The Séance of Blake Manor brings detective Declan Ward to a mansion on Ireland’s west coast, where a Halloween séance is due to take place in the late 19th century. Ward’s initial task is to discover what happened to Evelyn Deane, who has vanished without explanation. With 17 séance guests, hotel staff and less than 48 hours before the gathering, the investigation unfolds through interviews, exploration and efforts to persuade people not to attend.
The review praises the game’s comic-book-inspired visuals and atmospheric detail, as well as a large cast whose distinctive designs and personalities make them easy to recognize. Players can question guests, search the manor for clues and connect information to uncover each character’s motives. The story also draws on Irish history and Celtic mythology, presenting a world where magic and spiritual practices are real but carry consequences.
That investigative freedom can be rewarding, but the review finds that the game often gives too little direction about how to use clues or move forward. An in-game clock advances with conversations and other actions, while characters follow schedules around the manor. The system gives the setting a sense of activity, but finding the right person at the right time can involve repeated trips across the building, especially when a newly discovered clue needs to be discussed with someone else.
Long loading times between rooms and areas compound those frustrations. The review says that travel and searching for characters can feel like busywork, particularly when the next step in the investigation is unclear. These issues become more noticeable in the final hours, when the main mystery is largely understood but resolving other characters’ storylines still requires extensive backtracking.
Despite those shortcomings, the review considers the story, setting and characters the game’s strongest qualities. Its clue-based investigation is compared to the satisfying deduction of The Return of the Obra Dinn, The Case of the Golden Idol and Ace Attorney. The reviewer concludes that The Séance of Blake Manor is an engaging mystery with a distinct identity, though its structure and technical delays keep it from reaching its full potential.
Sources: Nintendo World Report.