Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects is an adventure-puzzle casual game

Casual game

A casual game is a video game targeted at or used by a mass audience of casual gamers. Casual games can have any type of gameplay, and fit in any genre. They are typically distinguished by their simple rules and lack of commitment required in contrast to more complex hardcore games...

 developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...

. It is the second installment in the Mystery Case Files

Mystery Case Files

Mystery Case Files is a series developed by the internal studios of Big Fish Games. The Mystery Case Files series is known for its ‘Hidden Object’ puzzles where, in order to progress through a game, the player must find a certain number of items hidden somewhere on a painted scene.There have been...

 series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website. The Mystery Case Files franchise is the number one brand in casual games and has sold more than 2.5 million units to date.

Story

Following on the heels of Mystery Case Files: Huntsville, the player is tasked with investigating the disappearance of the Queen’s Hope Diamond

Hope Diamond

The Hope Diamond, also known as "Le bleu de France" or "Le Bijou du Roi", is a large, , deep-blue diamond, now housed in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum in Washington, D.C. It is blue to the naked eye because of trace amounts of boron within its crystal structure, but exhibits red...

 in Capital City. The 800 carats (160 g) diamond was stolen from the Capital City Plaza Gallery where it was on display as part of the annual mineral convention, Sparkle Daze. Prime Suspects adds items that players have to discover to unlock later levels (such as finding a battery to power a flashlight). Characters also became a more prominent part of the series with the investigation revolving around a list of 20 characters with different personality ‘quirks’.

Suspects

• Susan Williams AKA Chocolate Sandie - Occupation: Black-market cookie pusher
  Cookie Pusher
  The term Cookie Pusher has been applied as a reference to diplomats in general and members of the United States Foreign Service specifically.-Origin:The Listserv of the American Dialect Society documents "cookie pusher" as being coined by US diplomat Hugh S...
  
  
• James Michael AKA Jimmy Glitter - Occupation: Lead guitarist of rock band Buttercream
• Constance Noring AKA The Snoozy Cruiser - Occupation: Curiosity shop operator and accidental car thief
• Barry Swanson AKA Spry Guy - Occupation: Unemployed superhero
• Ricardo Gherkin AKA Dick Pickle - Occupation: Fruit vendor and toenail enthusiast
• Elizabeth Wright AKA Barbell Betty - Occupation: Salvage yard worker and professional body builder
• Annie Buddyhome AKA Mommy - Occupation: Housewife and suspected master thief.
• Matilda Fitzgerald AKA Tone-Deaf Tilly - Occupation: Dental assistant and aspiring jazz singer
• Kara Donnan AKA La Couturiere Criminelle - Occupation: Seamstress and fashion mogul
• Ronny Tidwell AKA Big Iron Ronny - Occupation: Street performer and ex-wrestler
• Vincent Gavone AKA Vinny the Chin - Occupation: Token Mafia guy
• 1011001 AKA Walter Gomez Jr. - Occupation: Jobless welding robot
• Abe Stinkin AKA Abe the Babe - Occupation: Hot dog vendor and amateur meat collector
• Foley Zipper AKA The Hollywood Scoop - Occupation: Ex-paparazzi and gossip columnist
• Crystal Ball AKA Madam Fleiss - Occupation: Fraudulent medium
• Pierce Hart AKA Doctor Defect - Occupation: Pseudo physician
• Rudy Sinclair AKA Petro-Breath - Occupation: School teacher
• John Thomas AKA Johnny Vicious - Occupation: Soccer hooligan
• Holly Day Inn AKA Her Heinous Highness - Occupation: Photo op fiend and collector of shiny objects
• Arthur Lugen AKA Art the Carny - Occupation: Crooked carnival worker (He appears again in MCF: Madame Fate
  Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate
  Mystery Case Files: Madame Fate is an adventure-puzzle casual game developed by Big Fish Studios, and distributed by Big Fish Games. It is the fourth installment in the Mystery Case Files series. The game is available exclusively at Big Fish Games website...
  
  )

Gameplay

Like all Mystery Case Files titles, Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects relies heavily on the hidden object puzzle. Each hidden item represents a clue to determine the location of each suspect during the time in which the crime was committed. However, other challenges have been added to increase the overall challenge. Once the player has found the required hidden objects, they will travel to the Crime Computer and tackle a series of mini-games. Each mini-game will help the player to clear the name of one suspect or pinpoint them as a Prime Suspect.

Theme & Production Values

Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects features pre-rendered puzzles with many moving parts, as well as high quality orchestral audio and outstanding character voicing. One additional feature is game randomization. Once the player has completed Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects, they can play it again and be presented with an entirely new set of 'Prime Suspects'.

Reception

According to independent tracking site game-sales-charts.com, following its release on April 5, 2006, Mystery Case Files: Prime Suspects held the #1 sales spot on its home distribution channel, Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games

Big Fish Games is a provider of Internet media delivery software and game services based in Seattle, Washington. The company was founded in 2002 by Paul Thelen , and currently employs more than 400 people...

, and has remained in the top 20 ever since. Leading casual games industry outlets such as Gamezebo.com have featured several articles featuring extremely positive reviews of the game.