The Incident at Galley House
The Incident at Galley House
Game
Game2025
The Séance of Blake Manor
Developer Spooky Doorway
The Séance of Blake Manor is a first-person puzzle game developed by the Spooky Doorway and published by Raw Fury. It was released for Linux and Windows on October 27, 2025. Ports for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S are set to release on the first anniversary of the game on October 27, 2026. From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
601 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Lemmy, Mastodon) · newest Nov 5, 2026 · last updated Nov 5, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
91
LovedLoved
360 positive · 37 negative
95% range 87–93%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 360 | 37 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 51 | 2 | 142 |
| Lemmy * | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| Mastodon * | 0 | 0 | 2 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
3,384 of 3,566 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
88% recommend · 264 yes, 35 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 299 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Overwhelmingly Positive (3,916 of 4,117 positive).
Many players praise the game's atmosphere, writing, and art style. [1][2][3] Some reviewers note it's more of a visual novel than a puzzle game. [4][5] Several players compare it favorably to Obra Dinn and Golden Idol. [1][6][7]
Liked
Representative posts
- [16]
After playing the demo this game skyrocketed to my most anticipated game for the past 6 months. It seemed like a cool, non-linear detective game where it wasn't on rails where you are forced to solve everything and basically can't fail. It had this super cool time mechanic where everything you did used up time, and so it would actually matter what you chose to do and how. It's open world, so you can go anywhere in …
- [1]
Video Impressions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQlXo0hjlY Absolutely Outstanding. To be very reductive it's Obra Dinn with far more detailed investigation mechanics and a larger map. It kept me enthralled throughout (even if I panicked a bunch in the middle and couldn't find some clues). Fantastic atmosphere, writing, voice acting and art. Fun, light puzzles mostly - the story is the emphasis. I loved the …
- [13]
My recommendation for this game comes with a lot of ifs and buts. It's ultimately a pretty good experience, but I have to do some expectation managing here. Other reviews are comparing this game to Outer Wilds, Obra Dinn or the Golden Idol games. This is actually what led me to buy the game and to be disappointed even if I did end up enjoying it for what it is. This game is simply not up to those standards, because …
- [7]
I needed this to exist and now I'm empty. I need more. I don't say this lightly, I think the devs crafted the perfect format for a detective game, and I call this the biggest revolution for detective games since Obra Dinn. Mechanics will remind you of games like Frogware's Sherlocks, Paradise Killer, Ace Attourney, Forgotten City, Sexy Brutale and the aforementioned Obra Dinn. But the mix of them is so smart, it …
- [2]
One of the best investigation game I played. - The mood is perfect, it's not scary but unsetling as it should be. - The stories are nice, not super deep but still, it keep you invested. - The bande dessiné art style works very well and the character's design are great - I loved the time element, having a timeline, events to attend to, it makes the game lively. the clock is ticking ! - the exploration is very …
Summarised from 34 of the 435 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
The Séance of Blake Manor sits at 91% positive across 397 opinionated reactions from 4 sources. Fresh or rotten — where do you land?
Critics, per Wikipedia
The Séance of Blake Manor received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregator website Metacritic. Aggregator OpenCritic determined that 95% of critics recommended the game. Critics drew favorable comparisons to Blue Prince and praised several aspects of the gameplay, particularly the time-management mechanic. Writing for GamesRadar+, Oscar Taylor-Kent stated that "it really makes the investigation feel tangible". The game's writing also received widespread acclaim. Giovanni Colantonio of Polygon described it as "exceptional writing that really makes the mystery work", while Kerry Brunskill of PC Gamer commended the diverse cast of the characters.
