Detroit: Become Human
- June 18, 2020
- Quantic Dream
- 11h median play time
"Detroit: Become Human" is a narrative-driven video game set in a futuristic Detroit where androids resemble humans. You play as three distinct androids, navigating a world on the brink of chaos, and making impactful decisions that affect the game's outcome. With thousands of choices and various endings, the game explores ethical quandaries and humanity's destiny.
Reviews
- story14,708 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Detroit: Become Human" is widely praised for its depth, emotional engagement, and the significant impact of player choices on the narrative. Players appreciate the intertwining arcs of three android protagonists—Connor, Kara, and Markus—each facing moral dilemmas that reflect contemporary social issues, such as discrimination and the quest for freedom. While some critiques mention pacing issues and predictable elements, the overall consensus is that the game offers a compelling, immersive experience that encourages multiple playthroughs to explore its branching storylines and varied outcomes.
“The story is amazing with multiple endings.”
“This is a game where small choices and even slow actions in quick-time events can snowball into massive narratives that end in a completely different story.”
“The game excels in its branching storylines, giving players the power to influence the fates of its characters through choice-based mechanics.”
“The problem, despite some reasonable voice acting, is that the story is dull and pretentious - the issues raised about AI and the potential ethical implications of slave androids are dealt with far better in other works, and does the irritating thing of having a bunch of edgelord dark violence attempting to compensate for its lack of entertaining characters or narrative.”
“However, there are a lot of plot holes and some rather stupid moments even in the logic of the world itself.”
“While some story arcs feel predictable or heavy-handed in their social commentary, the game shines in moments of emotional intensity and ethical dilemmas.”
- graphics4,216 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Detroit: Become Human" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning realism and attention to detail, often described as breathtaking and cinematic. Many players noted that the visuals hold up impressively even years after release, with some stating they rival modern titles. However, there are reports of performance issues, particularly with NVIDIA graphics cards, leading to crashes and graphical glitches, which can detract from the overall experience.
“The graphics are gorgeous, with stunning attention to detail, and they also brought Detroit to life. A lot of parts were spot on. The environments are beautifully rendered, enhancing the immersive experience.”
“The graphics are absolutely stunning and I was enthralled with the plot the entire time, forgetting that hours were going by while I was playing.”
“Visually stunning, the graphics bring the futuristic Detroit to life, and the emotional depth of the characters will keep you hooked.”
“The graphics are just ok by today's standards.”
“Seems like the devs have been sloppy in fixing graphic issues and are done with the game.”
“I had to revert my graphics driver back to 22.11.2 for the game to continue two-thirds of the way in.”
- gameplay2,194 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Detroit: Become Human" is primarily centered around quick-time events and decision-making, which some players find engaging while others consider it simplistic and lacking depth. The game emphasizes narrative and character development, with choices significantly impacting the story's outcome, making it feel more like an interactive movie than a traditional game. While the graphics and storytelling are widely praised, the gameplay mechanics can be polarizing, with some players enjoying the immersive experience and others criticizing the limited interactivity and occasional technical issues.
“The gameplay is a seamless blend of quick-time events, exploration, and decision-making that keeps you engaged.”
“The gameplay mechanics are intuitive and engaging, blending interactive storytelling with exploration and decision-making.”
“The gameplay consists of quick time events, exploration, and dialogue/action choices.”
“This game is a must-play for all those who appreciate single-player stories, though if you are looking for complicated gameplay, this game may not be for you.”
“The gameplay is predominantly the same quick-time event junk that seemed state of the art in 2005, but that would be forgivable if the story was compelling and well-told.”
“The gameplay is very linear and some people would call this game an interactive movie but despite that, the game doesn't get boring for one simple reason: it has a great and touching story and the characters/actors are amazing.”
- emotional1,476 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of *Detroit: Become Human* is widely praised, with players reporting profound emotional engagement and investment in the characters' journeys. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a range of feelings, from joy to heartbreak, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. The combination of a compelling narrative, lifelike character animations, and a powerful soundtrack enhances the emotional weight of the story, making it a memorable and impactful experience for players.
“As a 40-year-old man who has been to both war and prison, this game was difficult and uncomfortable to play through in parts, even for me - and I cried real tears in more than one situation while playing.”
