The Séance of Blake Manor

This enthralling mystery quickly had me in its ghostly grip and refused to let go.

The exacting detail with which it's all been put together keeps the illusion strong.

An atmospheric folk-horror adventure combines colonial guilt, spiritualism and supernatural chills in a tale of secrets and seances on Ireland's haunted west coast

If you’re looking for a mystery game that’s more spooky than outright frightening, The Séance of Blake Manor is for you!

The Séance of Blake Manor offers a quiet and intelligent investigation experience that focuses on narrative, exploration, and connecting evidence more than its reliance on challenge or action. It is characterized by its masterfully crafted mysterious atmosphere and its gradual story building that grants the player full freedom in progressing without imposing a specific path, which enhances the sense of immersion and analysis. Although the frequency of loading screens and the slow pace at times may affect the smoothness of the experience, the game remains a distinctive and polished experience for fans of investigation games and deep storytelling.

The Séance of Blake Manor is an elegant, humane twist on folk horror and detective design. It's patient, smart, and disturbing in ways that linger.

The Séance of Blake Manor is the third game from developer Spooky Doorway, and it’s the small Irish studio’s most ambitious yet. My playthrough lasted about 20 hours, but I took the time to have extra conversations, finish side quests, and explore every nook and cranny. The love that has been poured into Blake Manor — literally and in-game — is apparent. I feel lucky to have entered these hallowed grounds and hope it will be made available on more platforms soon so that more people can experience it.

Despite its flaws, The Séance of Blake Manor is a thoroughly enjoyable supernatural detective game, whether we look at its gameplay, story, cast of 25 characters, eerie environments, or overall atmosphere. And while the time limit may initially seem like it could create a stressful experience, the game is actually not difficult at all, and the mysteries lurking in the background are easy enough to unravel. Every room, hidden object, and overheard conversation brings us closer to the climactic séance, and the gradual drip-feeding of answers is so absorbing that I often had to make a conscious effort to turn the game off in the evenings. Unfortunately, a handful of bugs and the uneven quality of the puzzles do leave their mark and slightly tarnish the overall picture. Even so, it’s easy to recommend—a moody and engaging experience that offers around 16–18 hours of atmospheric entertainment.

If you’re looking for a creepy mystery, you won’t do much better than The Séance of Blake Manor. It looks great, it sounds fantastic, and it offers a wonderful cast of characters who you’ll love investigating. From the first time I sat down with it until I figured out all the mysteries hiding in that hotel I couldn’t stop playing it. This is one of the very best games of 2025.

With its one-of-a-kind charm and narrative chops, The Séance of Blake Manor is a master class in the detective genre and a delicious supernatural treat for the exact kind of freak I am.