The Black Watchmen

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In "The Black Watchmen" , players purchase Season 1 to access 25 in-game missions, 65 puzzles, and 5 hidden missions, set in a real-world game environment. This permanent alternate reality game features The Black Watchmen, a paramilitary group defending the world from paranormal threats, and includes an optional Season 2 DLC with expanded narrative and additional missions. Community sandbox missions also contribute to the gameplay experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 520 reviews

story41 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and immersive experience, blending real-world research with puzzle-solving.
The community is supportive and helpful, making it easier to navigate challenging puzzles.
The game features a variety of puzzles that require critical thinking and creativity, providing a rewarding experience.

Some puzzles can be overly vague or frustrating, leading to confusion and reliance on external hints.
The requirement for personal information for higher levels of immersion may deter some players.
Technical issues, such as slow loading times and broken links, can disrupt the gameplay experience.

story
257 mentions
16 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The story of the game is immersive and engaging, drawing players into a web of complex missions that blend real-world research with a narrative steeped in mystery and conspiracy. While many players appreciate the challenging puzzles and the sense of accomplishment that comes from solving them, some express frustration with vague mission descriptions and increasing difficulty, often requiring external help to progress. Overall, the game successfully integrates live events and community collaboration, enhancing the storytelling experience, though it may not appeal to those who prefer more straightforward gameplay.
- “The story is interesting and the concept is amazing.”
- “What I did not expect was a massive, immersive, research-based game with a fantastic community and a compelling story that has kept me invested in the game and the extended universe for years.”
- “You are guided through a series of missions with a cohesive narrative, detailing what you are supposed to be looking for and why, giving you a sense of purpose as you head deeper down the rabbit hole.”
- “The descriptions of the missions and documents are very vague, so it's hard to even understand what the hell you're looking at.”
- “It seemed interesting at first with breaking codes and cool spy stuff, but quickly devolved into reading the forum and guides for hints and still not knowing what to do.”
- “I'm definitely not engaged, and while there are some very friendly, helpful people in the forums, the promise of the game requiring cooperative effort from the agents is only true because the missions are so badly written that it takes a community to figure out exactly what the game wants.”
gameplay
31 mentions
23 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players appreciating the immersive and puzzle-solving aspects, particularly in the context of alternate reality gaming (ARG), while others criticize it for being overly reliant on research and lacking traditional gaming elements. Many users noted the extensive hours of content available, but some found the mechanics frustrating or unengaging, leading to a divide between those who enjoy the challenge and those who feel it lacks depth. Overall, the gameplay experience varies significantly based on individual preferences and expectations.
- “The aesthetics of this game, the unrivaled sense of immersion, the active community, and the gameplay all create a very enjoyably frustrating experience for me - much like a difficult sudoku or crossword puzzle.”
- “But damn, I was surprised the gameplay is like nothing else on the gaming market and brings a whole new level of interaction. Can't wait to see how the game and the world continue to evolve with the upcoming DLC.”
- “Typing in 25+ 7 character IDs into a box and repeatedly getting a 404 error is not fun puzzle-solving gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is mostly research on real and made-up stuff, gathering information, finding clues, and investigating.”
- “Unfortunately, I bought into the hype that there would be so much more to the gameplay.”
music
14 mentions
29 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its haunting and thematic qualities that enhance the atmosphere, while others criticize the limited variety and repetitiveness of the soundtrack. While the eerie and moody tracks effectively set the tone for exploration and puzzle-solving, the lack of diversity and a small number of songs can lead to monotony over extended play. Overall, the soundtrack is appreciated for its quality but falls short in terms of variety and length.
- “Plus, the soundtrack is a pure diamond.”
- “Also, the soundtrack is haunting and ethereal and perfect backing to a vaguely horror-inspired research and espionage game.”
- “There are briefing files that set the mood, there's eerie but unobtrusive music, the process of exploring the puzzles is easy.”
- “My only gripe is the extremely limited soundtrack.”
- “It's possible to spend hours going into wiki-holes and research binges in this game, but there are only two tracks on the soundtrack so it becomes annoying.”
- “The moody, downtempo soundtrack may end up inducing drowsiness by the end of your first season.”
graphics
12 mentions
42 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the vibrant aesthetics and immersive visuals, rating them as high as 9/10, while others find them simple and streamlined, giving lower scores like 3/10. Despite the graphical quality, many users express frustration with the presence of hackers, which detracts from the overall experience. Overall, the game is recommended for its appealing graphics and engaging gameplay, but the hacking issue is a significant concern.
