The Haunted Carousel is the eighth installment in the Nancy Drew point-and-click adventure game series by Her Interactive.

Drew must determine whether the painted ponies are searching for their missing lead horse, or whether there is another explanation for the "midnight rides".

Each mode offers a different difficulty level of puzzles and hints, but neither of these changes affect the actual plot of the game.

[5] Writing for GameZone, critic Anise Hollingshead commended the album for providing a game for teenagers that's free of "graphic violence and sexual content", and opined that it was particularly fitting for players between the ages of 12 and 16.

[4] Charles Herold of The New York Times wrote that The Haunted Carousel "returns to form with intelligent puzzles and an intriguing story.

"[11] According to PC Data, The Haunted Carousel sold 48,500 retail copies in North America during 2003.