Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets

About

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets is a single player survival shooter game with horror, thriller and violence themes. It was developed by @TonyDevGame and was released on April 26, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

After a long period without finding a job, Jack is forced to join the family business, which he had disowned since he was a child. He begins what will be his first case, simple in appearance, but which will suddenly become his worst nightmare. Embark with Jack Holmes in a macabre story of living puppets, uncontrolled animatronics and more nightmarish beings through places as strange as a house wh…

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets screenshot

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77%

Audience ScoreBased on 71 reviews

story5 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Impressive variety and creativity in level design, particularly the well-crafted amusement park with rideable roller coasters and unique mini-games.
Strong atmosphere with effective use of lighting, sound design, and unsettling environments that maintain tension without relying heavily on jump scares.
A notable achievement for a solo developer, showcasing dedication, charm, and a unique blend of survival horror, exploration, and action elements.

Combat system is often clunky and inconsistent, with poor aim, uneven difficulty spikes, and frustrating enemy behavior leading to cheap deaths.
Gameplay is hampered by technical issues including bugs, poor optimization, unintuitive navigation, unclear objectives, and frequent difficulty in finding key items.
Narrative and voice acting are weak, with a loosely connected story, sometimes awkward or AI-like dialogue, and pacing that can feel uneven and fragmented.