“The emotional depth and moral dilemmas presented in the story kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to uncover the next twist or revelation.”
“Detroit: Become Human is a masterpiece of interactive storytelling, a game that left me profoundly moved and emotionally invested from start to finish.”
“Just finished the game (meaning I got one ending) and holy crap, it's emotional as f***.”
“Right when you think it's going to be another predictable or boring story game, it always surprises you with something new.”
- music1,027 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in "Detroit: Become Human" has received widespread acclaim for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the gameplay experience. Each of the three main characters has a unique soundtrack composed by different artists, which effectively reflects their individual stories and emotional arcs. While many players praised the soundtrack as a highlight of the game, some noted the lack of options to adjust or turn off the music, which could detract from the overall experience for those who prefer a quieter atmosphere.
“The soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, heightening the emotional stakes during pivotal moments.”
“The soundtrack is phenomenal, and there are so many iconic moments that still resonate with me months after playing the game.”
“The music perfectly complements the game's atmosphere, emphasizing the emotions and crucial moments of the plot.”
“Most of the time I won't care because I just turn off the music, but there was no option for that in this game.”
“Be warned that music volume can neither be altered nor turned off!”
“You can't turn the music off.... what little I've heard is pretty good, but no!”
- optimization800 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 37 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Detroit: Become Human" has received significant criticism, particularly regarding its performance on PC. Many players report severe stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, even on high-end systems, indicating that the game is poorly optimized for the platform. While some users have managed to achieve stable performance through various tweaks, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from substantial technical issues that detract from the experience.
“Performance is well-optimized.”
“The graphics and visuals are amazing, and it's well optimized, so it can be played even on low-end graphic cards.”
“Detroit: Become Human is fully optimized for PC, offering breathtaking graphics, 4K resolution, a smooth 60 FPS framerate, and seamless integration of both mouse/keyboard and gamepad controls.”
“The game is extremely poorly optimized.”
“This game is unplayable, constant stuttering, fps drops, 100% cpu usage.”
“The optimization is a mess, fps drop and stutter a lot, the game experience is so bad.”
- replayability745 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The replayability of "Detroit: Become Human" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its extensive branching narratives and numerous endings, which encourage players to explore different choices and outcomes. While some players noted that the game could feel repetitive due to unskippable cutscenes, the overall consensus is that the depth of decision-making and the impact of choices provide significant replay value, making it a compelling experience for those who enjoy narrative-driven games.
“Replayability 9.9/10, the fact you can go through maybe thousands of different iterations of this story is insane, and the only reason it isn't a 10 is because most people won't replay 20+ hours of story just to see a different ending.”
“The branching narratives offer multiple paths and endings, encouraging players to explore different outcomes, fostering a deep sense of engagement and replayability.”
“The sheer amount of paths and choices in 'Detroit: Become Human' naturally gives it an incredible amount of replay value, making sure you really get your money's worth.”
“The replayability factor is 0 in my mind and not worth downloading until they can get this fixed.”
“My one complaint is the replayability is severely diminished by how impactful some of the scenes and choices are.”
“While it has some flaws, such as limited replayability and heavy-handed themes, the game's stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and superb voice acting make it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.”
- stability291 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 89 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and graphical glitches, particularly on lower-end systems. While some users experienced smooth gameplay with minimal issues, others faced significant technical difficulties that hindered their enjoyment, leading to frustration and the need for extensive troubleshooting. Overall, the game's performance appears to vary widely depending on hardware specifications and driver compatibility, making it a risky choice for those with less powerful setups.
“So far it's been a bug-free experience and I haven't encountered any technical issues, which seems rare nowadays.”
“The graphics are amazing with zero visual glitches and no crashes during gameplay.”
“It is also bug-free when I played it, which is rare nowadays.”
“The game is a buggy mess in 2023 - unable to launch despite all the workarounds and fixes.”
“I feel like that discourages me from picking the game up again if I can get 10 minutes of gameplay until it crashes and it takes five minutes to exit the application since it freezes my machine pretty well.”
“The game freezes constantly and is not playable.”
