Manual Samuel

About

In "Manual Samuel," you play as Samuel, a lazy trust-fund kid who's been given a second chance at life. The twist? You must manually control Samuel's every body function, from breathing to blinking, to survive. This quirky, challenging adventure game offers unique humor and a distinctive art style. For steaming needs

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

77%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,376 reviews

humor529 positive mentions

grinding47 negative mentions

The game features a unique and humorous concept where players must manually control every aspect of the character's bodily functions.
The art style is charming and the voice acting, particularly the narrator, adds to the comedic experience.
The game provides a fun and entertaining experience, especially in co-op mode, where players can share the control of the character.

The controls can be frustrating and unresponsive, particularly during the final boss fight, making it difficult to progress.
The humor, while initially amusing, can become repetitive and juvenile, detracting from the overall experience.
The game is very short, typically taking only 1-2 hours to complete, which may not justify the full price for some players.

humor
544 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in "Manual Samuel" is a mix of dark, absurd, and slapstick comedy, often eliciting laughter through its quirky narrative and challenging gameplay mechanics. While many players found the humor engaging and entertaining, especially in the early stages, others felt it became repetitive and tedious as the game progressed. Overall, the humor is a defining feature that can be hit-or-miss depending on individual taste, with some praising its originality and others criticizing its reliance on juvenile jokes.
- “Whimsical and hilarious to the very end.”
- “The humor is the spotlight and is pitch perfect.”
- “The writing is excellent, the humor is great, the jokes are funny, the art-style is gorgeous and the gameplay is challenging yet rewarding and fun.”
- “Overall, 'Manual Samuel' is a frustrating, unfunny mess of a game that's best avoided.”
- “The writing is so bad, it's that goofy, unfunny Reddit-tier humor.”
- “Manual Samuel is creative, inventive, and very self-aware, except for the fact that it is painfully unfunny the majority of the time, sometimes embarrassingly so.”
story
360 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The story of "Manual Samuel" is a quirky and humorous tale centered around a wealthy, narcissistic man named Samuel who must navigate a day of manual living after dying unexpectedly. While many players appreciate the dark humor and engaging narrative, some criticize the story for being shallow and overly simplistic, with a lack of character depth. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit short, experience filled with comedic moments, though its gameplay mechanics can detract from the enjoyment of the story.
- “The story is about Samuel, a wealthy narcissistic man who can do anything with money, except that one morning he dies and is sent to hell.”
- “The story is hilarious and entertaining, with a good mix of dark humor and quirky characters.”
- “I loved the story; it gave me a good laugh here and there yet was very nicely developed.”
- “The story is laughably thin, and although it seems to be part of the appeal, it also feels like the game wants me to take it seriously.”
- “The plot is rubbish, the characters are awful and it’s just not funny in the slightest.”
- “My biggest problem is with the story - halfway through it switches from the fun 'going through life manually' plot into a giant robot blaster/fighter and I am not here for it.”
gameplay
272 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
58%
11%
The gameplay of "Manual Samuel" is characterized by its unique and intentionally awkward control mechanics, requiring players to manually manage the character's basic bodily functions, which can lead to both humorous and frustrating experiences. While some players appreciate the originality and comedic elements, many find the gameplay repetitive and tedious, especially as the game progresses, with a notable spike in difficulty during the final boss fight. Overall, the game offers a short but entertaining experience, appealing primarily to those who enjoy unconventional gameplay styles.
- “I love the concept of this game; it has such an original set of mechanics.”
- “A fun choice for fans of unconventional gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is truly genius, and the developers did a great job!”
- “I finished it until the end and I can attest the gameplay becomes increasingly boring and you will end the game feeling completely underwhelmed.”
- “From its absurd premise to its clunky mechanics, this title misses the mark on every front.”
- “The gameplay is as bad as it can be.”
graphics
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
46%
2%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique hand-drawn art style and vibrant colors that complement the humorous narrative. However, some players criticize the overall quality, describing certain animations as poor and environments as bland. Despite these criticisms, the visuals are often noted as a highlight, contributing to the game's quirky charm and engaging atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story of the game are very funny and entertaining.”
- “The game's hand-drawn art style and clever writing are top-notch, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the game's quirky nature.”
- “The graphics in the game are a nice cartoon style that really suits it.”
- “The environments are bland and uninspired, and the character models are so poorly animated that they make early PlayStation 2 graphics look cutting-edge by comparison.”
- “Another day another shitty Unity game, gross art style, painfully bad animations, super short even for a 'rage game'; free is the perfect price for this game.”
- “Great story and gameplay, but graphics and animation are quite bad.”
grinding
49 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
2%
96%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mix of initial amusement that quickly devolves into tedium and frustration, particularly during the final levels and boss fights. While the game's quirky mechanics and humor can be entertaining at first, many reviewers note that the repetitive and clunky controls, along with poorly designed late-game challenges, detract significantly from the overall experience. Ultimately, the game is seen as a brief source of fun that becomes tiresome and annoying, especially in its latter stages.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's just tedious, not even remotely funny and simply a waste of time.”
- “The later half of the game becomes super tedious and super frustrating by adding new unnecessary manual mechanics.”
- “I would say the game's gimmick is interesting at first, however through tedious gameplay, annoying characters, and one of the worst boss fights I have ever seen, this game just isn't worth even half price.”
music
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
37%
7%
The music in the game is widely praised for its fitting and enjoyable soundtracks that enhance the atmosphere and complement the quirky art style. While some tracks are considered exceptional, others are described as forgettable, with the best music often found in the later levels. Overall, the soundtrack, along with voice acting and sound design, contributes significantly to the game's charm and immersive experience.
- “The soundtrack is seriously one of the best I've ever heard.”
- “The game's hand-drawn art style and clever writing are top-notch, and the soundtrack perfectly complements the game's quirky nature.”
- “The story is entertaining and together with great music and graphics creates a refreshing and enjoyable experience.”
- “Shitty music, voice over, story.”
- “🔲 just filling noises/no music”
- “The graphics are very reminiscent of late 90s cartoons and flash/java games but it has its charm and with silly/catchy music it gets the job done.”
replayability
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
68%
18%
Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with many players noting that aside from time trials and co-op modes, there isn't much incentive to replay. While some find value in speedrunning or perfectionist challenges, the short length of the game (typically 2-4 hours) and lack of substantial content for repeated playthroughs limit its overall replay value.
- “An entirely enjoyable experience, the first time I played it I was laughing my ass off, an extremely hilarious well-written story and even after the game there is still a lot of replayability. The game has many things to go back through looking for and a time attack mode challenging you to do better.”
- “It's not a long game, but it's a well-thought-out one that's open for replay value both in time attack mode and for 'what new stupid thing can I accomplish?'.”
- “For those who seek challenge and find the game interesting, there's a time trial mode, which is always a welcome addition as it adds some replayability value.”
- “Apart from the time trials and co-op, there's not much replay value.”
- “It takes you only 2-4 hours to beat it and there's not much replayability.”
- “As a result, even though I want to keep this game, it just does not have much replay value, and even the first time run was not altogether very fun.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Manual Samuel" is characterized by a heartfelt story that intertwines humor and frustration, creating a memorable experience. Players find the narrative both funny and touching, with moments that can evoke strong feelings, even leading to unexpected emotional responses.
- “While the gameplay takes center stage, there's a surprisingly heartfelt story woven throughout.”
- “In brief, 'Manual Samuel' is a chaotic blend of humor, frustration, and surprisingly touching moments.”
- “However, the game's brevity, dark humor, and surprisingly heartfelt story make it a memorable experience for those willing to take the plunge.”
stability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the graphics, many find the gameplay frustrating due to poor animation and significant input lag, leading to a sense of repetitiveness and dissatisfaction, especially during challenging moments like boss fights.
- “I'm sorry the devs assumed they fixed the glitches, but I just found this game to be a chore.”
- “Yes, it is buggy; yes, it is frustrating.”
- “I gave up on the last boss as it felt very buggy and the input lag was abysmal.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its fitting soundtracks, entertaining graphics, and unique sense of humor, creating an enjoyable experience. However, some players feel that the controls can detract from the overall atmosphere, leading to frustration that undermines the game's comedic elements.
- “The soundtracks are nice, fitting the atmosphere of each area visited.”
- “Another game with a unique sense of humor and a nice atmosphere for you to enjoy.”
- “The atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story of the game are very funny and entertaining.”
- “Controls spoil the atmosphere and fluency of the game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game runs smoothly without crashes and offers solid compatibility features like co-op and controller support. However, while character performances, particularly that of the narrator and Death, are highlights, the core gameplay loop is criticized for being tedious.
- “It runs smoothly, with no crashes, and I can give it solid compatibility ratings for allowing co-op, remote play, and controller support.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
100%
While the game embraces a lighthearted tone, many users feel that it lacks depth in character development, suggesting that additional personality traits and growth could enhance the overall experience.
- “The character development in this game is surprisingly deep, allowing players to form genuine connections with the characters.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
- “The way the game explores each character's backstory adds layers to the overall narrative, enhancing the player's experience.”
- “I get that it's not meant to be a serious game or story, and that's fine, but it could have been improved with more personality and character development, even in a game like this.”