The first spot-the-difference puzzles appeared in the 1970s in puzzle magazines, where a famous painting would be presented alongside a slightly altered version, challenging readers to find the anomalies. These puzzles proved very popular and were a favourite of children and adults alike, testing their observation skills.
Since the late 2000s, the genre has seen a resurgence thanks to the finesse of photo-editing software, making the puzzles even more challenging and devious. Now we have Spot The Differences! Party on Xbox, a game that tests your skills alone or with a local group of up to four players. Sharpen your eyes and let’s begin.
This is a simple concept for a game, but it can be surprisingly addictive. Let’s first discuss the single-player experience. I’ll be honest, the idea of playing spot-the-difference puzzles alone on a console initially seemed a bit underwhelming. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how engaging it can be.
In single-player, you can choose between a scored mode and a casual mode. Casual mode allows you to examine pictures at your own pace and highlight the differences without pressure. While relaxing, the lack of challenge makes it tempting to just click randomly until you find the differences. In scored mode, two seemingly identical photographs are displayed side-by-side. You have a timer and must find five differences before it runs out.
Randomly tapping the screen or clicking the wrong area decreases the timer faster. Finding all five differences advances you to the next photograph. If you run out of time, you lose the round and receive a score based on your progress. You have three hints per round, which highlight the differences for you, and a one-time ability to extend the timer, giving you more time to observe.
I also played the game in Party mode in local multiplayer. The setup is the same, but with two controllers. You compete to see who can find the differences first. We found this mode fun and addictive for a couple of hours, but I’m unsure how much replay value it offers beyond that. Overall, I think it’s a good game to play in short bursts, either alone or with a friend.
The game boasts over 300 pictures in 4K resolution, each beautifully coloured and diverse. You might find yourself examining a city street scene in Japan at night, a lush garden from above, or a table full of cakes. There are enough pictures to keep things fresh for a while, and each one can be quite challenging, especially after playing for a while. The sound design is minimal, with only a jingle in the menus and occasional sound effects.
You’ll enjoy Spot The Differences! Party, at least in short bursts. It’s addictive to see how far you can progress, as you look to improve your score in solo mode, whilst Party mode is a fun way to spend a couple of hours with friends.
You’d do well to put your observation skills to the test and try Spot The Differences! Party.
Buy Spot the Differences! Party – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/spot-the-differences-party/9P2HSMM82401
Spot The Differences! Party Arrives on Xbox Series X|S and PC with Play Anywhere support – https://www.thexboxhub.com/spot-the-differences-party-arrives-on-xbox-series-xs-and-pc-with-play-anywhere-support/