- grinding215 mentions
- 1 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 36 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the need to replay chapters to explore different endings tedious and time-consuming. While some appreciate the depth of choices and story, the inability to skip scenes and the repetitive nature of certain tasks can lead to a frustrating experience, especially for those aiming for 100% completion. Overall, while the narrative is engaging, the gameplay can feel monotonous and requires significant time investment.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Time for grinding will be required.”
“That's probably the game's biggest weakness; exploring the various paths requires replaying so much of what you have already seen with no way to skip or fast forward, so it becomes rather tedious especially if you want to experiment with seeing the different endings.”
“Too bad you can't skip dialogues and cutscenes, makes replaying to see different choices really tedious sometimes.”
“I will say, trying to get 100% completion by exploring all the different paths the game can offer can be tedious, simply because the way the checkpoint system is designed you cannot just select a new path and have it count it as completed.”
- character development195 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
Character development in "Detroit: Become Human" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players forming strong attachments to the characters, particularly the dynamic between Connor and Hank. The game effectively utilizes player choices to shape character arcs, leading to a variety of outcomes and enhancing the immersive experience. While most characters are well-developed, some players feel that certain side characters could benefit from more substantial development, but overall, the storytelling and character progression are considered exceptional.
“The character development is particularly remarkable, especially the dynamic between Connor and Hank. They have become my favorite duo; I just love them so much.”
“With its rich character development and emotionally charged moments, Detroit: Become Human offers a deeply immersive experience that’s sure to leave a lasting impression.”
“The character development is outstanding, with each protagonist having a distinct personality and a compelling arc.”
“Better if some of the characters had some more substantial character development.”
“Also, the idea of 'narrative exploration' sounds cool at first, but once I tried to replay the game and explore different routes, it only further exposes the flaws in character development and story.”
“As for the individual character arcs: the only good one is Connor, because his involved actual issues and character development.”
- atmosphere167 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive environments, and emotionally resonant soundtrack, which together create a captivating and often haunting experience. Players appreciate the meticulous attention to detail in character design and world-building, enhancing the narrative's depth and emotional impact. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, elevating it to a masterpiece of storytelling and interactive experience.
“From the meticulously crafted environments to the nuanced facial expressions of the characters, every element of the game contributes to its immersive atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere of this game is so good that it made me want to visit Detroit for real.”
“The game's visuals are stunning, showcasing a richly detailed world that immerses players in a vibrant yet unsettling atmosphere.”
“The atmosphere just hits the temple with a hammer.”
“I love the atmosphere, graphics, and almost everything about the game, but the problems still there, so I suggest you wait until it's 100% solved (probably never).”
- humor155 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mix of intentional and unintentional moments, often highlighted through character interactions, particularly with Connor and Hank, which elicit genuine laughter amidst the dramatic narrative. Players appreciate the comedic elements that balance the darker themes, making the emotional rollercoaster of the story even more engaging. Overall, the humor adds a unique charm, enhancing the game's appeal and replayability.
“The humor is honestly hilarious and the timing was impeccable (though really the only humor was with Connor, but whatever).”
“The characters and story pull you in until you are crying, laughing, and celebrating with them.”
“Connor's story features actually good messages, funny moments, dogs, and the voice actor for Mr. Krabs.”
“You're not funny!”
“Just funny ones.”
- monetization14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its lack of microtransactions and in-game purchases, highlighting it as a refreshing experience in an industry increasingly dominated by cash grabs. However, others express disappointment over the game's advertising strategies and perceive a shift towards monetization tactics, suggesting a potential decline in the game's integrity. Overall, while some players appreciate the absence of aggressive monetization, concerns about the game's marketing and future direction remain.
“This was only my first time playing it and my first time with Quantic Dream titles, and I definitely recommend this game to everyone. No microtransactions, no flaws in game concept, no forced gameplay, no forced narrative, no 'rushed' launching. For me, this game became a source of fun and inspiration, something that I lost long ago and hope to recover in very few promising upcoming titles.”
“No in-game purchases with real money.”
“This is truly one of the last good games before COVID hit and ruined the gaming industry, when everything turned to greedy cash grabs.”
“We are in an age where microtransactions are in almost all games, where single player is being pushed out.”
“I've tried everything but can't get it to work for more than 30 seconds; Quantic Dream clearly doesn't care about this game anymore and uses it as a quick cash grab.”