Island of Fear and Terror (Greedy Spooks): a pirate-themed match-three puzzle game
You want a puzzle game that has a story, not just coloured tiles sliding around. Greedy Spooks, listed here as Island of Fear and Terror, is a match-three puzzle game set on a haunted island, where you help a captain search for a treasure guarded by cursed knights.
Quick facts
- Version: 2.2
- Platform: Windows (NT/2000/XP or better)
- Price: Free, with no time limits on the game
- Genre: Puzzle, Adventure, Brain Teaser, Match 3
- Installer size: about 30 MB
The story
You play alongside Captain John Tailor. An old man in a port tavern tells him about five legendary knights who abandoned a crusade for piracy. They were cursed by their dying king. Their souls still guard a fortress full of jewels on a distant island. You sail there on a frigate and solve the riddles the pirates left behind.
Key features
Match rows of three or more identical figures to clear them
The core rule is simple: make rows of at least three identical figures and they disappear. You swap neighbouring pieces to line them up, so you can start playing without a tutorial.
Power-ups and extra score from special matches
Replacing identical figures gives you power-ups and extra points. The game lists lots of them, which helps when a board gets crowded.
Dozens of tricky puzzles against the clock
There are dozens of puzzles, and each round is timed, so you have to move quickly as well as carefully.
Animated graphics and mysterious music
The game offers animated graphics and a moody soundtrack that fit the ghost-and-treasure theme.
Who it's for
It suits you if you like casual match-three games and want a short, themed session on an older Windows PC. It also suits you if you prefer a free download to a subscription or an in-app store.
Pros and cons
- Pro: Free to download, with no time limit on the game.
- Pro: Light hardware needs: a Pentium 200 MHz, 64 MB of RAM and 15 MB of disk space.
- Pro: A themed story gives the puzzles some context.
- Con: It is a Windows-only download.
- Con: The rounds are timed, which some puzzle fans find stressful.
- Con: The installer may offer to add a browser search extension, so read each screen during setup.
FAQs
Is it really free?
Yes. The vendor says the game is always free and has no time limits.
Which Windows versions does it run on?
The vendor lists Windows NT, 2000 and XP or better. The listing also names Windows 95, 98, ME, 2003 and Vista.
Is Island of Fear and Terror the same game as Greedy Spooks?
The vendor's page for this game is titled Greedy Spooks, and the story and gameplay described there match this listing.
Does it need a powerful PC?
No. It needs DirectX 5.0 or better and an 800x600 display, and high or true colour is recommended.
System requirements
- Microsoft Windows NT/2000/XP or better
- Pentium 200 MHz or better
- 64 MB RAM
- 15 MB hard drive space
- 800x600 display resolution or higher
- High or true colour recommended
- DirectX 5.0 or better