Criminal Case: Hidden Objects review

Criminal Case is the pick for players who want their searching to lead somewhere. Each case starts with timed hidden object scenes at a crime scene, where faster finds earn the stars that move the investigation forward. You then take clues to the lab, question suspects and, at the end, choose who to arrest, which Pretty Simple notes can go wrong. The first city, Grimsborough, holds 56 cases across six districts, and seven further seasons follow. The developer says more than 100 million players have taken part since 2012. The trade-offs are energy and price: scenes cost energy, and the optional Pizza subscription that raises the energy bar to 170 and removes ads costs $2.99 a week after a 3-day free trial. Smaller items start at $0.99. It is rated 16+ on the US App Store. We compared documented features and published prices.

Who it is for

Players who want hidden object scenes tied to a real deduction step at the end of each case.

Price

Free to play; in-app items from $0.99 and an optional Pizza subscription at $2.99 a week on the US App Store.

Instant Access $0.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• 56 murder cases across 6 districts of Grimsborough
• Timed crime scene searches that earn stars
• Lab analysis of samples, fingerprints and torn documents
• Suspect interrogations and a final arrest
• Seven more seasons after the first city

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Each case ends in a deduction, not just a found item
• Strength: More than 100 million players since 2012, according to the developer
• Strength: Seven further seasons give a long runway of content
• Weakness: Energy limits how many scenes you play in a row
• Weakness: The ad-free Pizza subscription costs $2.99 a week
• Weakness: Rated 16+ for crime themes

Key facts

• Cases in the first season: 56
• Seasons: 8
• Age rating: 16+
• Requires: iOS 15.6 or later

Where it ranks

Criminal Case: Hidden Objects is No. 2 in our Best Free Hidden Object Games verdict.