Hidden Runaway
A casual retelling of Runaway's first half.
Hidden Runaway is a 2012 hidden object game from Spanish developer Pendulo Studios, published by BulkyPix. The story follows Brian Basco and Gina Timmins, who recount events from the 2001 game *Runaway: A Road Adventure* to a film producer who wants to make a movie about their lives. Players search for hidden objects in static scenes, complete optional minigames, and use key items to advance the plot. The game was a shift for Pendulo, as it was their first casual title and their first project outside the graphic adventure genre.
The gameplay involves finding objects from a list on screen, with key items for progression shown at the start of each scene. Minigames include matching musical notes, assembling a torn ticket, and a Whac-A-Mole variant, which can be replayed. The plot retells the first half of *Runaway: A Road Adventure* through flashbacks, framed by a present-day meeting where Brian and Gina are reunited by a film producer. The story ends with their arrival in Arizona’s Hopi region, followed by a minigame sequence and a teaser for a planned sequel, *Hidden Runaway 2*.
Pendulo retired the *Runaway* series after 2009’s *Runaway: A Twist of Fate*, citing exhaustion with it. By 2011, two or three scripts for a fourth game existed, but no new entry was planned. In March 2012, BulkyPix announced *Hidden Runaway* at the Game Developers Conference, with 12 minigames. The project came during a difficult period for Pendulo, as the commercial failures of *The Next Big Thing* and *Yesterday* had alienated publishers and made funding scarce. Lead programmer Felipe Gómez Pinilla called it the team’s first non-adventure title, and studio head Ramón Hernáez described it as Pendulo’s first casual game. Hernáez saw hidden object games as attractive due to their smaller scale and different buyer expectations, and planned more casual titles as lighter counterparts to darker projects like *Yesterday* and *Day One*. Writer Josué Monchan and Rafael Latiegui found development enjoyable, but composer Juan Miguel Marín later called it the only time Pendulo responded to market demands, which he found unsatisfying.
The game was developed for Windows, OS X, and iOS, initially scheduled for May 2012. It was still in final development by August, and BulkyPix released the iOS version on October 18, 2012.
- Developer
- Pendulo Studios
- Publisher
- BulkyPix
- Release year
- 2012
- Genre
- Hidden object game
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows, OS X, iOS
- Metacritic rating
- Mixed or average
Lore & Background
Hidden Runaway was developed during a difficult economic period for Pendulo, following the commercial failures of The Next Big Thing and Yesterday. The game was itself a commercial failure, remaining Pendulo's worst-selling title by 2016 and contributing to a financial decline at the company. Critical reviews were 'mixed or average' according to Metacritic.
The game's story retells the first half of Runaway: A Road Adventure, set after that game's events. Protagonists Brian Basco and Gina Timmins have fallen out but are reunited by a film producer to recount their life story. Gameplay involves searching static backdrops for hidden objects and optional minigames such as matching musical notes or a variant of Whac-A-Mole. The retelling concludes with the characters' arrival in Arizona's Hopi region, followed by a teaser for a planned Hidden Runaway 2.
Development was led by Pendulo after retiring the Runaway franchise. Lead programmer Felipe Gómez Pinilla called it the team's first title outside the adventure genre. Studio head Ramón Hernáez noted it was Pendulo's first foray into the casual game market, intended as a lighthearted counterpart to darker projects. The game was released for iOS on October 18, 2012, and in German retail for Windows in August 2013.
Reader's Guide
Hidden Runaway is significant as Pendulo Studios' first casual game and first project outside the graphic adventure genre, representing a strategic shift during a financially troubled period. Its commercial failure, combined with poor performances of earlier titles and a failed crowdfunding campaign, contributed to a multi-year hiatus during which Pendulo released no original games, instead porting its back catalog to iOS. The game's mixed critical reception highlighted both its effective translation of Pendulo's style to a touch-controlled format and its poorly balanced object-hunting sections and abrupt ending. Ultimately, Hidden Runaway stands as a cautionary example of a studio's attempt to adapt to market trends, and its legacy is tied to Pendulo's subsequent return with Yesterday Origins in 2016.
Did You Know?
- The game retells the first half of Runaway: A Road Adventure (2001) through a frame story set after that game's events.
- It was developed during a difficult economic period for Pendulo and remained the company's worst-selling title by 2016.
- The game ends with a minigame sequence and a teaser for a planned Hidden Runaway 2, which was never released.
More in Hidden object games 1-24
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced