Madison

About

Madison is a first person psychological horror game that delivers an immersive and terrifying experience. With the help of an instant camera, connect the human world with the beyond, take pictures and develop them by yourself. Solve puzzles, explore your surroundings and most importantly, survive.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

85%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,166 reviews

story181 positive mentions

grinding26 negative mentions

Best jump scares in a horror game, period.
Incredible atmosphere and visuals that keep you on edge.
Engaging story with a unique use of the camera mechanic for puzzles.

Puzzles can be overly cryptic and frustrating, leading to aimless wandering.
The protagonist's voice acting is often annoying and detracts from immersion.
The game relies heavily on jump scares, which can become predictable and lose their impact.

story
381 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
48%
4%
The story of "Madison" is generally regarded as intriguing and atmospheric, effectively blending horror elements with engaging puzzles and character development. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the narrative, some find it disjointed or confusing, particularly with the introduction of multiple antagonists and plot points that may not connect seamlessly. Overall, the game is praised for its ability to maintain suspense and encourage exploration, though opinions vary on the clarity and execution of the storyline.
- “The story is genuinely interesting and kept me hooked from start to finish.”
- “Madison is a well-paced, beautifully crafted, and terrifying horror game with an intriguing story and fun puzzle solving to boot.”
- “Every element of this game—from its chilling soundtrack and meticulously crafted atmosphere to the ingenious puzzles and compelling storyline—is designed to keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “Overall, I felt that the storyline was everywhere.”
- “The story starts off well but, in my opinion, loses steam about halfway through.”
- “The story is a bit confusing if you aren't able to hold your nerves and explore the house.”
atmosphere
189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
40%
3%
The atmosphere in "Madison" is widely praised for its immersive and unsettling qualities, with many players highlighting the game's stunning visuals, haunting sound design, and effective use of tension and jump scares. While the atmosphere successfully creates a sense of dread and psychological horror, some reviews note that the reliance on jump scares can detract from the overall experience, particularly when coupled with challenging puzzles that disrupt the flow. Overall, the game is recognized for its ability to maintain a creepy and engaging atmosphere throughout, making it a notable entry in the horror genre.
- “The excellent writing and detailed setting provide near-unparalleled atmosphere and experience.”
- “The game is visually stunning and incredibly immersive, with an atmosphere that really draws you in.”
- “Madison brilliantly captures the foreboding atmosphere required in a suspense-driven horror game.”
- “Unfortunately, the puzzle elements are more obtuse than the average player can manage, and coupling this with the oppressive atmosphere that intensifies as the game progresses, I was caught in a cycle of being drawn in and repelled, seduced and frustrated.”
- “Maybe if it were $20-$25, I could see it, but this game clearly was only trying to capitalize on the trends at the time with constant jump scares and somewhat creepy atmosphere.”
- “There's a certain amount of it that's fine and adds a touch of atmosphere, but this game just right off the bat hits you with it and it's really annoying.”
graphics
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The graphics in "Madison" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and atmospheric design, often compared favorably to other high-quality horror titles. Players appreciate the detailed environments, effective lighting, and overall aesthetic that contribute to a creepy ambiance, making the game visually impressive for an indie title. However, some users noted a lack of customization options and occasional performance issues, which slightly detracted from the experience.
- “The graphics are visually stunning, with environments so detailed and lifelike that you can almost feel the chill of the ghostly corridors and smell the mustiness of long-abandoned rooms.”
- “The atmosphere is very creepy and unsettling, the story is simple yet intriguing enough to want to continue playing, and the graphics are stunning, especially for an indie developer.”
- “Madison is a graphically rich, atmosphere-heavy horror game with an irritating protagonist that has enough pacing and set design to keep you entertained for the 5-7ish hours it takes to complete.”
- “Also, the shameful lack of graphics and sound options available show that the devs have little concern for the player experience.”
- “Visage has even better graphics and light effects; you can see it's developed with Unreal Engine 4, while Madison is developed with Unity.”
- “Unfortunately, the graphical settings allow almost no fixing, tinkering or customization, which for me led to an unplayable game at the moment with a head bob setting that can't be turned off.”
