The Séance of Blake Manor just arrived, and critics are losing their minds. Spooky Doorway’s new supernatural detective mystery, published by Raw Fury and released on October 27, 2025, is currently sitting at an extraordinary 98% on Metacritic. That’s not hyperbole – that’s a near-perfect critical consensus. For a detective puzzle game to achieve that kind of score, it has to transcend genre expectations and create something genuinely special. The Séance of Blake Manor has done exactly that, proving that careful writing, clever puzzle design, and respectful integration of cultural folklore can create one of 2025’s most acclaimed games.
What Is The Séance of Blake Manor?
The Séance of Blake Manor is a supernatural detective mystery set in 1897 on October 29, a few days before All Hallows’ Eve. You play as Declan Ward, a private investigator summoned to the remote Blake Manor in Connemara, Ireland to investigate the disappearance of Evelyn Deane. The manor itself has been converted into a grand hotel and is currently hosting an unprecedented historical event: a séance attempting to commune with the dead, led by the enigmatic Carmela Mantovani.
From the moment Ward arrives, strange supernatural phenomena begin occurring. Apparitions materialize in the courtyard. Mysterious symbols appear throughout the manor. Statues move on their own. But here’s where the game becomes fascinating: you’re never entirely sure if what you’re witnessing is genuinely supernatural or if Declan Ward – a man traumatized by previous encounters with the Deane family – is simply unreliable as a narrator. That uncertainty permeates the entire experience.
Time Management Meets Detective Deduction
What makes Blake Manor unique isn’t just its story – it’s its mechanical design. The game operates on a rigid time management system. You arrive on October 29 and need to solve everything before the séance reaches its climax on October 31. The manor’s 20+ guests follow strict daily schedules: breakfast at 9 AM, lectures at specific times, dinner at evening. As you progress through each day, the clock relentlessly ticks forward.
This creates genuine tension. Do you skip breakfast to investigate guest rooms while everyone else is eating? If you do, you might miss crucial conversations at the table that reveal critical information. Do you confront a suspect too early, potentially causing them to become evasive? Do you prioritize following one mystery thread when another thread might have a hard deadline? Every decision carries real consequences because time is finite.
Critics emphasize that this time management layer transforms the game from a simple deduction experience into something obsessive. You’re constantly managing competing priorities, making tough calls about how to allocate limited hours across potentially dozens of mysteries.
The Writing Is the Real Star
What reviewers universally praise is the writing quality. Every single guest at Blake Manor has their own narrative arc. They’re not just puzzle pieces to interrogate – they’re fully realized characters grappling with genuine human concerns. Many have come to the séance seeking closure from lost loved ones. Others are searching for answers about mortality. Some are desperate or grieving or haunted by past failures. The game treats each character’s story with respect.
More remarkably, the game seamlessly integrates Irish mythology and folklore throughout the narrative. Rather than just creating atmosphere, genuine Irish cultural elements ground the supernatural happenings in real historical context. The details matter – from the historically accurate choice to feature carved turnips as jack-o’-lanterns (predating the pumpkin tradition) to the careful research about Irish spiritualist practices in the late 1800s.
Eurogamer describes the writing as “rich and beautiful,” noting how the game manages to be genuinely unsettling while also deeply emotionally grounded. It’s horror that comes from human desperation, not jump scares.
The Mechanics Respect Player Agency
The detective work isn’t linear. The game meticulously records every interaction, conversation, piece of evidence, and clue in a cross-referencable system of mindmaps, schedules, and evidence lists. You’re building a massive knowledge database as you investigate. But crucially, there are multiple paths to solve most mysteries. Miss one crucial conversation? There’s probably an alternate way to uncover the same information.
