Sniper Dan review – Hidden object hunting at its best

There are lots of hidden object games out there, but there are none quite like Sniper Dan. And I mean that in a good way. What’s more, the thing that makes Sniper Dan stand out undoubtedly broadens its appeal, so even if you usually turn your nose up at the hidden object genre, you might want to give it a go.

So, what is that twist, you might be wondering? As you can probably guess from the game’s name, it’s that Sniper Dan casts you as a long-range sniper. And so, instead of simply finding objects in the environment and clicking on them, you need to shoot them instead.

It’s a mechanic that also allows the game to have a little more fun, sometimes tasking you with defeating bosses or playing a mini-game in which you need to shoot targets as fast as you can. It’s surprising just how much you can achieve with a well-placed bullet.

Sniper Dan is the most exciting and action-packed hidden object game around, then. Even better, it’s hilarious to boot. Jump into one of the game’s busy locations and you’ll find yourself faced with a list of tasks to complete, with many of them being utterly ridiculous.

You might need to find someone with an overgrown beard and give it a trim with your bullets, or you might need to help someone light their fireplace by shooting the match they’re holding. When it comes to the latter, don’t be surprised it the result is unexpected.

After learning the basics, you’ll start with just one location available to you. By completing jobs at that location you’ll earn both money and stars, which can both be used to further your sniping enterprise. Needless to say, it pays to be efficient.

Stars are awarded in accordance to your performance; complete a level in a brisk manner while completing all objectives and not accidentally shooting anyone and you’ll earn more of them. These can then be used to unlock more locations to hunt objects in. Money, meanwhile, can not only be used to upgrade your gun in the in-game shop, but also buy customisations items for Sniper Dan HQ and more, typically boosting your earnings.

Six locations are ultimately available, and you can largely tackle them in any order that you wish, with each location having multiple lists of objectives for you to complete. You’ll find other things to hunt down in each location, too, such as fireworks, banana skins, and even a Chinese vampire.

Throw in additional ways to play, with unlockable Time Attack and Ammo Hunts modes, and you have quite a substantial package considering its budget price. There are some unlockable minigames, too, including air hockey and bowling.

Whether you’re a fan of hidden object games or simply like accessible, quirky experiences that you can share with the whole family, chances are you’ll quickly fall in love with Sniper Dan. I’d even go as far to say that it’s the hidden object game for those who don’t like hidden object games. It’s outrageous, it’s colourful, it’s addictive, and most importantly, it’s fun from the moment you boot it up.