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 601 · most liked firstOkay, Steam Sale time! Who'd like some recommendations? Let's get the ball rolling with one of my favourite games of 2025, The Séance of Blake Manor! A positively genius detective game steeped in Irish history and mythology with a striking comicbook artstyle and authentic turnip jack 'o lanterns. 🎃
positive · AI labelView post →So...The Séance of Blake Manor is my favorite game of 2025 so far. A first person murder mystery with detailed investigation mechanics, superb writing, and atmosphere. Also the best game about Irish History I've ever played Bravo @spookydoorway.bsky.social 👏 store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/...
positive · AI labelView post →There's currently a Steam Detective Fest event right now, and there's some very neat games on sale, such as The Séance of Blake Manor, a game that is quite honestly pure genius. I still need to play more of it to give it a proper recommendation, but it's been thoroughly brilliant so far.
positive · AI labelView post →The Séance of Blake Manor is OUT NOW! Can you discover what has become of Evelyn Deane and uncover the secrets of Blake Manor itself? store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/...
neutral · AI labelView post →The wait is over. The Séance of Blake Manor is OUT NOW! Begin your investigations into the disappearance of Evelyn Deane. The fate of everyone may just depend on you. store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/...
neutral · AI labelView post →Just finished folk horror detective game The Séance Of Blake Manor. Incredible stuff. Game of the year type shit. Most satisfying virtual sleuthing I've done since The Roottrees Are Dead. Absolutely hypnotised me for 15 hours. Art, music, sense of place, characters, mood, voice acting: all superb.
positive · AI labelView post →The Séance of Blake Manor is part of the Steam Next Fest. Check out the demo if you haven't already. The game is launching on the 27th of Oct! Play now: bit.ly/47Pm8XA #indiegames
neutral · AI labelView post →Video Impressions here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WQlXo0hjlY Absolutely Outstanding. To be very reductive it's Obra Dinn with far more detailed investigation mechanics and a larger map. It kept me enthralled throughout (even if I panicked a bunch in the middle and couldn't find some clues). Fantastic atmosphere, writing, voice acting and art. Fun, light puzzles mostly - the story is the emphasis. I loved the characters, found the story impossible to put down and was satisfied with the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Still holding in there on New and Trending on Steam. Thank you to everyone who has purchased The Séance of Blake Manor!
neutral · AI labelView post →We're delighted to announce The Mysterious Mansions bundle, which contains The Incident at Galley House and The Séance of Blake Manor. This is just in time for the Steam Autumn sale, so it's a great time to pick up some mystery games. store.steampowered.com/bundle/90016...
neutral · AI labelView post →It's now officially one month since we launched The Séance of Blake Manor. What a month!
neutral · AI labelView post →Spooky Doorway snagged some awards for The Séance of Blake Manor at the 2026 Imirt Game Awards at the Fís Games Summit. Game of the Year & Best Game Design. We also received the runner up trophies for Best Audio and Best Narrative. Many thanks to @imirt.bsky.social and @ardan-ie.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →YOINK! I've been looking forward to The Séance of Blake Manor for a while! Congrats on the launch @spookydoorway.bsky.social gang! 🎉
positive · AI labelView post →We have our very own Victorian ghost helping us showcase The Séance of Blake Manor at #AdvX25
neutral · AI labelView post →The Séance of Blake Manor is 97% Overwhelmingly Positive on Steam! It took just a little over two weeks from launch. Thank you to everyone who has left a review! #indiegames
neutral · AI labelView post →After playing the demo this game skyrocketed to my most anticipated game for the past 6 months. It seemed like a cool, non-linear detective game where it wasn't on rails where you are forced to solve everything and basically can't fail. It had this super cool time mechanic where everything you did used up time, and so it would actually matter what you chose to do and how. It's open world, so you can go anywhere in whatever order you want, and there is too much for the player to do, so you will…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →23. The Séance of Blake Manor Trust me on this, the game is positively genius. It's a detective game steeped in Irish history and mythology, and it is one of the most curious and fascinating games I've perhaps ever had the pleasure of playing. Might be up there with Obra Dinn, it's that good.