gameplay
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
70%
4%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the unique camera mechanics and puzzle-solving elements, while others criticize it for being overly simplistic and tedious, often likening it to a "walking simulator." Many found the reliance on jump scares and repetitive mechanics detracted from the overall experience, leading to frustration with pacing and navigation. Despite these criticisms, some players enjoyed the atmosphere and story integration, noting that the game offers a solid indie horror experience, albeit with some flaws in execution.
- “That said, the gameplay I did manage to conquer was absolutely worth it—well-crafted and intense.”
- “The game's use of a polaroid camera to interact with the environment is not only unique but adds an intense, unsettling layer to the gameplay.”
- “I really loved the camera jump-scares as well as the polaroid camera mechanic where you can reveal hidden things by shaking the photos.”
- “The gameplay consists of very cheap jumpscares that do not change throughout the game (loud noise thing running at you).”
- “The game has a severe lack of instructions and focuses too heavily on the puzzle mechanics and randomized answers that you'll be pulling your hair out in frustration and wasting way more time than necessary rather than making any real game progress.”
- “There's little to no guidance, you're aimlessly wandering around for a new area to open, desperately hoping for some sweet relief from the suffering, soulless, joyless monotony of the puzzle gameplay.”
music
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
75%
6%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to create a chilling atmosphere and enhance the horror experience, particularly through the haunting "blue knees" song. However, some players found certain tracks repetitive and overwhelming, especially during jump scares, leading to frustration. Overall, while the soundtrack effectively contributes to the game's tension, its execution can be polarizing, with some players loving it and others feeling it detracts from the experience.
- “The amazing graphics combined with creepy but great music at the same time and the well-made environment of the game will not take long to overwhelm you.”
- “Every element of this game—from its chilling soundtrack and meticulously crafted atmosphere to the ingenious puzzles and compelling storyline—is designed to keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The atmosphere was terrifying, the music was haunting, the puzzles really made me think, and discovering that all the noises you hear around you are actually things being closed, dropped, and opened was absolutely chilling!”
- “The sound and music is where I somewhat run into a problem with this game.”
- “Couldn't even play for an hour due to the painful droning 'ambient music?' with no way to silence it other than mute the entire game.”
- “Even the song wasn't creepy, it was just annoying after hearing it 10 times over and over again.”
grinding
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
13%
81%
The reviews highlight a pervasive sense of tedium associated with the game's grinding elements, particularly in its puzzles and inventory management. Players frequently describe the puzzles as frustratingly cryptic and tedious, often requiring excessive backtracking and leading to a lack of engagement with the story. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant detractor, making the gameplay feel padded and exhausting rather than enjoyable.
- “Grindy (60 - 100 hours)”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Frequent, mind-numbing, pitch-black, exhausting mazes that are 0% fun to explore and 100% tedious.”
- “The main gameplay of Madison has you stumbling around the house (which is massive) and solving incredibly frustrating and tedious puzzles that ultimately just pad the game to a ridiculous amount.”
- “Gets super tedious and feels padded to try to justify the price tag (~6 hours long, no replay value and $35??).”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
11%
56%
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth, bug-free experience, while others encountered frequent crashes, freezes, and glitches that significantly impacted gameplay. Many users noted that despite the fun and engaging content, the presence of bugs varied widely, leading to frustration for some and satisfaction for others. Overall, it appears that while some players enjoyed a stable experience, others faced considerable stability issues that detracted from their enjoyment.
- “Otherwise, the puzzles are great, the scares got me so good my cat felt the need to come console me, and the game runs great.”
- “10/10 a very fun, bug-free experience! If you are a fan of Visage, this game is for you!”
- “As far as I can see, there are no glitches.”
- “Every time I try to load into the game, it crashes and glitches my computer out.”
- “I'm well above the recommended specs, yet I encountered constant crashes, freezes, and stutters.”
