The Black Watchmen

About

The Black Watchmen is a single player and multiplayer role playing game with horror, fantasy, historical and science fiction themes. It was developed by Alice & Smith and was released on June 25, 2015. It received positive reviews from both critics and players.

In the first ever Permanent Alternate Reality Game, you join the ranks of The Black Watchmen, a paramilitary group dedicated to protecting the public from dangerous phenomena beyond human understanding: ritualistic murder, occult secret societies, and the paranormal, to name but a few.

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87%

Audience ScoreBased on 524 reviews

story41 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game offers a unique and immersive experience, blending real-world research with puzzle-solving.
The puzzles are challenging and rewarding, providing a sense of accomplishment when solved.
The community is supportive and helpful, enhancing the overall experience of the game.

Many puzzles can be overly vague or frustrating, leading to confusion and reliance on external hints.
There are multiple bugs and issues that can render certain steps unsolvable without outside help.
The developers have been criticized for their lack of responsiveness to community feedback and issues.

story
257 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
83%
1%
The game's story is immersive and engaging, drawing players into a complex narrative filled with challenging missions that often require real-world research and collaboration. While many players appreciate the intriguing plot and the integration of live events, some express frustration with vague mission descriptions and escalating difficulty, which can lead to reliance on community hints and guides. Overall, the narrative is praised for its depth and the sense of being part of a larger, ongoing alternate reality game (ARG), 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 Positive Neutral Negative
23%
67%
10%
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players appreciating the immersive and unique puzzle-solving mechanics that require extensive research and critical thinking, while others criticize the reliance on tedious tasks and lack of traditional gaming elements. Many find the gameplay engaging and innovative, particularly for those familiar with alternate reality games, but some express frustration over the need for personal information and the overall execution of the gameplay experience. Overall, the game offers a distinct approach that may appeal to dedicated puzzle enthusiasts but can be uninviting for more casual gamers.
- “I've been playing this off-season and the base puzzles are still great and have some interesting mechanics.”
- “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
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
53%
20%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its haunting and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience, particularly in creating a sense of unease. However, critics note the limited variety in the soundtrack, which can lead to monotony over time, despite its thematic relevance and quality. Overall, while the music contributes significantly to the game's mood, its lack of diversity and limited tracks have left some players wanting more.
- “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 Positive Neutral Negative
42%
33%
25%
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 varying opinions, many agree that the graphics contribute positively to the overall gameplay experience, especially in terms of enjoyment and community interaction. However, concerns about hackers detracting from the experience are frequently mentioned.
- “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, which detracts from the overall experience.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
50%
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 Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring extensive online research and multiple screens to navigate through obscure puzzles. Many feel that the gameplay devolves into mechanical grinding rather than genuine deduction, as it demands exhausting every possible lead, including those that lack logical sense.
- “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.”
- “Tldr: 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.”
- “That's not deduction, that's just mechanical grinding until you eliminate suspects.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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, making for an immersive experience without any lag or stuttering.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
- “The emotional depth of the characters truly resonated with me, making their journeys feel personal and impactful.”
- “I found myself genuinely moved by the story; it evoked a range of emotions that lingered long after I finished playing.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 overly random and not 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 Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.
- “Replayability: 1/10”
- “It's a shame that, like many puzzle and mystery games, the replayability can be severely impacted once you know the answers.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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.”
- “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.”

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90%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews

The Black Watchmen Review - KeenGamer
Keengamer.com
90%

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36h Median play time

27h Average play time

7-46h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

The Black Watchmen is a role playing game with horror, fantasy, historical and science fiction themes.

The Black Watchmen is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

On average players spend around 27 hours playing The Black Watchmen.

The Black Watchmen was released on June 25, 2015.

The Black Watchmen was developed by Alice & Smith.

The Black Watchmen has received positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Black Watchmen is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include NITE Team 4, Ahnayro: The Dream World, The Roottrees are Dead, Peek a Phone - Detective Game, hackmud and others.

The Black Watchmen

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