Manual Samuel

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 472 reviews
  • humor
  • story
  • gameplay
Manual Samuel Game Cover
There are some great ideas in many of the mini-games and the humour is great, but the controls are frustrating and detract from the fun.
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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

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 472 reviews
humor207 positive mentions
grinding15 negative mentions
  • The game features a unique and humorous premise, where players must manually control every aspect of the character's daily life, leading to hilarious situations.
  • The art style and voice acting are well-executed, contributing to the overall charm and comedic tone of the game.
  • Despite its short length, the game offers a fun experience with engaging gameplay mechanics and a quirky storyline.
  • The controls can be frustrating and unresponsive, especially during the final boss fight, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking around 2 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more content.
  • Some players found the humor to be hit-or-miss, with certain jokes feeling repetitive or juvenile.
  • humor213 mentions

    The humor in "Manual Samuel" is a mixed bag, with many players finding it quirky, dark, and often hilarious, particularly in its unique gameplay mechanics and character interactions. However, some reviewers criticize the humor as juvenile or repetitive, suggesting it may appeal more to younger audiences or those with a taste for slapstick comedy. Overall, while the game delivers plenty of laughs and entertaining moments, its humor can become tedious for some players as the experience progresses.

    • “A quirky and hilarious game where you control every aspect of a character's daily life.”
    • “The offbeat humor and challenging controls make for a uniquely entertaining experience.”
    • “This game is so hilarious, makes you think on every single motion you have to make in the game, since everything is manual, it is absolutely hilarious!”
    • “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.”
    • “I don't know if it aged like milk or if it was also unfunny back then, but it almost made me quit.”
  • story117 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by its humorous and quirky narrative, often described as both entertaining and lighthearted, with themes of love, death, and personal growth. While many players appreciate the unique storytelling and engaging characters, some criticize the brevity of the plot, noting that it can feel thin or repetitive at times. Overall, the story is seen as a strong point, though players express a desire for more depth and length to enhance the experience.

    • “The atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story of the game are very funny and entertaining.”
    • “The story of the play reflects both Samuel's personal journey and his relationship with other characters.”
    • “I loved the story; it gave me a good laugh here and there yet was very nicely developed.”
    • “This seems like it was made for kids because the humor and storyline are very childish, but the controls seem like they would be pretty frustrating for kids.”
    • “Then after about an hour you realize the story isn't really going anywhere, and the gameplay gets dreadfully repetitive and uninspired.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay99 mentions

    The gameplay of this title is characterized by its unique and often absurd mechanics, requiring players to manually control various body parts, which can be both entertaining and frustrating. While some players appreciate the humor and innovative concepts, many criticize the controls as clunky and the gameplay as repetitive, leading to a mixed reception overall. The game offers a short experience, with some fun moments, but ultimately may not sustain interest beyond its initial novelty.

    • “A fun choice for fans of unconventional gameplay.”
    • “The game is rather short but does a great job of keeping the gameplay fresh for each level by changing what you need to do within the level.”
    • “Very fun - and sometimes irritating - game, the story and comedic elements are spot-on and the gameplay is original and challenging.”
    • “From its absurd premise to its clunky mechanics, this title misses the mark on every front.”
    • “First off, the gameplay is a mess.”
    • “The gameplay can get repetitive and even annoying at times because you never actually fail; you just go slower.”
  • graphics40 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the creative art style and hand-drawn visuals as charming and fitting for the narrative, while others criticize the overall quality, describing them as bland and poorly animated. Despite the disparity in opinions, many agree that the unique art style and humor contribute positively to the gaming experience, even if the technical execution falls short. Overall, the graphics are seen as a blend of appealing aesthetics and notable shortcomings.

    • “The atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story of the game are very funny and entertaining.”
    • “The art style complements the narrative and gameplay really well.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “Great story and gameplay, but graphics and animation are quite bad.”
    • “~ art style is somewhat bland”
  • grinding15 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed bag; while some appreciate the initial humor and fun, many agree that it quickly becomes tedious and frustrating, especially during boss fights. The gameplay starts off engaging but tends to drag on, leading to a sense of annoyance rather than enjoyment as players progress. Ultimately, the repetitive nature of the grinding detracts from what could have been a more enjoyable experience.

    • “It's not quirky or innovative; it's just tedious and annoying.”
    • “Good for a laugh right up until the bosses which have zero concept of fun design; tedious, obnoxious, not amusing or fun to play, or even fun to watch someone else get frustrated at.”
    • “I would like to recommend this game, really, but the final act totally ruins the experience, bringing everything to a grinding halt for what is otherwise a humor and story driven game.”
  • music11 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beauty and appropriateness, with many considering the soundtrack one of the best they've experienced. It complements the game's narrative and characters effectively, though some players note that it can become repetitive with extended play. Overall, the soundtrack is described as inspired, fun, and well-suited to the game's whimsical tone.

    • “But above all, the soundtrack is seriously one of the best I've ever heard.”
    • “The music of the game is also very beautiful and appropriate.”
    • “The soundtrack, on the other hand, is extremely inspired and fun to listen to.”
    • “The soundtrack, on the other hand, is extremely uninspired and not fun to listen to.”
    • “The silly and bubble music did not suit the game well.”
    • “The sound, music, and voice acting felt lackluster and detracted from the overall experience.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is generally considered low, with few features to encourage multiple playthroughs beyond time trials and co-op modes. While some players find enjoyment in revisiting the game for perfectionist challenges or speedruns, many agree that the lack of substantial replay value may make it more suitable for a one-time experience.

    • “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.”
    • “Replayable if you're a perfectionist or into speedruns.”
    • “The replayability of the game is very low.”
    • “Apart from the time trials and co-op, there's not much replay value.”
    • “I don't see any replay value though, so maybe wait for a sale if you're not completely sure you'll like it.”
  • atmosphere3 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is characterized by its entertaining graphics, sounds, and story, contributing to a unique sense of humor. However, some users feel that the controls detract from the overall experience and fluency of the game.

    • “The atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story of the game are very funny and entertaining.”
    • “Another game with a unique sense of humor and a nice atmosphere for you to enjoy.”
    • “Controls spoil the atmosphere and fluency of the game.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches reported, particularly in the latter half. Players have noted poor animation quality and repetitive gameplay, leading to frustrating experiences, especially during critical moments like boss fights.

    • “The game is buggy as hell: as much as the first part is funny, after the first half it's poorly animated and super repetitive.”
    • “I gave up on the last boss as it felt very buggy and the input lag was abysmal.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the play is characterized by a blend of humor and poignancy, creating a narrative that resonates deeply with audiences.

    • “The story of the game is both funny and touching.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me.”
    • “I found myself deeply moved by the narrative and the choices I had to make.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

Buy Manual Samuel

Play time

4hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
3-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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