Players take the role of one of the handmaidens to Queen Elizabeth I. The queen's brooch is stolen by another handmaiden who unleashes several spirits after using it in a botched occult ritual. The player's character is blamed for both the theft and the witchcraft, and she's sentenced to death for the crimes. The game takes place a few days before the scheduled execution. The player's character escapes from her cell in the Tower of London and sets off on a quest to recover the brooch's mystical powers by aiding spirits, including those of several Royals, and William Shakespeare. She hopes to prove her innocence by returning the empowered brooch back to the queen before her date with the headsman.
The historical setting is wonderfully conveyed by the art style of the game. The palette of rich colors lends itself to attractive environments that are pleasant to move through. Hidden Mysteries: Royal Family Secrets is fun and people who like historical or paranormal themes in their hidden object games will enjoying romping around Jolly Old England in the time of Good Queen Bess.