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A little short for my liking but then again the older Nancy Drew games tend to be quite short. As far as the older ND titles go, this one is one of the all stars. Fantastic setting, lots of genuine suspects, a compelling (enough) mystery and some spooky vibes here and there! The puzzles are a little hit or miss but overall i'd say they're pretty solid! 7/10
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Hey indie authors — no snark or sarcasm — what do you love most about being indie? I think for me it’s just that I can be like, “Hey, I think I’ll do this thing,” and then just do it. At the start of this year, I discovered Nancy Drew entered the public domain, had ideas for stories and put the stories I was working on hold to work on a Nancy Drew story. And that’s fine! — and no one is telling me I can’t. And I’m having the time of my life with it. #indieauthors #writing #writingcommunity…
neutral · AI labelView post →This game was even better than I remembered. I love that you don't have to skip back and forth between night and day, that all the puzzles and games are manageable if you just look in the right place or try try again, and there's a nice selection of people to talk to both in person and on the phone. I loved ordering room service just for funsies, and of course solving riddles from MILES the magnificent memory machine! What a character. A top 5 game for sure.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Very exhaustive guide from #Arglefumph on how to interact with certain crucial character from videogame Nancy Drew: The Secret of Shadow Ranch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jr52E2JQT6o #NancyDrew #NancyDrewTheSecretOfShadowRanch
neutral · AI labelView post →hey, y'all! im gonna be participating in the next Trans Lifeline streamathon at: - 8-10 AM EDT on Thursday, March 26th - 7-8 PM EDT on Sunday, March 29th tilt.fyi/hvwmGcBaHR I'll be playing #NancyDrew: The Phantom of Venice for both slots. Incentives below! #VTuber
neutral · AI labelView post →Not the very best in the series, but my favorite parts were the carousel ride and the arcade games.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I've been playing through the Nancy Drew games chronologically and this is my favorite so far! I think it struck a did a really good job giving you enough to know where to go next, and the mini games were a lot of fun (although a few more puzzles would've been nice). I also loved the Miles storyline!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It's not as atmospheric or as detective-y as my other favorite ND games, but the major plot is sweet and thoughtful. What can I say other than I love Nancy Drew in general. CAR is not in my top 5, but that doesn't say much. The heart and soul that HER has put into these games over the years still brings me back at 35 when I started playing them at 10.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great addition to the amateur detective's library. Short and sweet game. Loved it!
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →It was basically just talking to people the entire time with minimal puzzles, nothing like the other Nancy Drew games.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →#GoingLive to play more #NancyDrew: Sea of Darkness! got some more puzzles to do. then i think we finish the game? i think Soren did it! im on Twitch www.twitch.tv/melody_wisp and YouTube (vertically) youtube.com/live/c0we_R8... #MelodeezLive #VTuber #VTLive [4 #LIVE] finishing the game? ...
neutral · AI labelView post →
Posts are quoted from public profiles with links to the original. Want yours removed? Contact us.