positive · AI labelView post →This game has all the ingredients to be a truly great game, but unfortunately stumbles frequently and badly enough to end up only a pretty good one. First off, if you've heard about this game there's a good chance it's because someone said the words "Obra Dinn" or "Golden Idol" or "Outer Wilds" and you started magically floating over to the Steam page. Unfortunately those comparisons are a bit misleading. It has all the trappings of a true deductive investigation game, but at its core Blake…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Spend A Relaxing Evening With Daddy Wolfy Game: The Séance of Blake Manor Time: 7pm-10pmEST www.twitch.tv/wolfywolfang
neutral · AI labelView post →Going into The Séance of Blake Manor I suppose I expected more of a puzzle game than it ended up being and, to be quite honest, I feel like I spent maybe a good half the game not sure what exactly to think about it all though my feelings were always largely positive. I think what made me vague musings solidify into my current, very positive rating, was the great presentation, the solid writing throughout that's steeped in Irish folklore and myth, and the satisfying ending. What you'll be doing…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Indie Recommendation: The Séance of Blake Manor From out of nowhere comes one of 2025's best games - a murder-mystery set in 19th Century Ireland with outstanding writing, smart investigation systems, ravens, ghosts, druids and more. WATCH: youtu.be/0WQlXo0hjlY (by @spookydoorway.bsky.social)
neutral · AI labelView post →The Seance of Blake Manor is a visual novel masquerading as a detective game. The game presents the player with an interesting world and characters, but it does not present the player with any interesting decisions. While, yes, there are fail states and suboptimal ways to approach the mystery, the game does a good job of quickly communicating what to focus your time and attention on. Once you figure this out, the rest of the game is gravy. It might as well be on rails. The devs had no…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Meet our newest EDITIONS! 🎮 The Séance of Blake Manor, Caves of Qud and Morsels join our line-up of physical games, now available for pre-order 🔻
neutral · AI labelView post →The Séance of Blake Manor has a launch date! 🥳 You will be able to check-in and begin your investigations on 27 October 2025! bit.ly/TheS%C3%A9an...
neutral · AI labelView post →The Seance of Blake Manor is a first person adventure puzzle game that takes place entirely inside a grand haunted Irish hotel and it's surrounding grounds. The gameplay begins like a game of Clue, where you explore the manor, interview the inhabitants, gather evidence, solve puzzles, and try to weave out the main culprit in a missing persons case. There is a time element involved, you must find the culprit in 3 in-game days before a mysterious forboding seance occurs. The colorful cast is…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Been obsessing over The Séance of Blake Manor this week, which is such an expertly written murder mystery deduction game. Really in awe of the way it can build this twisted, supernatural world but still deliver deeply human storytelling with the big occult mystery. www.polygon.com/the-seance-o...
positive · AI labelView post →Finished The Séance of Blake Manor, great start to the gaming year, definitely recommended if you want a spooky detective game. The clue board system gives you just enough information that you never feel stuck nor overguided. 5 spooky ghosts out of 5.
