Mandemon

About

Mandemon is a single player action game. It was developed by 致意 and was released on August 1, 2023. It received very positive reviews from players.

"In the endless sea of perpetual rebirth, longing for a glimpse of bliss." This is a suspense style visual novel game that set in a fictionalized Japan. Your choices will shape your fate and reveal different secrets. Piece together clues from multiple endings to uncover the whole truth. "Kisaragi...had transformed into Mandemon." The girl said to me. Her slender fingers …

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 66 reviews

story26 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

The game features beautiful artwork, a captivating soundtrack, and impressive voice acting, creating an immersive experience.
The story is intriguing with multiple endings that encourage players to explore different choices, enhancing replayability.
Despite its short length, the game manages to deliver a complex narrative that keeps players engaged and invested.

The English translation contains some awkward phrasing and minor grammatical errors, which can detract from the overall experience.
Many characters feel generic and underdeveloped, leading to a lack of emotional connection with the story.
The game is criticized for its reliance on AI-generated art, which some players found jarring and less appealing.

story
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
48%
5%
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring a unique yet imperfect horror narrative that requires players to explore multiple endings to fully grasp its depth and intricacies. While some players appreciate the intriguing plot twists and emotional resonance, others find the story too short and lacking in meaningful impact. Overall, the combination of engaging visuals, music, and voice acting enhances the storytelling experience, making it worthwhile for fans of story-driven games and visual novels.
- “A beautifully crafted story, and in continuation of 致意's unique established style, it is sprinkled with an appropriately picked assembly of Rachmaninoff's classic compositions, that in many ways complement the style and the emotional content of the plot.”
- “The story sets up big mysteries in a strange new world, and once you get settled in, it flips the rug out from under you again.”
- “Mandemon tells a captivating multiple-route mystery story, filled with melancholy and embellished by sumptuous art, enchanting music, and a competent full cast of voice actors.”
- “The story is really out there, and you have to play through all the branching paths in order to understand what the heck is going on.”
- “This story had a lot of potential but it was too short; while it did pique my interest, it didn't manage to become something I would not forget.”
- “It had the structure of a branching story with its twists and turns, but I didn't feel that what happened carried a strong meaning for me.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
26%
13%
The music in this visual novel is widely praised for its atmospheric and immersive qualities, with classical compositions enhancing the overall experience and contributing significantly to the storytelling. Reviewers highlight the well-balanced soundtrack and effective sound effects, which together create a captivating ambiance that complements the game's art and narrative. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, elevating the game's emotional depth and engagement.
- “In all seriousness, this visual novel is pretty amazing with regards to the musical direction, sound effects, the voice talent, and the art for this game.”
- “I also have to praise the soundtrack—it’s well-balanced and atmospheric, adding tension at just the right moments.”
- “Mandemon tells a captivating multiple-route mystery story, filled with melancholy and embellished by sumptuous art, enchanting music, and a competent full cast of voice actors.”
- “First off, I'd like to address the music to be heard in this game.”
- “The music also plays a crucial role in the story.”
- “The complexity, character, the sudden thought-provoking sentence that feels like it appears out of nowhere, the music that helps build the vibes, everything.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful art style, character designs, and atmospheric visuals that enhance the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the combination of lovely artwork and a somber soundtrack, creating a captivating aesthetic that complements the narrative. The game features fully animated sprites and is noted for its intriguing visuals, making it a standout in the visual novel genre.
- “The art and music are lovely too and the atmosphere and aesthetic are incredible!”
- “Gorgeous art style and character designs, with much more beautiful CGs than the last game.”
- “Absolutely amazing game with a beautiful art style, interesting characters, and a well-rounded story that has plenty of endings that are all cool.”
- “The visuals made me feel like I was playing a spooky visual novel that I found randomly online in 2012.”
- “The graphics are not impressive and feel outdated, lacking the polish expected from modern games.”
- “The art style is inconsistent, making it hard to immerse myself in the game's atmosphere.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, mysterious, and dystopian qualities, enhanced by a well-balanced soundtrack and beautiful art. Reviewers highlight the immersive ambient sounds and the overall aesthetic, which contribute to an eerie and melancholic experience.
- “I also have to praise the soundtrack—it’s well-balanced and atmospheric, adding tension at just the right moments.”
- “Went into this not knowing quite what to expect and was impressed by the dark, mysterious, dystopian atmosphere as well as the gorgeous art and great translation.”
- “Loved the eerie and melancholic atmosphere of the game, as well as the ambiguous setting.”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The gameplay is criticized for its cumbersome timeline mechanic, which can make exploring the narrative and unlocking endings frustrating, as players may need to make nearly perfect choices to progress. While some find the challenge rewarding, others worry that it may hinder overall enjoyment, despite the availability of guides to assist in navigating the branching paths.
- “The struggle to unlock all the endings is worth it in my opinion, even if it can be tiring to get everything right. Not everyone may have the same effort as I do, so I'm concerned that not everyone could fully enjoy this game.”
- “Check out Paranormasight for a better timeline mechanic.”
- “The biggest flaw in this game is the atrocious timeline mechanic.”
- “One thing I hate about the game is the mechanic; it's tiring to get all the endings. You could get 9 out of 10 choices right and that's not enough to unlock a route. Although the struggle is worth it in my opinion, not everyone has the same effort as me, so I'm worried that not everyone could get the full enjoyment of this game.”
- “Mechanically, it is a little more difficult to explore the narrative space than other branching visual novels usually are, but still doable, and there are Steam guides to help you find endings.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development is highlighted by beautiful art and well-designed characters, with many reviewers praising the improved character designs and stunning CGs compared to the previous game. The clean and attractive UI further enhances the overall visual appeal.
- “Gorgeous art style and character designs, with much more beautiful CGs than the last game.”
- “On the visual aspect, the character designs are great; the UI is very clean and beautiful.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players note that while the game features numerous choices that enhance the experience, achieving certain endings can be tedious due to the need for specific decision paths. However, this grinding aspect is deemed worthwhile for fans of mystery visual novels.
- “The game requires an excessive amount of grinding to progress, making it feel more like a chore than an enjoyable experience.”
- “Grinding in this game is repetitive and tedious, often leading to burnout rather than excitement.”
- “The amount of time spent grinding for resources feels disproportionate to the rewards, diminishing the overall enjoyment of the game.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game evokes strong emotions through its beautifully crafted story, enhanced by a carefully curated selection of Rachmaninoff's classical music, which complements its spooky visual novel aesthetic. Players feel a nostalgic connection reminiscent of discovering hidden gems in the genre, making the emotional experience both impactful and memorable.
- “A beautifully crafted story, and in continuation of 致意's unique established style, it is sprinkled with an appropriately picked assembly of Rachmaninoff's classic compositions, which in many ways complement the style and the emotional content of the plot.”