Polygon notes that different players have completely different experiences. One player might accidentally stumble upon a hidden chamber by solving a sigil puzzle and get critical information early. Another player might spend time interrogating about magical phenomena and uncover the same truth through dialogue. The non-linear structure ensures that even if you “miss” something, you can still progress through thoughtful investigation.
| Aspect | Critical Reception | Key Praise |
|---|---|---|
| Writing Quality | Universal Acclaim | “Exceptional,” “Rich,” “Masterful” – character work praised |
| Time Management Mechanics | Highly Praised | Creates genuine tension and engagement |
| Puzzle Design | Excellent | Non-linear with multiple solution paths |
| Atmosphere/Horror | Outstanding | Slow-burn, grounded supernatural dread |
| Cultural Integration | Remarkably Thoughtful | Irish folklore woven naturally into narrative |
| Narrative Complexity | Impressive | Multiple branching paths, unreliable narrator |
| Overall Reception | 98% Metacritic | One of 2025’s best-reviewed games |
Comparing to Similar Games
Multiple reviewers have drawn comparisons to The Curse of the Golden Idol, a celebrated detective puzzle game from 2022. Polygon specifically notes that Blake Manor “takes the right notes” from Golden Idol while doing its own thing. The comparison is apt – both games emphasize deduction and observation – but Blake Manor adds the time management element and the unreliable narrator angle, which creates a different kind of tension.
What’s striking is that Blake Manor is being positioned not just as equal to Golden Idol, but potentially surpassing it in some areas, particularly in terms of character depth and atmospheric storytelling. GameSpew calls it “one of the best puzzle games of recent years.”
Why This Matters in 2025
The Séance of Blake Manor’s success comes during a time when narrative games are thriving. Dispatch hit 1 million copies in 10 days. Players have demonstrated insatiable appetite for story-driven experiences. But Blake Manor succeeds not just because it has a good story – it succeeds because it integrates mechanical depth with narrative substance. The time management isn’t just flavor. It’s essential to the tension and emotional impact.
The game also comes from Spooky Doorway, the Irish studio behind The Darkside Detective series. This represents the studio’s most ambitious work – a clear step up in scope, writing quality, and mechanical sophistication. Raw Fury’s publishing helped bring the game to wider attention, but it’s the quality of the underlying product that’s driving the critical reception.
FAQs
When did The Séance of Blake Manor release?
The game released on October 27, 2025 on Steam and other PC platforms. It’s currently available immediately.
What’s the critical score?
The Séance of Blake Manor sits at 98% on Metacritic, making it one of 2025’s highest-reviewed games.
How long is the game?
Playtime varies based on how thoroughly you investigate, but expect 15-25 hours for a complete playthrough.
Is this a point-and-click adventure?
No, it’s more of a detective puzzle game with dialogue interactions. You explore the manor, gather evidence, interrogate guests, and piece together mysteries through a comprehensive note-taking system.
Is it actually scary?
It’s atmospheric and has genuinely unsettling moments, but it’s not a horror game in the traditional sense. The fear comes from uncertainty and human desperation rather than jump scares.
How linear is the story?
Very non-linear. Multiple paths exist to solve most mysteries. Your specific sequence of investigations will differ significantly from other players’ experiences.
What platforms is it on?
Currently available on Windows and Linux via Steam. Console versions haven’t been announced.
Is there an unreliable narrator mechanic throughout?
Yes, you’re frequently unsure whether supernatural events are real or manifestations of Declan Ward’s unreliable perception. This creates persistent uncertainty.
Conclusion
The Séance of Blake Manor’s 98% Metacritic score isn’t a fluke. Spooky Doorway and Raw Fury have created something genuinely special – a detective mystery that respects player intelligence, integrates mechanical depth with narrative complexity, and treats its cultural setting with genuine thoughtfulness. The time management creates tension, the writing creates emotional investment, and the mystery-solving creates engagement.
This is one of those games that justifies the critical acclaim. It’s not a game of impressive graphics or innovative controls. It’s a game of meticulous writing, clever puzzle design, and thematic coherence. For anyone who loved detective games, puzzle narratives, or atmospheric mystery experiences, The Séance of Blake Manor is an absolute must-play. It’s easily one of 2025’s best surprises and stands as a reminder that indie studios can create experiences that rival any AAA production when they focus on quality and craft.