I Spy Mystery (Windows, Mac)

The ninth title in Scholastic's popular I Spy software series, I SPY MYSTERY has kids solve visual puzzles to obtain clues to 13 different mysteries. This software contains 56 I Spy puzzles that challenge kids to find objects hidden in a crowded photorealistic picture; accompanying each picture is a riddle that, when solved, lists the objects to find.

Most of the 56 puzzles found in I Spy Mystery are recycled from earlier CD-ROMs, including I Spy Treasure Hunt (2001), I Spy Spooky Mansion (2004), and others. This can be disappointing to children anticipating all-new content. But since the recycled puzzles are combined with new puzzles to form mysteries that have additional components, even kids who've played the previous titles will find something new to explore here.

Families who are new to this series will find lots to like. The mystery format provides great motivation to solve each I Spy puzzle within a mystery folder. The pictures used as puzzles are intricate and fascinating, and solving them requires thinking and problem-solving skills. Parents might want to play with children under age 6 because some of the riddles are very clever, and finding the objects can be challenging.

Available on: Windows, Mac
Not available online
Genre: Puzzle
Developer: Scholastic
Released on: September 15, 2006
Price: 20
ESRB Rating: E