Nancy Drew Games Tier Ranking [UPDATING]

Hey everyone! Today we're going to be pivoting a bit to discuss my current obsession- the Nancy Drew computer games.

While we're all doing our part to be safe and stay home, I got a bit nostalgic and started working my way through Nancy Drew games old & new, which of course led to me wanting to rank the games. Because duh, that's kinda my MO.

I'm going to be doing several posts relating to these games, but THIS ONE is special. This post will serve as my updating ranking/tier list of the Nancy Drew games, which will be updated whenever I finish a new one. I'll also include a brief note (as brief as I'm capable of being) about why it's placed where it is. However, I'll also be posting reviews/discussions for each individual game as I play them, so that I can discuss my opinions in more detail without clogging up this post. When I post a review, I'll update this post so that this post is as up to date as possible. I also plan to slowly start posting reviews/discussions of the games that are already on this tier list, so that I can talk about them in more detail.

Lastly, a couple of things before jumping into the tiers. Firstly, some of these games are ones I played recently, and others are ones I haven't re-played since childhood, so there are some I remember a lot better than others. Secondly, I tend to think of these tiers as if they're grades and treat them as such, so keep that in mind!

Unplayed Tier

As should probably be obvious, these are the ND games I haven't played yet, so feel free to make recommendations based on your own favorites as well as which ones you think I'll like based on my current opinions!

#6- Secret of the Scarlet Hand
#9- Danger on Deception Island
#15- Creature of Kapu Cave
#16- White Wolf of Icicle Creek
#18- Phantom of Venice
#20- Ransom of the Seven Ships
#22- Trail of the Twister
#25- Alibi in Ashes
#27- Deadly Device
#30- Shattered Medallion
#31- Labyrinth of Lies
#32- Sea of Darkness
#33- Midnight in Salem

F Tier- No Thanks

None of the Nancy Drew games are outright bad, but the ones in this tier are my least faves.

Haunted Carousel- I wanted so much more from this. More "Haunted," characters that were actually interesting, a compelling story, all of it. I honestly found it just kinda boring and didn't really love playing it. 

D Tier- Meh

The title says it all. Meh. I don't have strong opinions on them, but they're below average.

Secrets Can Kill- Frankly, I never finished this one because I got to a point where it stopped working on my computer. But until that point, I had very little opinion on it and decided to go ahead and put it on the tier list just because.

The Final Scene- This is one I only played years ago, but this is the least memorable of all the ones I played in the past. I don't remember much of the overall plot and only remember vague details of the culprit, and some of the locations. That's it. It didn't leave a lasting impression.

Danger by Design- The first half felt like it was holding your hand, but the second half felt like it kicked you out and left you there to die. The plot never fully came together for me, and I don't think it made amazing use of the location. I mean it's in PARIS. I just didn't find this one super compelling across the board.

Tomb of the Lost Queen- I just didn't really enjoy this one. I wasn't super into the premise, and didn't really enjoy a lot of my time playing the game. Also-- worst overall group of characters in any game. All of them were boring. However, I liked the way the tomb expanded as puzzles were solved.

C Tier- Average

Much like a C grade, it's average, passable, aight, but nothing special. Like a 7/10ish

Secret of the Old Clock- This is one I played when I was younger, and I remember liking it, but I don't have super detailed memories of it.

Ghost Dogs of Shadow Lake- Similarly, one I played when I was younger. I think a replay could move this one up, but even though I remember liking it, I don't have super detailed memories.

Shadow at Water's Edge- I wanted to love this one because the Japanese setting is great and it's billed as the most difficult and scariest ND game, but I found it frustrating and non-intuitive instead of difficult. It gets major points for the setting and scares, and some for the characters too, but loses points for many of the puzzles and the excessive sudoku and nonograms.

Legend of the Crystal Skull- Much like SAW, I wanted to love this one because of the setting and premise, but despite generally liking the puzzles, I found them easier but equally frustrating. I also didn't love the back and forth between Bess and Nancy.

B Tier- Really Like

Much like my grades in school, a B is pretty good, but not amazing. I could make an argument for some of these going into A tier, but this is where they've landed.

Ghost of Thornton Hall- I first played this one a few years back, so I've forgotten a few things, and although it's not going to be an all-time fave, I really enjoyed it. The setting is great, and I liked the overall mystery. Don't have a huge memory of the puzzles, but overall it's one of the spookiest ND games and I really like it.

Captive Curse- This is the one I'm most likely to move up. The maps are confusing, but I enjoy the premise and setting, the mini-games are my fave and I quite like the characters. It has several flaws, namely all the loose threads in the story, but it's just one of those games I find myself drawn to.

Stay Tuned for Danger- Now this is a throwback. I haven't played it in probably 15 years, but I have such a vivid memory of this game, the locations, and even some of the puzzles. Perhaps it's the nostalgia, but I remember quite enjoying this one.

Message in a Haunted Mansion- TBH, ditto what I said about Stay Tuned for Danger. I remember the mansion like the back of my hand, that's how vivid my memory of this game is. Once again, could be nostalgia, but I really enjoyed this one too.

A Tier- Love

We have one more tier left, so think of these as an A as in like... a 93% lol. They're some of the best ND games but not quite faves enough to get to the untouchable tier.

Secret at Shadow Ranch- This one was so hard to rank, because I played it when I was younger and obsessed with horses, and this was my favorite ND game. I don't think I'd be quite as in love now, so I've moved it down a tier, but couldn't move it much further given all of my fond memories with it.

Warnings at Waverly Academy- This is THE premise. Want to get my attention? Give me a boarding school and sabotage (preferably murder, but we don't get that here). The setting, premise, characters, and even mini-games are all on point. I wish it were a touch less linear, but otherwise it's a slam dunk. Justice for MEL.

Secret Spy- THE CHARACTERS. I enjoy spy stories, and this game has one of the strongest premises in the whole series, but Zoe and Alec (mostly Alec) really clench this. Alec's moral ambiguity is so fascinating, and I loved trying to figure him out. Furthermore, interesting puzzles and great mini-games round this one out really nicely.

Haunting of Castle Malloy- Despite a lackluster ending, I found this one largely really enjoyable for the sheer fact that every aspect of it was solid across the board. Great setting, interesting characters, fun mini-games, clever puzzles. I have some complaints but they're relatively minimal.

S Tier- the Untouchables

The best of the best, the creme de la creme. My favorite and IMO the best ND games.

Treasure in the Royal Tower- When I think of ND games, I think of TRT. I replayed this recently and although it's not as complex as some other high-tier games, it. holds. up. It deserves S tier on the power of the elevator shaft/library sneaking alone. That's the most iconic part of any ND game ever. Sure, there's some magic of nostalgia at work. But it's also very clever, enjoyable, and still incredibly memorable even today. ICONIC.

Curse of Blackmoor Manor- I haven't played it in many years, but I have fond memories of it, and it was probably my favorite as a kid. I love settings like this, and had a lot of fun playing it.

Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon- Brilliant. Rather than solving a series of unconnected puzzles, the whole train is one big puzzle that you're slowly piecing together. Everything fits together so logically and cleverly. This is truly the posterchild for how brilliant ND games are at their best.

So that's my full tier list ranking of all of the Nancy Drew games I've played! Like I mentioned at the beginning, I plan to update this whenever I post a review/discussion of a newly-played game. Hopefully in the near-ish future, I'll begin posting reviews/discussions for the games I've already played and finished, so if there's one where you're really curious about my detailed opinion, let me know! I'll make it a priority. 

Thanks for reading!