# Fear for Sale: Sunnyvale Story HD - A Dark Hidden Object Detective Game — user reviews > 79 indexed App Store user reviews of Fear for Sale by Big Fish Games, Inc, rated 3.50/5 from 163 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fear-for-sale-sunnyvale-story-hd-a-dark-hidden-object-detective-game/id889262370/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fear-for-sale-sunnyvale-story-hd-a-dark-hidden-object-detective-game/id889262370.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 63 · 4★ 28 · 3★ 28 · 2★ 22 · 1★ 22 ## What do users think of Fear for Sale? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 📖 Engaging and creative storyline - 🎨 Beautiful and clear artwork/graphics - 🎵 Good music and voice acting - 🧩 Interesting puzzles and challenges - ⏱️ Long gameplay duration - 🎮 Relaxing gaming experience - ✨ Bonus game included - 🔍 Zoom feature works well **Cons** - 🗺️ No map feature (most critical complaint) - ⏳ Extremely slow scene transitions/loading times - 🔄 Excessive back-and-forth navigation - 🎯 Unclear objectives and navigation guidance - 📦 Too many hidden object scenes - 👆 Items require multiple taps to interact - 📱 Dated graphics and UI design - 💰 Overpriced for the quality - 🐢 Game gets slower as you progress - 🎮 Repetitive and tedious gameplay - 📝 Inconsistent hint system **Commonly reported bugs** - Disappearing inventory items - Game crashes after purchase - Hint button sends player to wrong locations - Items not responding to taps - Game won't load on some devices - Slow/no response to user input **Most requested features** - Interactive map with teleportation - Faster scene loading/transitions - Better objective markers and navigation - More puzzle variety and less HO scenes - Updated graphics and modern UI - Skip button for cutscenes - Improved hint system responsiveness - Better item visibility in scenes ## Newest reviews (19 of 79) ### 2/5 — Good game, can’t restore prior purchase *2026-04-16, version 1.0.0* As noted, game is good. But prior purchase of this game won’t unlock. Message says I purchased it and do I want it free? I click OK then nothing happens. Can’t buy it again either. ### 3/5 — Loved the plot but not the gameplay *2025-03-18, version 1.0.0* Plot was great. I felt the gameplay was all over the place and I didn’t know where I had to go next or what I had to do and had to walk around everywhere to find out where I needed to be as I didn’t have a map to help me nor a objective ### 2/5 — Top dollar for an old style game *2022-10-07, version 1.0.0* There’s no map or other mini games; this is only a HO game. It definitely isn’t worth $6.99! ### 4/5 — sunnyvale *2022-01-09, version 1.0.0* waste of time to go back and forth… ### 3/5 — Fear for sale Sunnyvale *2019-05-08* Haven’t gotten far into this yet. You guys always ask for reviews before we even know if we’ll like it. So far I’m discouraged because there SO much time going from one scene to another. Never stopping..back and forth, back and forth. Also, the hidden objects are so tiny. I’m usually good finding them, but these are very difficult because they’re barely there for the eye to see. ### 3/5 — Relaxing game *2016-05-01, version 1.0.0* This game has very slow responses, but this is okay after a long stressful day. Where is the map? Remembering each location is mildly annoying; however, the story is entertaining. An update would be extremely beneficial. ### 2/5 — I'm exhausted! *2016-03-31, version 1.0.0* I am not even going to finish this before writing my review, because I am not enjoying it at all. This game absolutely SCREAMS in agony for a jump map!!! There is no map at all and scene transitions are slow. There was one place where it was necessary to crawl through 10 scenes to get from where you were to where you needed to go next. Some scenes are nearly useless, with nothing in them but a transition to the next one. Without the map, you have little choice but to use the hint to guide you to where you need to be next, and on two occasion (so far) the hint sends you to a spot where there is nothing left to do! The graphics are only fair, and much of the animation (especially people) is amateurish. I can only say that I am glad I got it on sale, because it certainly isn't worth full price, by a long sot! What a letdown from other games in this series. ### 2/5 — Slow, unimaginative *2015-11-02, version 1.0.0* This game seemed promising, interesting premise, but transitions are slow, relies almost entirely on HOGs, lots of scenes but often only one thing to find there, no map to speed moving around. In general probably an old game that Big Fish released as new. Not particularly fun. ### 2/5 — Not very good *2015-07-06, version 1.0.0* Painful to play. ### 3/5 — Not bad *2015-06-02, version 1.0.0* It was a good way to pass time but I did expect better :( ### 2/5 — Needs serious improvement *2015-05-24, version 1.0.0* It takes several seconds to go to another scene. If you must go back several scenes, you wait about 10 seconds each page. With no interactive map it takes days to get thru. ### 2/5 — ok-ish but definitely not worth full dollar *2015-05-07, version 1.0.0* It was an ok game at best. It was slow loading at every single screen move and the constant back and forth in the game made it really slow and annoying. ### 3/5 — Not bad *2015-05-07, version 1.0.0* The game was ok but a bit slow. A map would have helped. ### 3/5 — So-so, Yawn! *2015-05-05, version 1.0.0* Giving it 3 stars as so far found no technical issues. I agree with most, I feel like I am lumbering, trudging through this game. Not enough variation in the puzzles to keep me awake. ### 3/5 — Very slow *2015-05-05, version 1.0.0* Very slow to load between scenes....wish I had not bought this one... ### 3/5 — Fear for sale *2015-05-03, version 1.0.0* Mediocre game, gets longer between scenes towards the end and becomes a little tedious ### 2/5 — Disappearing objects? Well, no… *2015-05-02, version 1.0.0* Final review: finished game. Even finished the bonus chapter, though I found myself using the Skip button because I Just. Didn't. Care. and wanted to get it over with. The slow transitions (twenty seconds!) made the game way too draggy. Sometimes you have to back up several steps, so it can end up taking minutes just to navigate. Unacceptable. Lowered rating accordingly. Gritted teeth to finish. Now to reward myself with something better—there's a new Hidden Expedition game just released. Yay! Gonna get it while the introductory discount is still available. Revised review: they came back! Restoring stars from 1 to 4. Will now buy while price is low. May revise rating after completion. Original review below. It all began so well… Right off the bat, a new thing: in addition to sliders for music volume and such, there is an adjustment for brightness and contrast. Yay! So many games have dark, muddy scenes—this is much easier on the eyes. Story is silly, of course (a ghostly house appearing, then kidnapping people—really?). But voice talent is pretty good, cutscene animations effective, Zoom works, HOS challenging but solvable (note to LynxMinx: very first scene has a rodent, but you don't have to touch it and it doesn't move), nice mix of other puzzles. Transitions are interminable and I haven't found a map (interactive or static), so play is rather slow. Still, showing plenty of potential. That is, until objects began to disappear from inventory. First a hammer, now a lens. Cannot proceed without them. Yes, I did go back to see if I could retrieve them—no dice. Makes the game totally unplayable. Will not be buying despite introductory discount price. ### 2/5 — Sloooooow *2015-05-01, version 1.0.0* If you enjoy waiting for scenes to load this is the game for you. ### 2/5 — Disappointed *2015-05-01, version 1.0.0* The further you go in this game, the slower it is to change to the next scene. NO MAP. Took forever to wander back and forth. Do not recommend. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Good story so far...BUTTTT *2019-05-14, version 1.0.0* Really enjoying the story.....BUT....I have to tap on things multiple times to “find” them. A mop handle is NOT called a mop attachment. There’s no map. I’m wasting time trying to sift through scenes to find my way back to a place. I’m using hint too much to figure out what location to go to next. ### 1/5 — Today’s deal 65% off *2018-08-02, version 1.0.0* Yet there are games 55% off for the same price of $2.99...please stop lying to your gamers... just write deal.... ### 1/5 — Seems dated *2016-03-26, version 1.0.0* This game seems like it was out many years ago. The artwork is fair. The hints are okay. No map. Lots of illogical moves. Lots of back and forth without direction. Puzzles that are tedious rather than challenging. Tapping on items often doesn't work, and when I ask for help, it shows me the item I just tapped on. Pretty boring. I'll pass. Tries again. Thought they might have improved it. Not so. ### 1/5 — Slow changing scenes *2015-05-05, version 1.0.0* Omg, I fell asleep while waiting to go to another location. This game would have been great otherwise. It takes soooo long to load!! ### 1/5 — Do Not Buy *2015-04-30, version 1.0.0* No map and the back and forth is miserable with the slow load time and how many scenes you have to go through to get 1 object then back through many more to do what you need. I paid for it but deleted it before I was done because of this ### 1/5 — Huge Disappointment! *2015-04-29, version 1.0.0* What a complete mess of a game. No map, pointless running around, no real storyline of and substance. Thank Goodness, I didn't buy this one. Sure had looked forward to a good adventure/hidden object game, however, hopefully the next release will be awesome for us IPad users. KdBoots ### 1/5 — Worthless for sale *2015-04-29, version 1.0.0* Waste of my hard earned money! ### 1/5 — 💣😏💩👎🏽Rename this 'Junk for Sale'!