The first ever Nancy Drew game I played was "Treasure in the Royal Tower." I got stuck, played other Nancy Drew games then came back and finished it! This has some parts you might freak out at, puzzles that’ll confuse your brain, and lots of funny dialog. But all in all it's a great game!
"Message in a Haunted Mansion" is the first scary Nancy Drew game. The fact that you're stuck in a haunted house with a saboteur is pretty frightening. This isn't the scariest Nancy Drew game, but it's enough to keep you awake at night.
I've played the first version of this game. It was pretty good for the first Nancy Drew game that they made. Then they remade it. They changed the whole thing! It was my least favorit Nancy Drew game because they just botched it.
I recommend it for new Nancy Drew game players because it's so easy.