The Spiderwick Chronicles asks players to step into the shoes of Jared, Simon and Mallory Grace as they stumble into a world of fairies hidden behind the walls of the Spiderwick Estate. Developed by Stormfront Studios and published by Sierra Entertainment, the adventure game arrived on Wii, PC, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2 in early February 2008, timed to the film’s release. It is a loose adaptation of Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black’s children’s fantasy books, and it plays like one too.
Trailer, via 10min Gameplay.
The Grace Children
Players switch between Jared, Simon and Mallory as they move through the estate, solving puzzles and avoiding creatures that live within its walls. The game leans heavily on co-operation, letting two players take on the roles of Jared and Simon together while Mallory handles the third slot alone. That split design shapes how the whole game feels, since each child sees the world from a slightly different angle.
The Estate Itself
The setting is a large, sprawling manor full of locked doors, secret passages and small rooms that reward careful exploration. The game encourages players to search thoroughly.
Combat is simple, mostly about timing attacks against fairy foes rather than any deep system.
The Wii Controller
On Wii, the game uses the motion controls for some puzzle solutions, asking players to wave the controller to clear cobwebs or guide light across a room. It is a small touch, but it gives the console version a distinct feel compared to the others. The motion support never becomes central to the game, though; it is a garnish rather than a pillar.
It is a garnish rather than a pillar.
The PC, Xbox 360, Nintendo DS and PlayStation 2 Versions
These versions play the same story and share the same puzzles, though the motion controls are gone and the camera can become a problem during busy sequences. Players on those platforms rely more on pointing and clicking or button presses to solve problems, which changes the rhythm of play without changing the core experience underneath.
A Loose Adaptation
The game borrows its characters and its setting from the books, but the plot diverges from the original story. Players who know the books will notice the differences quickly, and the pacing suffers for it. The game wants to be a family-friendly adventure first and a faithful adaptation second, and that choice shows in how the plot unfolds.
The Verdict
The Spiderwick Chronicles is a competent but unremarkable adventure game. Its puzzles are fair, its world is detailed, and its co-operative mode gives it a reason to exist beyond simple curiosity. But the story never quite reaches the heights of the books or the film, and the technical issues on some platforms keep it from feeling polished. It is a game that works best in short bursts, with friends nearby, rather than a marathon to be undertaken alone.
Key Facts
– Platforms: Wii, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2
– Developer: Stormfront Studios
– Publisher: Sierra Entertainment
– Release: Early February 2008
– Modes: Single player, Co-operative
– Perspective: Third person
The game is worth a look for fans of the books or the film, especially those with friends willing to share the adventure. Anyone looking for a deep, faithful adaptation will find something thinner instead. It is a pleasant enough way to spend an afternoon, even if it never fully lives up to the legend of Spiderwick itself.
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