story
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
69%
12%
The story centers on Jack Holmes and a family legacy of paranormal investigations, delivered mainly through in-game documents and environmental cues. While the narrative is often described as basic, campy, and occasionally disjointed, it successfully supports the game's atmospheric and thematic elements. Many reviewers wished for a more cohesive and fleshed-out plot but appreciated the unique storytelling approach and found it fitting for fans of survival horror.
- “The story follows Jack Holmes, a man drawn back into a family legacy tied to paranormal investigations and strange phenomena.”
- “The game is fairly story driven, if you want to actually pay attention to the notes left laying around the entire map of the game, and keep checking in on your character's personal notes and feelings via the tab menu in game, our main character is somewhat personable!”
- “This game is for any fans of survival horror in general; it has awesome atmosphere and storytelling.”
- “Some sections are more memorable than others, and the lack of a strong narrative thread can make it difficult to fully invest in the story.”
- “The AI-narrated monologues and plot are on the level of "so bad that it is good."”
- “Let me preface this by saying I wish the story was more cohesive, fleshed out, and on point because it did seem erratic the majority of the time.”
gameplay
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
44%
17%
The gameplay combines exploration, resource management, and combat, creating a tense and atmospheric experience that keeps players engaged despite some clunky mechanics and inconsistent gunplay. While some find the pacing slow and the controls imprecise, others appreciate the unique minigames, varied settings, and overall unsettling horror vibe. The game may feel rough and occasionally frustrating, but its originality and suspenseful moments make it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “Gameplay revolves around a mix of exploration, resource management, and direct combat.”
- “A lot of recent indie games in the horror genre tend to rely on cheap jumpscares and predictable gameplay mechanics for a short, but fun experience... this game is not that.”
- “The gameplay is not polished, and maybe sometimes just unfair, but that roughness works in its favor, feeling that any moment could be the last.”
- “The boss fights were easy but the game mechanics and movement made anything like dodging near impossible.”
- “The gameplay is below what I'd consider to be acceptable for a paid title: the guns feel inconsistent, damage varies wildly, the reticule is misaligned especially at long distances, and enemies are too fast, making combat clunky with awkward shooting and enemy attacks followed by healing.”
- “Its solid but I can't recommend due to its clunky gameplay, poor sound design, and rehashed game mechanics from other games.”
atmosphere
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
27%
17%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive, spooky, and tension-filled environment, which significantly enhances player engagement. Its detailed settings, eerie sounds, and creative design contribute to a unique and compelling horror vibe, making it a standout aspect often cited as a major strength. While some sections shift away from this mood, the overall atmospheric experience remains a highlight for fans of survival horror.
- “The game's biggest strength is easily its vibe and atmosphere.”
- “If you're looking for an atmospheric and creative game to just explore and soak in the spooky vibes, this is a solid choice.”
- “Graphically it is very good and the atmosphere is simply wonderful and one of the strongest points of the game, especially the park and the rideable attractions, which are amazing without exception, especially if you are a fan.”
- “Once you get there, it turns into a mindless shooter with barely any atmosphere and enemies that shred your health in seconds.”
- “First-person survival horror game made by a single developer that has its shortcomings, but overall it gives you a very good feeling of gameplay and very enjoyable, at a very competitive price and visually very striking (my favorite parts: animal village and bubu's funhouse, especially this, it has a very creepy atmosphere!).”
- “This game relies on its environment, its atmosphere, and the uncomfortability certain settings, noises and creatures can push onto a player.”
graphics
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The graphics are widely praised for their great design, atmosphere, and attention to detail, especially in creating immersive environments and rideable attractions. However, some users note performance issues with FPS drops on medium settings and a desire for more graphical options like DLSS. Overall, the visuals contribute significantly to the game's unique and engaging experience.
- “Graphics is not used as a main crutch for delivery, and it is inherently noticeable that the developer put in a lot of programming, placement, and time to uniquely craft an experience.”
- “Graphically it is very good and the atmosphere is simply wonderful and one of the strongest points of the game, especially the park and the rideable attractions, which are amazing without exception.”
- “This is one hell of a horror experience and will go down as one of my favorites. If you love spooky games with great lighting, graphics, and carnival fun, then this is a must play!”
- “Before I forget, the game's performance isn't really optimized, so expect huge FPS drops even on medium graphics settings.”
- “Artwork found throughout the game is made with AI, proving the developer isn't truthful.”
- “Graphics is not used as a main crutch for delivery; however, the focus on programming and placement detracts from visual appeal.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The game's optimization is generally poor, with frequent performance drops and inconsistencies, especially in outdoor and park areas. Technical issues and bugs further disrupt smooth gameplay, leading to noticeable FPS drops even on medium graphics settings.
- “Before I forget, the game's performance isn't really optimized, so expect huge FPS drops even on medium graphics.”
- “Performance can tank significantly when you get to the fair.”
- “The performance optimization is pretty bad, especially in the outdoor areas of the game, mainly the actual park areas.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The music in the game is generally good but often too loud, overpowering sound effects. Some tracks feel slightly out of place and don’t match the game’s slower pace, leading to occasional mismatched expectations.
- “The background music in the game is too loud and drowns out many of the sound effects.”
- “I'm not sure where my expectations went wrong, but the trailer with hype music made me think this would be a slightly faster paced game with more instances of small enemy hordes.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game is generally seen as tedious and laborious, with some challenges feeling difficult and drawn out due to sparse save points, which can add to the sense of frustration.
- “This is tedious and just feels like work.”
- “There were a couple of places where the challenges were very difficult and tedious, due to save points being too far apart.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is problematic, with frequent bugs, poor optimization, and inconsistent combat mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience at times. Players should expect janky gameplay and potential boss fight issues.
- “It's also quite buggy, painfully unoptimized at times and completely ignores many game design fundamentals.”
- “Only play this if you are willing to put up with janky combat, buggy boss fights and being lost for a bit.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is enjoyable but offers limited replay value, which may reduce long-term engagement for players.
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game successfully blends with its survival horror elements, adding heart and a unique charm that sets it apart from typical indie horror titles.
- “Most indie horror titles focus purely on fear, but Jack Holmes dares to blend humor and heart with its survival horror elements—and it works brilliantly.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game’s emotional aspect is characterized by a protagonist whose endearing and wholesome personality, highlighted by quirky and amusing observations, creates a charming and heartfelt experience.
- “The protagonist is strangely cute and wholesome with his derpy observations.”

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4h Average play time

4-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets is a survival shooter game with horror, thriller and violence themes.

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets is available on PC, PlayStation 5, Windows and PlayStation.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets.

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets was released on April 26, 2024.

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets was developed by @TonyDevGame.

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets is a single player game.

Similar games include Beyond Hanwell, Apartament 1406: Horror DEMO(n), Remorse: The List, Mirror Forge, Tormented Souls and others.

Jack Holmes: Master of Puppets

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