- “Simple, streamlined graphics make the interface a breeze to use, and the puzzles/missions are so much fun!”
- “The aesthetics of this game, the unrivaled sense of immersion, the active community and the gameplay all create a very enjoyably frustrating experience for me - much like a difficult sudoku or crossword puzzle.”
- “The aesthetic this game presents is second to none in its genre.”
- “Graphics (3/10)”
- “If you like real images, real graphics, this game may not meet your expectations.”
- “This game has a big problem with hackers.”
atmosphere
6 mentions
83 % positive mentions
-33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its immersive qualities, with players feeling a strong sense of tension and suspense enhanced by the music and sound design. Reviewers highlight the engaging environment that encourages exploration and problem-solving, contributing to an overall thrilling experience.
- “The atmosphere is just great, with all the information running through your mind, the feeling that you've spotted something and need to check it out to find clues or answers.”
- “The atmosphere, including the music and sounds, is a 10/10; they make you feel unsafe and that you are doing something extremely 'wrong' in a good way while searching for information.”
- “Wonderfully suspenseful, a master of atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to truly immerse players in the game world.”
- “Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is dull and fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
- “The environments are lifeless, making it hard to feel connected to the story or the characters.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring extensive online research and multiple screens to solve puzzles. Many feel that the process involves mechanical grinding rather than genuine deduction, as it demands exhausting every possible lead, including those that seem illogical.
- “So you're really just playing a game that requires research online - multiple screens are recommended, and it gets really tedious if you're playing on one screen.”
- “TL;DR: The game is frustratingly hard if you're not willing to exhaust every single tiny tedious lead to solve a puzzle, including ones that don't even make sense if you don't already know what you're looking for.”
- “At times, the game is not difficult, but very tedious and obscure, requiring you to exhaust every feasible option and then some that make no sense at all.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the monetization aspect, noting that the associated websites are cluttered with ads and lack clear instructions. Additionally, they find that many clues provided are too random to be helpful, detracting from the overall experience.
- “First of all, the websites they send you to are sometimes full of ads and not super clear on how you should use them, then many clues are way too random to be of any use.”
replayability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-150 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Replayability is rated low, with many users noting that once the puzzles or mysteries are solved, the experience loses its appeal, making it difficult to revisit the game without prior knowledge of the answers.
- “The game offers a variety of paths and choices, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With multiple endings and hidden secrets, I found myself coming back to explore every possibility.”
- “The dynamic gameplay elements ensure that no two runs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting.”
- “Replayability: 1/10”
- “It's a shame that, like many puzzle and mystery games, its replayability is severely limited because once you know the answers, there's little incentive to play again.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is largely driven by the community, particularly on Discord, where users find interactions to be friendly and entertaining. Additionally, the game's cutscenes incorporate humorous elements, such as memes, which contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere. Overall, players appreciate the blend of community wit and in-game humor.
- “The cutscenes are just adverts with funny triangles dotting everywhere because the Illuminati is such a funny meme.”
- “It's awesome, people are funny, helpful, and try to be as friendly as possible. They all have unique competencies that make them smart, so honestly don't hesitate to say a little hello on the Discord; you might end up having a really good time.”
optimization
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game has received high praise for its optimization, with users rating it a perfect 5 out of 5 for performance. This indicates that it runs smoothly and efficiently across various systems, providing an excellent gaming experience.
- “The optimization in this game is outstanding, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
- “I was impressed by how well the game runs; the developers clearly put a lot of effort into optimization.”
- “The performance is top-notch, with no noticeable lag or frame drops, making for an immersive experience.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, particularly reflecting on the completion of its first season and the end of early access, which has allowed for a more comprehensive appreciation of its narrative and character development.
- “Now that the first season of the game has ended and early access is over, I think I can give a more wholesome review of this game.”