Mom Hid My Game! [a], originally released in English as Hidden my game by mom, is a video game developed and published by hap inc. for iOS and Android and later localized and published by Kemco for the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch in 2017.[2] Later in 2020, the game was released on PlayStation 4.[3]
| Mom Hid My Game! | |
|---|---|
 Official artwork depicting two of the game's main characters, the playing character, a young boy, and his mother | |
| Developer(s) | hap inc. |
| Publisher(s) | Kemco hap inc. (mobile) |
| Programmer(s) | Yuusaka Ishimoto |
| Series | Mom Hid My Game |
| Platform(s) | iOS Android Nintendo 3DS Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Puzzle |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Gameplay edit
The game features the player as a young boy looking for his video game console (which heavily resembles a Nintendo DS), which was hidden by his mother. The game console is found by solving puzzles, such as moving items to certain spots to be able to reach the console.
In the Nintendo Switch release, a mode involving a man swinging around a pole was added. The minigame is presumably a reference to hap inc's older game Crazy Horizontal bar.
Development edit
In an interview with The Verge in 2018, the game's developer, Yuusaku Ishimoto, stated that the game was inspired by manga, with each level being designed as if they were comic strips. In the same interview, Ishimoto stated that the game's characters were modeled after his childhood.[4]
Initially, the game was released as Hidden My Game By Mom for iOS and Android.[5] The game was developed by a one man team created by Yuusaku Ishimoto, with a grammatically incorrect title being taken with a help of Google Translate. The publisher for the console versions pointed out that the translation was off, prompting Ishimoto to correct the mistake.[4]
The updated version was first showcased in a Nindies Showcase hosted by Nintendo on August 30, 2017.[6] Later in early December 2017, the game was put on the Nintendo Switch eShop's "coming soon" list.[7]
Reception edit
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | 73/100 (Switch)[8][b] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Destructoid | 6.5/10 (Switch)[9] |
| Nintendo Life |   (Switch)[10] |
| Nintendo World Report | 9/10 (Switch)[11] |
Mom Hid My Game! received "mixed or average reviews" from critics, receiving a 73/100 on review aggregator Metacritic.[8]
Polygon's Allegra Frank praised the game's premise of controlling a boy "who's obsessed with his Nintendo 3DS-style handheld." Frank also stated that the game's randomness made it "well-suited for [the] [Nintendo] Switch."[12]
In July 2018, GameSpot's Chris Reed stated that Mom Hid My Game! was one of the best Nintendo Switch eShop games available in North America that were on sale.[13]
In a review for Destructoid, Dan Roemer criticized the game's graphics and how the game feels "tame" compared to the mobile releases in the Hidden game by mom series but praised the game's sense of Japanese humor.[9]
Nintendo Life's Jon Cousins stated that Mom Hid My Game! was "as easy to adore as it [was] to dismiss," and also said that the game's low production value gave it a unique charm.[10]
In a review for Nintendo World Report, Neal Ronaghan praised the game's "amusing puzzle design," "clever and surprising gags and jokes," and "frantic pace," but criticized the game's short length, but also said that the short length was still "okay."[11]
Vice Media's Janine Hawkins stated that Mom Hid My Game! has similarities to Nintendo's WarioWare series.[14]
Notes edit
References edit
- ^ "『ママにゲーム隠された』がNewニンテンドー3DS向けに配信開始、アイテムを駆使して"ゲーム"を探し出そう". Famitsu. July 12, 2017. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ Doolan, Liam (August 8, 2018). "Hap Inc. Developer Explains Translation Troubles Tied To Mom Hid My Game Series". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ Croft, Liam (October 31, 2020). "Track Down Your PS4 Collection Today in Mom Hid My Game!". Push Square. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
- ^ a b Lee, Dami (August 7, 2018). "Hidden My Game By Mom 3 continues the puzzle series's offbeat charm". The Verge. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ Lee, Dami (July 24, 2018). "What Is the 'Hidden My Game by Mom' Series?". Touch Arcade. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ Whitehead, Thomas (August 30, 2017). "Mom Hid My Game Will Try to Find a Home on Switch and 3DS Later This Year". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ Whitehead, Thomas (December 12, 2017). "Mom Hid My Game! Gets a Festive Release on the Switch eShop". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Mom Hid My Game! Switch". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 10, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Roemer, Dan (January 14, 2018). "Review: Mom Hid My Game!". Destructoid. Archived from the original on October 10, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Cousins, Jon (December 18, 2017). "Mom Hid My Game! Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on July 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ a b Ronaghan, Neal (December 19, 2017). "Mom Hid My Game (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ Frank, Allegra (December 21, 2017). "Nintendo Switch eShop's new puzzle game is hilariously weird". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 16, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ Reed, Chris (July 31, 2018). "Best Nintendo Switch Eshop Games On Sale In The US". GameSpot. Archived from the original on July 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.
- ^ Hawkins, Janine (September 20, 2017). "Why Did Mom Hid My Game?????". Vice Media. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2020.