When it comes to more casual and budget-friendly fare on the Switch, it can often be a little difficult to figure out exactly where to land with them when it comes to scoring. These aren’t titles that will generally get your blood pumping or blow you away with anything in particular, they’re purposely geared to instead simply be pleasant and approachable. Unfortunately, that also risks making them teeter on the edge of being a bit dull, unless there’s some element in their secret sauce which at least makes them memorable. 

Along with its predecessor, Hidden Around the World joins a pretty surprising number of hidden object games in the eShop in some form. While you’d think that would make them quite similar, you’d likely be surprised at how much they can vary once you take into account their general art style, interface, and special features. In the case of Hidden Around the World, everything has a pretty hand-drawn look which is neither amazing nor horrible, it simply gets the job done and is detailed enough to give you plenty to sort through visually, as you scan for the items you’re supposed to seek out. I do appreciate the fact that you’re able to change the time of day, which manages to open the door to subtle changes, though perhaps more could have been done with it. 

One stand-out special feature it has on its side is a double-edged sword though, and that’s a snapshot mode where you’ll sort through a few pre-made shots that feature multiple elements from the current puzzle, which you’ll be challenged to reproduce. While this is a novel idea, and I can’t say I’ve encountered it elsewhere, I’m also not positive how fun it may really be. Tracking down lesser items and pulling them all into a spot to then take your inevitably slightly different version of the shot, and hoping for the best, all feels a bit fidgety and like quite a bit of added trouble. The fact that this mode isn’t explained very well, or even terribly intuitive for all aspects of it, also makes it feel like more of an afterthought. Throw in the interface feeling a little sloppier than it needs to be, having to clumsily scroll to see all of the items you’re looking for, and while the game has merit, it also feels lacking in polish.