Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes gallery
What parents need to know
Positive role models
Ease of play
Violence
Sex
Language
Consumerism
Drinking, drugs, & smoking
Privacy & safety
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes is a mystery game about the famous literary detective, Nancy Drew. Unlike previous Nancy Drew games, in this one you spend much of your time playing as Nancy's friends, since Nancy is in jail charged with arson. Players can explore the game at two levels of difficulty, as Senior or Junior Detective. No matter which mode is selected, though, puzzles are challenging and can't be skipped. If a fatal mistake is made that causes the game to end, players can restore the game from the moment before making a bad decision.
What kids can learn
Subjects
Language & Reading
- following directions
- reading
Math
- patterns
Skills
Thinking & Reasoning
- solving puzzles
- analyzing evidence
- collecting data
Communication
- asking questions
- listening
Collaboration
- teamwork
Engagement, Approach, Support
Effectively shakes up the formula of past Nancy Drew mysteries. It’s fun to explore Nancy’s childhood haunts. Full of challenging puzzles, interesting characters, and a compelling mystery to solve.
Kids can learn how to reason like a detective. Kids learn to collect data, analyze evidence, and make deductions based on facts. Mini puzzle games require kids to recognize math patterns.
Players can play as Senior or Junior Detective; the latter provides a task list to keep players on track about what they need to do next, and simplifies mini-games slightly.
User reviews
Parents say
Kids say
What's it about?
In NANCY DREW: ALIBI IN ASHES, Nancy returns to her hometown of River Heights and finds herself under arrest for arson after a mysterious fire destroys the old town hall. With Nancy in jail, it’s up to her friends George, Bess, and Ned to investigate the mystery on her behalf by interviewing suspects and gathering evidence to help clear Nancy’s name. Players switch between controlling each of the four characters, and must decide how to use each person’s unique personality traits effectively.Â
Is it any good?
QUALITY
Nancy Drew: Alibi in Ashes effectively shakes up the formula of past Nancy Drew mysteries. With Nancy confined to a police station, players spend most of the game switching between her three friends while Nancy coordinates the investigation on her cellphone. The setting – Nancy’s quaint hometown – isn’t as exotic as the settings of some of the other games, but it’s still fun to explore Nancy’s childhood haunts (including her home and the famous desk that players see at the start of every Nancy Drew game). And like previous games, Alibi in Ashes is full of challenging puzzles, interesting characters, and a compelling mystery to solve.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about what it might be like to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else. Do you think that would be a good thing or a bad thing?
Families can also talk about fire safety, since this game’s purpose is to solve a crime of arson. Do you know what to do if you ever find yourself caught in a smoking building?
What do you like about playing mystery games? What are your favorites?
Game details
| Platforms: | Windows |
| Price: | $19.99 |
| Available online? | Not available online |
| Developer: | Her Interactive |
| Release date: | October 20, 2011 |
| Genre: | Girl |
For kids who love mysteries and puzzles
Browse more games
Top advice and articles
What parents and kids say
Share your thoughts with other parents and kids Write a user review
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines
QUALITY
Great game- if you don't like mysteries though..
I've played all the Nancy Drew games. Have been since I was eight or something. It's not that the game isn't completely appropriate for kids under ten, you just can't really understand the game as well or solve the puzzles.
The puzzles aren't THAT difficult. If you're really frustrated with one they have good message boards- monitored tooth and nail- that can give hints.
The game was slightly disappointing for me personally. Only because I've played each game multiple times. I wouldn't have not played it though. It's sort of a given that I buy each one. One of the few computer games I really enjoy though.
If you're not into the mystery and adventure genre, don't get it. There's also slight violence in almost each Nancy Drew game, just to make it more exciting. Any one who can solve the game easily would be fine with the level of violence though.
What other families should know
Educational value
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much consumerism
QUALITY
awesomeness
i think this game is very good it is not educational and dosent have positive messages it not violent. so you should buy this game its very fun to play even after you beat the game!
QUALITY
BEST GAME YET
I played this game twice and both times it was awesome!!! It's definately one of the best nancy drew pc games!!
What other families should know
Educational value
Great role models