- “I've had to restart this game 5 times due to glitches, so one time it wouldn't let me move forward or right. Another time I did the code right, but I bugged the game because I took a picture at the same time, and a bunch of other stuff like that. Just wait till the next bug fix to get it, to be honest.”
replayability
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
64%
18%
Overall, "Madison" offers limited replayability, primarily appealing to completionists seeking achievements and collectibles. While the game features a system that alters puzzles and scares in subsequent playthroughs, its short duration of 4-6 hours and high price point make it less attractive for casual players. Many reviewers suggest waiting for a sale due to the lack of substantial replay value.
- “The many achievements will require additional playthroughs if you seek them out, which is the sole purpose of any replay value in Madison.”
- “Regarding replayability, the game implements a system that when played again, all the puzzles, scares, and others change, making the experience of playing the game a bit different each time.”
- “[b]replayability value:[/b] yes, but only for achievement hunters (there are also speed run achievements) & those wishing to locate all 25 collectibles.”
- “Overall, I enjoyed my time with Madison, but I wouldn't recommend it at the full price of $34.99, as it is fairly short and not all that replayable.”
- “This makes it hard to recommend for the price, especially considering it's only a 5-6 hour experience that has little replay value.”
- “$34.99 is a steep price for a game that can be completed in 4-6 hours with limited replayability.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as crashing, freezing, and stuttering, which detracted from their enjoyment. However, recent updates have improved stability and allowed players to disable problematic features like camera shake and motion blur, leading to a more positive experience for others who noted decent performance on mid-range systems. Overall, while the graphics and sound design are praised, the game's optimization remains a point of contention among users.
- “Performance is decent with my 5600x and 3060ti combo given it is not graphically intense by any stretch, and a life-improving update was dropped recently so that the awful camera shaking and motion blur can now be turned off.”
- “Final edit: developers updated and further optimized the game.”
- “Its scary, its fun, its optimized, its visually nice.”
- “I bought and tried to play Madison several times during the first year, only to stop after 15 minutes due to the headache-inducing performance (which tons of people on the discussion threads groused about to the two-man dev team, but to no avail).”
- “I have a pretty nice system (MSI Suprim Liquid 4090, i9-13900k, and so it goes), but the stuttering and erratic FPS takes away all the joy in this game.”
- “I would have liked to enjoy and recommend this game, as it seems to be a good PT-inspired horror romp, but it has significant performance issues.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional impact from the game, experiencing feelings of discomfort, fear, and even sadness. The atmosphere, enhanced by sound engineering, effectively creates tension and unease, leading some to feel on edge or emotionally overwhelmed. However, technical issues like character movement detract from the experience for some, causing frustration alongside the emotional engagement.
- “I cried.”
- “Legitimately made me feel on edge and made me jump, but not in the cheap/loud random jumpscare way.”
- “The sound engineering is top notch to keep the emotional stress high.”
humor
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is often unintentional, stemming from poor voice acting and absurd monster designs that can evoke laughter rather than fear. Players noted that while the game aims for a scary atmosphere, the execution sometimes leads to comedic moments, particularly during intense scenes. Overall, the humor appears to be a mixed bag, with some finding it entertaining while others feel it detracts from the horror experience.
- “The voice acting and dialogue by the main character was so terribad it was almost hilarious.”
- “It doesn't help that the closest thing the game has to a final boss actually made me burst out laughing whenever it showed up, which I have to assume wasn't the intention.”
- “I found myself laughing at the bad voice acting more than anything, which isn't good when you are trying to set a scary mood.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
The character development is highly praised, with exceptional voice acting that enhances the depth of an engaging and horrifying story.
- “Voice acting and character development are top-notch, adding depth to a story that is as engaging as it is horrifying.”
- “The character development feels shallow and predictable, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of growth in the characters; they remained static throughout the game.”
- “The characters are one-dimensional, and their arcs are poorly written, leaving me uninvested in their journeys.”

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6h Median play time

5h Average play time

4-7h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 9 analyzed playthroughs

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