positive · AI labelView post →Creeping into the popular upcoming releases, currently at the 13th position which is apt. Not long now until The Séance of Blake Manor launches. 👻 store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/... #indiegames #gamedev @blakemanorgame.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →A big surprise, The Séance of Blake Manor was awarded The Best In Show at Indie X 2025. It's great to receive an award so close to our launch on Monday. Thanks to @indiexpt.bsky.social for selecting our game for the show and for the award! @spookydoorway.bsky.social @blakemanorgame.bsky.social
neutral · AI labelView post →As part of #LudoNarraCon The Séance of Blake Manor demo is now live on Steam (for Windows and Linux). Check out the start of our investigation. 👉 store.steampowered.com/app/1395520/... #indiegames #gamedev
neutral · AI labelView post →Finally, something that scratches the itch that Obra Dinn, Golden Idol, and Nancy Drew have left on my brain! For any of my homies who also have high functioning anxiety: yes there is a timer aspect of the game, which worried me, but it is no big deal. Seriously. I thought it would stress me out and it doesn't, and I am the most easily stressed person in the universe. If you love point and click mysteries you HAVE to play this. YOU HAVE TO.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →We're happy to say that The Séance of Blake Manor has been #SteamDeck verified. Launching on the 27th of October. You can wishlist it or check out the demo in #SteamNextFest. Check out the demo: bit.ly/47Pm8XA #indiegames
neutral · AI labelView post →Daddy Wolfy is Back at the Seance and Speaking To Daddies Of Past Game: The Séance of Blake Manor Time: 7pm-10pmEST www.twitch.tv/wolfywolfang
neutral · AI labelView post →My recommendation for this game comes with a lot of ifs and buts. It's ultimately a pretty good experience, but I have to do some expectation managing here. Other reviews are comparing this game to Outer Wilds, Obra Dinn or the Golden Idol games. This is actually what led me to buy the game and to be disappointed even if I did end up enjoying it for what it is. This game is simply not up to those standards, because it's barely even a puzzle game. Yes, it has puzzles, but I can only think of one…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →"The Séance of Blake Manor is an autumnal treat filled with spooky scenes but it is also that most joyous of discoveries: a game that challenges, delights, thrills and educates in equal measure." - ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Guardian www.theguardian.com/games/2025/o...
neutral · AI labelView post →I played through this for the better part of the week and couldn't put it down until I beat it. Let's start with what the game is not: it's not Blue Prince. This game is not really about solving puzzles. There are some puzzles in it, but it's more about the story, exploring the manor and connecting the dots of individual misteries. The puzzles are on the easier side and things are mostly spelled out for you. But the story is interesting, I'm a sucker for a good spooky Halloween game and I'm a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really enjoying The Séance of Blake Manor, an Irish folk horror detective game that does a ton of things really well. If you liked Obra Dinn or the Golden Idol games you should check it out.
positive · AI labelView post →"The Séance of Blake Manor is a very special game and I cannot recommend it highly enough." - Thank you Danny 👻🔮🖤
neutral · AI labelView post →Announcing three fantastic physical releases! 🥁 The Séance of Blake Manor (Switch 2 + PS5)! Morsels (Switch + PS5)! Caves of Qud (Switch 2)! Unbelievably proud and honoured to work on three more incredible games this month. We've been busy! ❤️
positive · AI labelView post →Disappointed. I expected a detective game. It's more of a visual novel, there is no brain power needed here.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Séance of Blake Manor is shaping up to be one of my favourite games this year, and a brilliant Halloween treat for detective fans www.eurogamer.net/the-seance-o...
positive · AI labelView post →Eldritch House is now The Séance of Blake Manor. Announcing @blakemanorgame.bsky.social and we're working on it with @rawfury.bsky.social Check out the trailer. > www.youtube.com/watch?v=09m6... Wishlist now! > bit.ly/TheS%C3%A9an... #indiegames
neutral · AI labelView post →Back in the office after a very productive #Gamescom It was fantastic to meet so many great people and to see so many people playing The Séance of Blake Manor on the show floor. Thanks to the @rawfury.bsky.social team for running the booth and demoing the game!
neutral · AI labelView post →Imagine if you would, A narrative investigation game that took time and reduced it to turns, allowing you the take the investigation in your own time but one that does not allow you to be frivolous in it's usage. Walking around doesn't waste the 48 hours you have to save people, minutes do not fly by while you think. It's only when you act, reviewing a book, reading a paper, questioning a guest, the the time moves forward by a single minute. A handful of things (going to dinner to chat…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Séance of Blake Manor from @spookydoorway.bsky.social won the night with four awards including the covetted Game of the Year and the award for Best Game Design. Massive congrats to the team at Spooky Doorway for one of the great critical success stories of 2025.
neutral · AI labelView post →Congrats @spookydoorway.bsky.social @doomcube.bsky.social and @rawfury.bsky.social on the release of The Séance of Blake Manor! Can't wait to dive in!
