Manual Samuel

65%
Game Brain Score Based on 947 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

65%
Audience ScoreBased on 947 reviews
humor415 positive mentions
grinding30 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 many funny moments.
  • 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, 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, which many players found tedious and difficult.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking around 2 hours to complete, which some players feel does not justify the price.
  • The humor can be hit or miss, with some jokes feeling juvenile or repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement as the game progresses.
  • humor427 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 reviews criticize the humor as juvenile, repetitive, and reliant on slapstick, leading to a decline in comedic impact as the game progresses. Overall, while the game offers moments of genuine laughter, its humor may not resonate with everyone, especially those seeking more sophisticated or varied comedic styles.

    • “A quirky and hilarious game where you control every aspect of a character's daily life.”
    • “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!”
    • “I was laughing so hard in some parts that I couldn't get Sam to walk or breathe, so the poor bastard was lying there blue-faced and red-eyed on the floor while I was in stitches trying to pull myself together.”
    • “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.”
  • story234 mentions

    The game's story is characterized by its humorous and quirky narrative, revolving around the character Samuel's death and his subsequent adventures, which blend comedy with elements of love, revenge, and personal growth. While many players appreciate the engaging and funny storytelling, they also note that the overall experience is quite short, typically lasting around two hours, leading to a desire for more content. The humor and unique mechanics are praised, but some critiques highlight that the story can feel thin or repetitive at times, especially towards the end.

    • “The story of the play is both an adventure and a comedy.”
    • “The characters are amazing and also the voices of the characters are really good, and the story itself is excellent and unique.”
    • “Great humor, wonderful story, and a fun art style which kept me playing through the crazy micromanagement gameplay.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay199 mentions

    The gameplay of "Manual Samuel" is characterized by its unique and innovative mechanics that require players to control various bodily functions, leading to both humorous and frustrating moments. While many players appreciate the game's absurdity and comedic elements, they also note that the gameplay can become repetitive and tedious over time, with some finding the controls overly complex and lacking clear explanations. Overall, it offers a lighthearted experience that may appeal to fans of unconventional gameplay, but its execution leaves room for improvement.

    • “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.”
    • “The gameplay is as bad as it can be.”
    • “Then after about an hour you realize the story isn't really going anywhere, and the gameplay gets dreadfully repetitive and uninspired.”
  • graphics80 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 gameplay experience, even if the technical execution falls short. Overall, the graphics are seen as a blend of appealing aesthetics and significant shortcomings.

    • “The atmosphere, graphics, sounds, and story of the game are very funny and entertaining.”
    • “The writing is funny, the graphics are good (I just read they are hand-drawn).”
    • “The art style complements the narrative and gameplay really well.”
    • “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.”
    • “On paper this game should be fun, but it’s so poorly executed that it can’t make up its mind whether its demographic is kids or adults.”
  • grinding30 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is generally viewed as tedious and frustrating, particularly during the later stages and boss fights, which detract from the initial humor and enjoyment. While some players find a certain charm in the absurdity and humor of the gameplay, many agree that the experience quickly becomes tiresome and annoying, especially as the game progresses. Overall, the novelty wears off, leading to a consensus that the grinding ultimately hampers the game's potential.

    • “It's not quirky or innovative; it's just tedious and annoying.”
    • “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.”
    • “A briefly amusing concept that quickly becomes tiresome before becoming downright tediously boring.”
  • music22 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 ever heard. It complements the game's humor and narrative effectively, though some players note that it can become repetitive with extended play. Overall, the sound design, including voice acting and animation, is described as solid and enhances the overall experience.

    • “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.”
    • “But, sound, music, voice acting, animation: it's all really solid.”
    • “The silly and bubbly music suited it really well.”
  • replayability20 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is considered very low by most reviewers, with limited options beyond time trials and co-op modes. While some players may find enjoyment in perfectionist challenges or speedrunning, the general consensus suggests that the game lacks substantial replay value, making it more suitable for a single playthrough.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
    • “On the plus side, the game is short and there is no replayability if you ever want to go through this again.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

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

    • “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.”
  • stability6 mentions

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs and glitches that detract from the overall experience. Many players noted poor animation quality and repetitive gameplay in the latter half, leading to frustrating encounters, particularly with the final boss due to severe input lag.

    • “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.”
    • “Bugs and glitches”
  • emotional2 mentions

    Users highlight that the emotional aspect of the play is characterized by a blend of humor and poignancy, making it both entertaining and deeply moving.

    • “The story of the game is very funny and touching.”
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 8 analyzed playthroughs

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