Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

99%
Game Brain Score Based on 218 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • music
Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Game Cover
Starting at $15.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Xbox Games Store

"Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse" is a single-player action game that follows the hilarious and wholesome story of the Freelance Police duo, Sam and the newly psychic Max. As they navigate an ancient power and the Toys of Power, players will encounter eccentric characters, solve brain-tickling puzzles, and even explore Max's own mind in this bizarre paranormal adventure. With Max's abilities growing out of control and frightening adversaries closing in, it's up to the Freelance Police to save the day in this humorous and engaging game.

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

Reviews

99%
Audience ScoreBased on 218 reviews
story17 positive mentions
stability4 negative mentions
  • The remaster enhances the visuals and audio, making it the best-looking installment in the series.
  • The addition of Max's psychic powers introduces fresh gameplay mechanics and creative puzzle-solving.
  • The writing balances humor with emotional depth, providing a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy.
  • Some episodes, particularly the second, suffer from confusing puzzles and pacing issues.
  • Minor audio and visual bugs were reported, affecting the overall experience.
  • Certain jokes and themes may feel outdated or problematic, detracting from the humor.
  • story34 mentions

    The story of "The Devil's Playhouse" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, clever puzzles, and emotional depth, marking a significant evolution from previous seasons. Players appreciate the cohesive storytelling across episodes, the humor, and the unique character arcs, culminating in a satisfying conclusion to the trilogy. The game successfully blends various genres and maintains a captivating pace, making it a standout experience for fans of the series.

    • “The story of the Devil's Playhouse stands on its own quite well, but the first two seasons will give you a lot more context for who the individual characters are, as the majority of them return from prior seasons.”
    • “Goofy spins on American pulp fiction and cosmic horror, excellent pacing, and an unexpected amount of pathos give Sam & Max their best story yet — meanwhile, a streamlined interaction system gets a fresh spin with Max’s psychic powers that gives you the best of both worlds: new types of puzzles to solve, and plenty of chances to hear solid jokes that are silly, bizarre, yet earnest.”
    • “Every small detail has some sort of purpose in the story; everything is wrapped up perfectly by the end.”
    • “Things turn on their head almost immediately after, however, as the second episode, 'The Tomb of Sammun-Mak', tells its story out of order, letting the player jump forward and backwards in time, gathering clues to piece the series of events together.”
    • “Not to knock the other seasons of course, but I'd say this one feels like an evolution of what the previous seasons presented in both story writing and gameplay.”
    • “The humor is still as sharp as ever, focusing on some of the most entertaining characters to date, and through its story this season grabs and keeps your attention in a way the previous two sometimes struggled to.”
  • humor27 mentions

    The humor in the game is consistently praised for its wit and emotional depth, featuring a mix of funny characters like the dog and rabbit that elicit both laughter and tears. While many reviews highlight the clever jokes and engaging storytelling, some note that certain humor elements may not resonate with all players, indicating a shift in comedic appeal. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with heartfelt moments, making it a standout in the series.

    • “Great game, great story, great humor; this game includes everything that a good game should, the only thing it's missing is a Steam release of the soundtrack.”
    • “The comedy and jokes are all incredibly funny.”
    • “This season has a larger focus on the emotional core of these characters, without ever forgetting to stay funny all the way through.”
    • “They're really not funny.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and feel forced.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
  • music19 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising the soundtrack as exceptional and a perfect complement to the game's atmosphere. Reviewers highlight the jazzy and electronic fusion of the score, noting its emotional depth and variety, while expressing anticipation for an official soundtrack release. Despite some minor audio issues, the overall quality of the music and voice work remains a standout feature of the trilogy's finale.

    • “The soundtrack alone is just... *chef's kiss*”
    • “What remains intact is another spectacular OST from Jared Emerson-Johnson, this time around molding his jazzy approach with electronic instrumentation to complement the game's otherworldly atmosphere.”
    • “But like, how do you top an OST that has gorgeous moments (Twilight Eternal Reprise), peak noir (3-4 Boscotech & The Pier), and the jazz-fusion suite that defines the setting you enter in 3-5?”
    • “I haven't noticed many new music pieces in this remaster either, although the original was already highly varied with its soundtrack to begin with, and with this remaster, I'm certain an official soundtrack release will finally happen.”
    • “There's a few audio issues, like the other entries in the trilogy have (missing music, sound effects, etc), but the voice work and soundtrack is, as always, fantastic.”
    • “The audio is much better, and the music has been remastered with apparently new tracks I have yet to hear.”
  • gameplay19 mentions

    The gameplay is primarily focused on pointing and clicking, featuring a robust loop centered around unique powers that enhance puzzle-solving and narrative engagement. While some mechanics may feel repetitive after their initial introduction, the overall experience is enriched by improved hint systems, varied gameplay across episodes, and a blend of humor and engaging storytelling. Players appreciate the balance of fun mechanics and character interactions, making it a standout in the series despite minor inconsistencies in episode quality.

