Nancy Drew Games in Order: Complete PC Adventure List

Dykes Sandra
Nancy Drew PC adventure game covers in release order

Looking for the Nancy Drew games in order? The core Nancy Drew PC games form a numbered series of mystery adventures, and their release order is the clearest way to follow how the characters, puzzles, and game design developed. The stories are mostly standalone, so you can also begin with a later favorite.

The Nancy Drew game order below covers the 33 core PC adventures released from 1998 through 2024. Release years are shown so you can see the series’ progression without mixing in remakes or spin-offs.

Nancy Drew PC games in release order

  1. Secrets Can Kill (1998)
  2. Stay Tuned for Danger (1999)
  3. Message in a Haunted Mansion (2000)
  4. Treasure in the Royal Tower (2001)
  5. The Final Scene (2001)
  6. Secret of the Scarlet Hand (2002)
  7. Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake (2002)
  8. The Haunted Carousel (2003)
  9. Secret of Shadow Ranch (2004)
  10. Curse of Blackmoor Manor (2004)
  11. Secret of the Old Clock (2005)
  12. Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon (2005)
  13. Danger by Design (2006)
  14. Creature of Kapu Cave (2006)
  15. White Wolf of Icicle Creek (2007)
  16. Legend of the Crystal Skull (2007)
  17. The Phantom of Venice (2008)
  18. The Haunting of Castle Malloy (2008)
  19. Ransom of the Seven Ships (2009)
  20. Warnings at Waverly Academy (2009)
  21. Trail of the Twister (2010)
  22. Shadow at the Water’s Edge (2010)
  23. The Captive Curse (2011)
  24. Alibi in Ashes (2011)
  25. Tomb of the Lost Queen (2012)
  26. The Deadly Device (2012)
  27. Ghost of Thornton Hall (2013)
  28. The Silent Spy (2013)
  29. The Shattered Medallion (2014)
  30. Labyrinth of Lies (2014)
  31. Sea of Darkness (2015)
  32. Midnight in Salem (2019)
  33. Mystery of the Seven Keys (2024)

This list follows the numbered adventure releases only. Some promotional material refers to Mystery of the Seven Keys as the 34th installment when the Secrets Can Kill remake is counted separately, but the remake does not introduce a new numbered mystery.

Do the Nancy Drew games in order need to be played sequentially?

No. You do not need to play the Nancy Drew games sequentially to understand most of them. Each entry gives Nancy a new case, setting, cast of suspects, and central puzzle, with the mystery usually resolved before the credits.

There is light continuity through recurring characters and references. Nancy’s friends Bess Marvin and George Fayne, boyfriend Ned Nickerson, father Carson Drew, the Hardy Boys, and later characters such as Deirdre Shannon appear across multiple adventures. A few games also reference earlier cases, locations, or relationships. These callbacks add context, but they rarely prevent you from enjoying a game on its own.

Release order is still useful if you want to see the series evolve. The earliest titles have older interfaces and simpler presentation, while later games generally offer more elaborate environments, voice acting, minigames, and cinematic storytelling. Playing chronologically also avoids encountering a character’s later development before their first appearance.

Best starting points from the Nancy Drew game list

For a first game, choose an entry based on the type of mystery and puzzle design you prefer:

  • Message in a Haunted Mansion: A strong early introduction with a classic haunted-house setting, investigation, and a manageable puzzle mix.
  • Secret of Shadow Ranch: One of the most approachable entries, combining a western setting, character-driven clues, and varied puzzles.
  • Curse of Blackmoor Manor: A good choice for players who want gothic atmosphere, extensive exploration, and more demanding puzzles.
  • Last Train to Blue Moon Canyon: An ensemble mystery with the Hardy Boys, a memorable setting, and a particularly accessible structure.
  • Warnings at Waverly Academy: A polished school mystery with approachable objectives and a useful introduction to the series’ recurring social characters.
  • Sea of Darkness: A later, visually polished adventure with a strong atmosphere and a self-contained story. It is an excellent modern starting point, although release-order players may prefer to save it for later.

If you want to experience the series historically, begin with Secrets Can Kill. If dated graphics and interfaces are a concern, start with Message in a Haunted Mansion or Secret of Shadow Ranch instead.

Remasters and side releases: where they fit

Secrets Can Kill Remastered is a rebuilt version of the first game, released in 2010. It updates the presentation and gameplay while following the same basic case, so play it instead of the 1998 original if you want a more modern version of entry one. It belongs beside the first game in the Nancy Drew game list, not as a separate numbered adventure.

The Nancy Drew Dossier games—Lights, Camera, Curses! and Resorting to Danger!—are optional side releases with hidden-object-focused gameplay rather than the standard adventure format. Nancy Drew: Mobile Mysteries – Shadow Ranch revisits that case in a mobile format, while Nancy Drew: Codes & Clues is a separate educational mobile title.

These side releases can be played whenever you like. Keep them outside the main PC release order, and use the 33-game list above for the core Nancy Drew adventure series.