Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill! (Remastered)
Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill! (Remastered)
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this game.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill! (Remastered) is a a remake of the original Nancy Drew computer game from Her Interactive which originally came out in 1998. The visuals have all been updated to be in 3-D, but much of the puzzles and suspect interviews remain the same. For those who played the original, though, this remastered version does have a completely new and different ending. Parents should know that this Nancy Drew game skews a little older than most because the story revolves around the murder of a teenager, Nancy gets threatened at gunpoint in one scene, and taking of illegal steroids plays a big part in the mystery.
Community Reviews
Iffy remake but great fun!
Report this review
A very good game
Report this review
What’s It About?
NANCY DREW: SECRETS CAN KILL (REMASTERED) is an updated remake of the first Nancy Drew computer game from Her Interactive, originally released in 1998. With new, upgraded graphics, this game follows the same general plot as the original: Nancy goes undercover as a new student at a high school where a teen football player has just been murdered. As she investigates, she discovers secrets held by several of the students (including some interaction with illegal steroids). The ending -- and the culprit -- have been changed from the original game.
Is It Any Good?
The Nancy Drew games have come a long way in the past twelve years, with major improvements in sound and graphics. The first one ever, Nancy Drew: Secrets Can Kill!, had one of the best stories, though. And at this point in time, many fans of the series have probably never played the original. So this new remastered version was a great way for Her Interactive to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Nancy Drew character. There are aspects of this new Secrets Can Kill! that still seem a bit old, like the very flat looking map used to travel between destinations. But the upgraded 3-D characters definitely look great. For all the technical improvements, though, the selling point here is still the really, really great story. There are tons of coded messages to find and decipher in this mystery, which makes playing a blast for fans of brainy puzzle games. Plus, for anyone who did play the original, there's whole new killer this time around, which is as good a reason as any to play it again.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the dangers of steroids. Why should they be avoided, especially by teens? When you hear about a professional athlete in real life who has taken steroids, how does that change your opinion of him or her?
One of the characters in the story is suffering from burnout as a result of too much pressure to get into a good college. Do you know anybody who has felt similar academic pressure? How can teens deal with such pressures without risking burnout themselves?
Nancy Drew may be one of the most famous female protagonists in history, but does that necessarily make this a "girl game?" Can boys enjoy this game just as much?
Game Details
- Platforms: Mac, Windows
- Available online?: Not available online
- Publisher: Her Interactive
- Release date: August 24, 2010
- Genre: Girl
- ESRB rating: E10+ for Violence, Drug Reference
- Last updated: August 30, 2016
Our Editors Recommend
-
Nancy Drew: Trail of the Twister
Enigmatic puzzles and scary storms highlight this mystery.
-
Nancy Drew: Warnings at Waverly Academy
Fab fun as teen super-sleuth goes undercover at prep school.
-
Nancy Drew Dossier: Lights, Camera, Curses!
Nancy Drew spin-off retains the appeal of the main series.
-
Nancy Drew: Legend of the Crystal Skull
Fulfilling mystery has spooky sleuthing & puzzles.
For kids who love whodunnits
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate