Maze: Stolen Minds

This game proves my theory as to what goes on at the site and publishing house Big Fish Games. If you go to their site, which is a huge host of many “casual” genre games, you’ll be blasted with over 3,000 games that all look alike. They all follow the same formula- painterly semi realism, hidden object mini games, point and click adventure.

So how do they seem to publish a game every single day? Well they outsource to tons of development groups, share assets between them, and recycle recycle recycle. I also think they put these teams on tight deadlines… it’s the Amazon of gaming.

Mad Head Games, who did the great Subject 360, is one such team. Back in 2017 I loved the first two Maze games but hadn’t seen anything since. Now, they have around 25 games published. How?

I think they put these teams on some sort of deal. If it’s exploitation or equal sharing in the profits is anyone’s guess. But this game proves how formulaic they become. Subject 360 is a unique passion-filled wild ride of a game… this is a sterile by-the-numbers one. And the 5th game I won’t even review.

I would love for someone to crack the case on what goes on at this company. They put out so many games that are largely targeted to middle-aged folks (I assume mothers with extra time on their hands), and then I assume soak up the profits. I do happen to enjoy some of them, like Subject 360 or the True Fear series (which only had the first game up on Big Fish and has since moved to Steam because of a dispute apparently). But it’s a weird niche of the gaming world I am curious to explore and see what’s really going on.

But ya, avoid this one. Play the first two Maze games, True Fear, and that’s about all I can really recommend at the moment. I’m playing some more so I will post reviews if there’s anything else that truly stands in quality with the rest of the point and click genre…. But hopes aren’t super high. But maybe the odd debut development team game, we will see!