Many of the game's puzzles and interactions are firmly grounded in the real world, which isn't always a good thing. An experienced gamer may want to pass this one up as you will probably be able to finish it extremely quickly, but for novice gamers and kids this would be a great game for them to start out with. The puzzles of the Nancy Drew games have always been on the simple side, but here they are at their easiest. However, the story is not the only critical element in a good adventure game - puzzles also play a strong part. Those games did a better job at creating tension and a sense of urgency in the storyline whereas Haunted Carousel feels a bit more laid back with less danger present. The storyline this time around is not executed as well as it is in Ghost Dogs of Moon Lake or Danger on Deception Island, nor are the characters quite as interesting, thus making for a less involving gameplay experience. Is there really something supernatural going on, or is it just an elaborate scheme to drum up business? There are liberal doses of red herrings and motives that Nancy must sift through in order to solve the mystery. However, upon arrival you learn that not only is there a thief on the loose, but that the carousel is haunted as well. This new mystery adventure begins when you, as Nancy, are hired by a seaside amusement park to investigate the theft of an antique carousel horse. The Haunted Carousel is the eighth installment in Her Interactive's long-running (and showing no signs of stopping) Nancy Drew series. Along the way, she can relax and play some arcade games, ride the carousel, and monitor the park using surveillance equipment. Nancy must interview the amusement park employees, investigate the park's deceased owner, Daryl Trent and avoid some deadly traps. Now the merry-go-round seems to be running by itself in the middle of the night.
A horse was stolen from the carousel, then the roller coaster lost power. Nancy Drew has been invited to the Jersey shore to investigate strange incidents at the Captain's Cove Amusement Park.