Nancy Drew: The White Wolf of Icicle Creek

What’s the Story?

In NANCY DREW: THE WHITE WOLF OF ICICLE CREEK, you play as the teen sleuth, hired by the owner of a Canadian Rockies guest lodge to uncover the source of a series of accidents. Upon arriving at the wintry lodge, where you'll go undercover as the maid and cook and try to deduce what drew each guest to this lodge. Since you are the maid, you have access to the guests' rooms and can discover secrets there; you also have access to the lodge's computer and records. As with previous Nancy Drew games, this gameplay incorporates the solving of puzzles as part of the mystery's resolution.

Is It Any Good?

Fans of mystery games and of Nancy Drew will enjoy this new installment. As usual, the visuals are stunning. And players no longer have to worry about taking risks: If you choose a fatal path, the game automatically restores you to the point before the bad decision.

But this game isn't quite as good as some of the earlier installments. Being the maid and cook imposes limitations because you have to cook three times a day at specific times and clean the guests' rooms every morning. Your ability to investigate is further hampered by the Canadian temperature, which can be so cold that, at times, you can't venture outside and have to wait. But these limitations don't distract much from the enjoyment of solving this complicated mystery -- with two levels of difficulty, this mystery game will appeal to kids as young as age 9.