The Séance of Blake Manor Review – A Mystery Worth Your Time

The Séance of Blake Manor Review

The closed-circle mystery is an age-old format that has enthralled audiences for decades. Although conventional, the notion of several characters with intertwining backstories, isolated in one location, is the perfect setup for a gripping Whodunit. The Séance of Blake Manor uses this formula to deliver its tale, but will it keep players guessing with its web of intricate mysteries, or will its secrets prove too predictable?

Set in Ireland throughout the year of 1897, you play as Declan Ward, a detective who receives a mysterious letter. Upon learning about the disappearance of Evelyn Deane, you travel to Blake Manor to investigate. With a Séance taking place on Halloween, you have two days to learn about the many residents and whittle down the list of suspects prior to the grand event.

Unravelling the Truth

Each member of the diverse cast has their own backstory with valid reasons to be at the event. The individual stories are what shine throughout, with tales that explore a variety of themes that linger long after the credits roll. This is brought to life with the strong, partially voiced script. Conversations with guests at the Manor allow you to learn about their intentions, whether good or dastardly, allowing you to resolve their narrative thread.

The framing of the narrative is fantastic. With only two days to resolve each character’s tale, time is of the essence. However, it’s how time is implemented within the gameplay that helps make the game unique. Rather than a ticking clock, haunting your every step, minutes are synced to your actions. For example, if you decide to pick up a letter, that’s one minute gone. Each line of questioning with suspects knocks off another minute. Because you must complete certain tasks within a set timeframe and events unfold at different points throughout the day, the game creates a delicious layer of tension, even when you take a leisurely approach.

What you do during your time is up to you. Discussions will open up new quests, allowing you to progress various ones at the same time. The information you gather populates a timetable which allows you to learn where guests are at certain points of the day. These vital facts allow you to navigate the manor, snooping into vacant rooms to gather evidence and intelligence on each guest. As time ticks away with each item you interact with, you start to question what is and isn’t necessary to investigate. Due to this, you’re likely to miss things, which is an exciting prospect, making you use your time wisely.

Piece By Piece

The game organises the information you uncover into a flowchart. You piece together the evidence to understand the bigger picture surrounding each character and develop your own hypotheses. Once you have exhausted each avenue and built your dossier, you can use the evidence to create a statement about the character’s intentions. This leads to the confrontation, which can ultimately remove them from the long list of suspects, helping you to find the real culprit. Although other detective games have used similar systems, combining this mechanic with time-based investigations makes it particularly enthralling.

The game seamlessly weaves puzzles into the investigation, adding another layer to the experience. At times, you may need to lure characters from their private quarters by solving a puzzle in another room, and at other points, you must gather clues within the environment itself to lead your investigation. Whether you’re eavesdropping on a conversation or solving a mythical One-Stroke puzzle, each moment offers a satisfying challenge, which allows you to progress at a steady pace.

The art direction is wonderful. Each area and cutscene has a lovely ink-blotted aesthetic, reminiscent of late 80s and early 90s graphic novels. The use of subdued lighting helps to emphasise the imposing architecture, which helps give life to the manor. Characters are distinct, with a Victorian-inspired shell, giving each one personality. The ambience swells due to the score, adding an eerie quiet while you investigate the mystery at hand. Together, these merge to create something truly special.

Clues, Clocks and Conspiracies

The Séance of Blake Manor nails the closed-circle mystery concept. The addition of a time-based investigation mechanic helps the game establish its own identity within the crowd. With its well-written script, you quickly become invested in each character’s tale, eager to uncover more and piece together every chapter of the story. Although completionists may grow frustrated at not being able to thoroughly examine every item in the environment, the restriction captures the essence of a live investigation, pushing you to use your time wisely. It reinforces the idea that being a good detective isn’t about uncovering everything, but making sense of what you find.

***A PS5 code was provided for this review***