positive · AI labelView post →Just finished the Séance of Blake Manor. Another amazing recommendation by @caseyexplosion.bsky.social I couldn't stop playing. I wasn't expecting to be so emotionally affected by a supernatural detective game. A game about solving a disappearance, grief, family, and second chances
positive · AI labelView post →The Séance of Blake Manor, 2025
neutral · AI labelView post →'The Séance of Blake Manor' Reviews: The Indie Informer 9/10 MonsterVine 4.5/5 GameSpew 10/10 Guardian 5/5 OC 96: opencritic.com/game/19582/t... MC 90: www.metacritic.com/game/the-sea...
neutral · AI labelView post →Hey! I've just reviewed The Séance of Blake Manor for @pcgamer.com - come take a look! www.pcgamer.com/games/advent...
neutral · AI labelView post →11pm, 29th of October, Irish time. The perfect time to start playing The Séance of Blake Manor.
neutral · AI labelView post →In my opinion people who complain about the time limit just don't understand the game. In my experience it was a genius system that helped me not fall into a pattern that usually kills the pacing of these kind of games for me; in adventure games where you can inspect things to gain information, I tend to spend hours clicking and interacting with every little item and character I can find to be sure I haven't missed any important information, secrets, or interesting lore. It makes playing those…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →One of the best investigation game I played. - The mood is perfect, it's not scary but unsetling as it should be. - The stories are nice, not super deep but still, it keep you invested. - The bande dessiné art style works very well and the character's design are great - I loved the time element, having a timeline, events to attend to, it makes the game lively. the clock is ticking ! - the exploration is very rewarding, there are a lot of things to find/see/listen to - puzzles don't get in the…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I went into this expecting a completely different game to be honest. I am unsure why but for some reason, I thought this was a detective game in a similar vein as Obra Dinn or Golden Idol. I expected this to be heavily reliant on logical deduction-puzzles that are solved by observing the scene, talking to witnesses, gathering evidence and making sense of a deeper mystery. In a way, The Séance of Blake Manor has all that. Much like in the aforementioned Golden Idol, you create hypotheses about…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Reviewing (mostly) every game (or DLC) in my library, part 565: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (10/10) Christ almighty, yes, The Séance of Blake Manor deserves all the praise and hype and is my mystery 2025 GOTY. First, I want to temper expectations a bit. It is NOT a Golden Idol or Obra Dinn-like. I view those as "pure" detective games about cold reconstruction—assembling timelines, identifying every role, and mechanically proving the truth through deduction alone. Blake Manor is different. It's a…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Great so far. The whole whodunnit/mystery/deduction gameplay loop is quite immersive and deep as well. Was a bit put off initially seeing how there's somewhat of a 'timer' while solving cases , but it doesn't work in the way you'd think. Actions taken cause time to pass, but a few cases in now it seems like there's adequate amounts so long as you stay focused and do what your tasked. Will update when done but as of now this is Must Play for any OG Holmes/Agatha Christie fans
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Séance of Blake Manor is coming to consoles on October 27th!
neutral · AI labelView post →The Séance of Blake Manor (PS5/Switch 2) up for preorder on Amazon ($34.99/$49.99) amzn.to/4hxn5Ha VGP buff.ly/zVasgc7 PNP buff.ly/EPZAlif Lost in Cult Edition buff.ly/CiAGzbl #ad
neutral · AI labelView post →We're delighted to see The Séance of Blake Manor at #11!
neutral · AI labelView post →This is a bit of a sad one for me. A lot of love and care clearly went into this, but I don't think they pulled it off. Two major issues, one specific to my tastes, and one more general: 1. The Personal Issue I love detective games. I bought this hoping for something like Shadows of Doubt or Scene investigators - encouraging me to think laterally, connect seemingly disconnected pieces of evidence, and solve mysteries through a combination of keen observation, analysis, and intuition. This…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →
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