Parents' Guide to

Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past

App iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android Free Adventure Games
Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past Poster Image

Common Sense Media Review

Erin Brereton By Erin Brereton , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 12+

Fun, mildly bloody mysteries slowed by frequent case limits.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 12+?

Any Positive Content?

  • Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past Screen Capture #1
  • Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past Screen Capture #2
  • Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past Screen Capture #3
  • Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past Screen Capture #4

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 12+

Based on 1 parent review

Flowerkeeper
Flowerkeeper Adult
February 11, 2019
age 12+

Great game

Great game. You can watch commercials to get more energy or coins. Just have to wait for evidence to be processed but that's no biggie. In comparison to most games, this one is great. They are not all about ripping you off. Very entertaining.
See all 1 parent review

Privacy Rating Warning

  • Unclear whether personal information is sold or rented to third parties.
  • Unclear whether personal information are shared for third-party marketing.
  • Personalised advertising is displayed.
  • Data are collected by third-parties for their own purposes.
  • Unclear whether this product uses a user's information to track and target advertisements on other third-party websites or services.
  • Data profiles are created and used for personalised advertisements.
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What’s It About?

CRIMINAL CASE: MYSTERIES OF THE PAST is part of a series of investigation games set in different locations. In this game, players solve murders in the 19th century by finding clues, questioning suspects, and analyzing evidence. Identifying crime scene objects earns kids coins, which they can use on avatar items, pets, and boosters to help get a high score and find objects faster. They also earn points for playing, which help them earn stars that are needed to advance the investigation. Extra points are awarded for finding items quickly without asking for hints.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (1 ):
Kids say (1 ):

The mysteries that players solve in this game are fun -- for the most part, if you can get around the random limits placed on play. Cases in Mysteries of the Past progress quickly at first, and characters walk you through each step, which helps prevent confusion. The app includes a number of elements that should help keep players from getting lost: Crime scene objects wiggle to help you find them, and players can also ask for a hint. Clues, such as the killer being right-handed, pop up after they've been mentioned to drive the point home, and they're recorded on a tablet, which can help you keep track of major case developments.

You need stars, though, to conduct some parts of the investigation, which are earned by getting a certain number of points. Stars don't carry over from case to case and can require hundreds of thousands of points to earn -- it can take multiple rounds of finishing a puzzle or finding crime scene clues to get a single star -- so it isn't hard to run out of them. If that happens, players can find themselves in a waiting game, with nothing to do except re-examine the same crime scene for new clues to earn more points, which can get old. They can pay to speed up autopsies and crime scene object analysis, or buy coins, which, in theory, can be used on boosters that will help increase their point total so they can eventually obtain more stars, but parents may not be thrilled about the expense. Offering more ways to earn stars would let kids play continuously and make Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past a more enjoyable experience, but as it is, it's a fun mystery solving app that will keep you busy for hours.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about mystery and investigation. How could the skills and investigation tactics learned while playing Criminal Case: Mysteries of the Past be used in real life?

  • Use the app as a chance to discuss consumerism and screen time. Kids may feel pressured to buy things to speed up the waiting process while playing, but could that be used as a way to limit the amount of time kids spend on the app? How much time is too much to play a game like this?

App Details

  • Devices: iPhone , iPod Touch , iPad , Android
  • Subjects: Language & Reading : following directions, reading, Math : addition, subtraction
  • Skills: Thinking & Reasoning : analyzing evidence, collecting data, deduction, investigation, logic, making conclusions, part-whole relationships, solving puzzles, thinking critically, Self-Direction : time management, work to achieve goals, Communication : asking questions
  • Pricing structure: Free
  • Release date: April 6, 2018
  • Category: Adventure Games
  • Publisher: Pretty Simple
  • Version: 1.21.4 iOS and 2.21.5 Android
  • Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 8.0 or later and Android 4.0.3 and up.
  • Last updated: February 13, 2020

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