Capsule Review: Hidden my game by mom
(A note on versions - this game originally came out for mobile as “Hidden my game by mom”. It later came to New 3DS and Switch with exclusive levels as the better-translated “Mom Hid My Game!”)
A game in which you play as a boy trying to find his handheld game console each day after his mother has hidden it. Each day is its own short level, which is a room-escape-like puzzle generally solvable in under a minute. They start fairly logical but quickly become totally unhinged, such as blocking your access to the cupboard containing your game with a constant stream of bicyclists. Doing anything that frightens or injures the boy - or being spotted by the mother - is an instant game over requiring you to restart the day but the puzzles are short enough that this isn’t too painful. The game isn’t very challenging and most of the value comes from seeing what bizarre and amusing situation will crop up next.
There’s very little text, which along with the lighthearted silliness makes the game suitable for all ages and also renders the poor translation (at least in the mobile version) not much of a problem, though the optional hints are often opaque. Some puzzles also make very little sense unless you’re familiar with certain stories or cultural concepts (for example, one puzzle is modeled after The Honest Woodcutter) but they can be solved regardless and since everything’s so silly anyway this is also not really a problem.
I Stopped Playing When: I finished the game by solving all puzzles.
Three Stars: Good. I liked the game enough to finish it (or just play it a bunch, for games that don't end). I recommend it to most genre fans.