👎🏽💩😏💣 *2015-04-29, version 1.0.0* Greetings, Gamers: 👄 I've endured root canals that were less painful than this thing. There's so much wrong -- and so very little right -- that I'm at a loss as where to begin. No map, lots of running all the way across town and back just for one item, puh-lenty of HOS (list only) grainy graphics, slow/no response to tapping...y'all are getting the picture, right? I couldn't even make it through the trial - and it seemed to last forever. So did my root canals, but at least I had painkillers for those! 😵 I swear, I was hoping that ghost house would grab me as I went by and end my misery! Did anybody else notice the bizarre flailing of arms and other weirdo body language inconsistent with the characters' speaking?! I've gotten nailed on a few purchases but not this one, not this time. Do yourselves a favor: Avoid this bomb. You can't seriously be that desperate to play a game. If you are, this will definitely cure you of that impulse. 🙅🏻 Here's hoping we meet under better gaming conditions next time. Until then, May the bomb-free stars light your way ✨✨✨💣✨✨✨😏✨✨✨😱✨✨✨💋✨✨✨ ### 1/5 — Fear *2015-04-28, version 1.0.0* NO MAP. NO SALE ### 1/5 — Old and low quality *2015-04-28, version 1.0.0* Talk about lack of truth in advertising! This game dates back to 2011 and boy does it show its age. Grainy, murky graphics make it nearly impossible to play. The general UI feels dated as well, and there's no way to turn off sparkles. It's so bad that I didn't even make it through the free section. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — CLASSIC Horror game FUN *2021-07-16, version 1.0.0* I was stoked to see this game on iPad! I have it on Android and my Laptop as well. Not only is the story incredibly fun in a brilliant thinking mans version of a b-horror plot, it is beautifully rendered like Nightmare Cinema and is very long! This is back when games were almost like novels and you could relax and play for an hour every night ( no hints! ) and do it for a week. Plus it has a bonus game. This series is how I feel in love with Hidden Object Games and I wish I could speak to the artists who designed the original Fear for Sale games. They are FANTASTIC. If you like a good story, fun puzzles and a big helping of creepy paranormal mystery happening, do your self a favor and get this game. I am honestly perplexed by the couple bad reviews. I feel like they didn’t even play the same game. Maybe they stopped at the beginning? 10/10 Gameplay 10/10 Art 10/10Story 10/10 functionality 10/10 Value Please come back and make more hidden object games people who did this and the other earlier Fear For Sale gems! Lady3Eye ### 5/5 — Interesting story & good challenges *2019-01-25, version 1.0.0* Am in my 70’s and play games to keep my brain in good health. Challenges are not so hard that you have to be a Mensa member to solve them. I like that. Thank you - will look for more games from your company. ### 5/5 — So Much Fun *2015-10-01, version 1.0.0* This game is creepy. And I love creepy. I loved the story, the puzzles, the hints, the music, and the animation. Very well done! ### 5/5 — Interesting story and challenging *2015-05-14, version 1.0.0* A good story line and interesting puzzles make this a game worth every penny of its price. Of the many story games, it was easily in the top 10 percent. ### 5/5 — Sunnyvale *2015-05-12, version 1.0.0* Very enjoyable game! Extremely addictive and entertaining and brain teaser for reasonable deduction solutions. Excellent! ### 5/5 — Sunnyvale *2015-05-09, version 1.0.0* I love it. The story,the hidden scenes, every thing! ### 5/5 — Good game. *2015-05-03, version 1.0.0* I loved the music, especially the violin! Please make another one like it. It just needs to move faster between locations. ### 5/5 — Sunnyvale *2015-04-30, version 1.0.0* Great fun ### 5/5 — Good Game *2015-04-29, version 1.0.0* Main game and bonus game nice and long. HOGs easy, puzzles hard. One thing against it - downloading between scenes tooo long. But other than that a good game. Thanks. ### 5/5 — Awesome *2015-04-29, version 1.0.0* To the idiot who said it was grainy, that is RAIN! I think the game is great. The storyline is original and believe me, I have ALL of Best games! I would know if this was a rerun. There is a similarity with a story about magicians and a house that disappears, but let's face it, after all these stories, there is going to be some similarities. I thought the game was back to being one of their best. Great going, Best! --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-14.*