    • “Even if the gameplay isn't all that pulse-pounding, the gripping story and clever puzzles will motivate you to keep going.”
    • “Everything in 'The Devil’s Playhouse' revolves around these powers; they create the most mechanically robust gameplay loop I’ve seen to date from a game in the genre, but they’re also the center of the season’s conflict.”
    • “Max's powers this season are a delight of a gameplay feature, a toolkit of magical puzzle-solving abilities at your disposal, while also being a delightful source of surplus bonus dialogue and gags through experimentation.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's mostly pointing and clicking.”
    • “However, the mechanic quickly makes its exit, never to be seen again, with everything past that refreshing introduction being made up of a copy-pasted puzzle in slightly different contexts, where using the same psychic powers is the solution.”
    • “That being said, making the toys so prevalent in gameplay causes some issues.”
  • graphics16 mentions

    The graphics have received a significant upgrade, showcasing a fantastic visual overhaul that balances the original's grunge with a more refined art style, featuring a muted color palette and improved lighting. Players appreciate the cinematic camera work and sharper character designs, which enhance the overall experience, making it the best-looking installment in the trilogy. While some may miss the original's aesthetic, the enhancements are widely regarded as a successful modernization of the game's visuals.

    • “The updated graphics look fantastic, the music is excellent, and the writing is outrageous yet brilliant.”
    • “The graphics have gotten a makeover to be more in line with the art style established in the previous remasters, and while some of the grunge of the original is lost, it can still be felt in many areas, striking a nice balance between old and new.”
    • “Between the beautifully remastered graphics and the incredible, fluent storytelling, this has to be my favorite chapter of the three.”
    • “In regards to disappointment, it's exclusively graphical enhancement.”
    • “Whilst not much outside of graphics and overall stability have been changed, it is still a version of the game worthy for a first playthrough.”
    • “The graphics have gotten a makeover to be more in line with the art style established in the previous remasters, and while some of the grunge of the original is lost, in many areas, it can still be felt whilst still conforming to the new art style; in other words, a nice balance has been struck here between old and new.”
  • emotional14 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to evoke genuine tears and heartfelt moments, showcasing a more mature narrative that balances humor with poignant storytelling. Reviewers note that the finale delivers a powerful sendoff for the characters, leaving a lasting impact that resonates long after completion. Overall, the game successfully intertwines wit and emotional depth, making it a memorable experience.

    • “The first time I finished this game, I cried for an hour and then had to go outside and look at birds until I felt better.”
    • “Yet, The Devil's Playhouse gets emotional, it gets dramatic, it plays up the fact that this is a finale and delivers an ending that feels like a sendoff; both to these characters and to what was Telltale at the time.”
    • “This season has a larger focus on the emotional core of these characters, without ever forgetting to stay funny all the way through.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is marked by occasional freezes and infrequent audio glitches, with some players experiencing fps drops on older machines. While initial bugs were reported, most users found that performance improved after the first 20 minutes of gameplay.

    • “Every 5-10 seconds, the game freezes for a second.”
    • “The only downsides to this remaster are the (although infrequent) glitches, mainly of the audio kind, but nothing game-breaking. On my older machine, the game had frequent FPS drops.”
    • “The game started a bit buggy, but all is well past the first 20 minutes.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with a spectacular original soundtrack by Jared Emerson-Johnson that blends jazzy elements with electronic instrumentation, enhancing the otherworldly experience. The intensity and emotional maturity of the story further contribute to a captivating and immersive environment, particularly noted in the progression from previous installments.

    • “What remains intact is another spectacular OST from Jared Emerson-Johnson, this time around molding his jazzy approach with electronic instrumentation to complement the game's otherworldly atmosphere.”
    • “3-4 nails the atmosphere and intensity, and 3-5 just advances that progressive jawdrop.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be excessively tedious, often requiring significant time investment and repetitive backtracking, which detracts from the overall experience.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “All that tedious backtracking back-and-forth using the Desoto in previous seasons?”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers note that the character development is enhanced by a shift in tone and art style, featuring a muted color palette and sharper designs. The introduction of a more dynamic control scheme allows for greater immersion and interaction with characters, contributing to a more cinematic experience.

    • “The character development in this game is truly remarkable, with each character evolving in ways that feel authentic and engaging.”
    • “I love how the characters grow throughout the story, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
    • “The depth of the characters is enhanced by the choices you make, allowing for a unique experience with each playthrough.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I was disappointed by how little the characters evolved throughout the game; their arcs felt predictable and uninspired.”
    • “Despite the interesting premise, the characters remained one-dimensional and failed to engage me emotionally.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse

Videos

Similar Games