The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan

Man of Medan builds on the solid foundation of Until Dawn. The decisions you make actively alter your experience, meaning you'll want to replay it over and over.

72%Game Brain Score

story, graphics

stability, character development

75% User Score Based on 4,847 reviews

Critic Score 70%Based on 11 reviews

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About

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan is a single player and multiplayer survival action adventure game with horror and mystery themes. It was developed by Supermassive Games and was released on August 29, 2019. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

"The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan" is a cinematic horror game that follows a group of friends on a diving trip who encounter a supernatural terror. Players make choices that determine the fate of the characters, with multiple endings possible. The game is designed for replayability, with different decisions leading to new scenes and outcomes.

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The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan screenshot

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75%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,847 reviews

story980 positive mentions

stability189 negative mentions

The game features a gripping narrative with multiple endings, encouraging replayability.
The atmospheric setting aboard the ghost ship creates a sense of dread and suspense.
The character-driven storytelling allows players to form emotional connections with the characters.

The game suffers from clunky controls and awkward camera angles, making navigation frustrating.
Many jump scares feel forced and predictable, detracting from the overall horror experience.
The story is often seen as predictable and underdeveloped, with an abrupt ending that leaves players unsatisfied.

story
2,866 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The story of "Man of Medan" is a horror narrative centered around a group of friends who embark on a diving trip that leads them to a ghost ship, drawing inspiration from the real-life mystery of the SS Ourang Medan. While the game features branching paths and choices that impact character fates, many players found the plot predictable and the character development lacking, leading to a mixed reception regarding its depth and engagement. Overall, the game is noted for its atmospheric storytelling and replayability, but it suffers from pacing issues and a somewhat abrupt conclusion.
- “The story is long enough to spin its wheels without dragging or feeling like it's playing for time.”
- “The story follows five friends on a holiday diving trip that quickly turns sinister, and the game does a fantastic job of creating a tense, eerie atmosphere.”
- “The game is a narrative fiction game, punctuated by occasional movement and quick-time events that help govern the course of the story.”
- “I completed the game and I still can’t tell you what 'Medan' is or who the man of it was, because the story is a total mess.”
- “The story is so short and simple it becomes boring, and the 'empty' characters make it even worse.”
- “The story is dull, and the writing is inconsistent.”
graphics
637 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
38%
2%
The graphics in "Man of Medan" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and cinematic quality, often likened to a movie experience. Players appreciate the detailed character models and atmospheric environments, which effectively enhance the horror elements of the game. However, some reviews note occasional graphical glitches and inconsistencies in animations, but these do not significantly detract from the overall visual experience.
- “The visuals are beautiful, and the whole game feels like you're playing a movie.”
- “The graphics are stunning, and the storyline is dark, spooky, and full of surprises, including plenty of jump scares.”
- “The graphics and sound are superb, some of the best I've ever seen.”
- “To further exemplify its incompetence, Man of Medan ineptly attempts to make up for a complete lack of atmosphere with gross visuals and a collection of violin jumpscare noises.”
- “The graphics are pre-2010 and the 'scary' parts are non-existent.”
- “The only positives of this wretched game are the graphics, the concept, and a few subtleties that were foreshadowed.”
gameplay
547 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
71%
10%
The gameplay of "Man of Medan" is primarily focused on quick-time events (QTEs) and decision-making, resembling a cinematic experience more than traditional gaming. While the game offers a choice-driven narrative with multiple endings, many players find the mechanics repetitive and the character movement clunky, leading to frustration during gameplay. Overall, the experience is described as engaging for those who enjoy interactive storytelling, but it suffers from bugs and a lack of depth in gameplay mechanics, making it less appealing compared to its predecessor, "Until Dawn."
- “The gameplay is solid, offering a choice-driven adventure that’s fun to play.”
- “Every decision, even one that seems insignificant at first glance, can have fatal consequences — any of the five main characters can die, which makes the gameplay tense.”
- “Gameplay in Man of Medan is a seamless blend of exploration, puzzle-solving, and intense action sequences that keep you engaged and invested in the story.”
- “Me and a homie of mine had to restart over six times because of desync issues and overall gameplay glitches.”
- “The gameplay is minimal, akin to something you'd see in a Quantic Dream or Telltale game.”
- “It's really hard to recommend this one... most of the gameplay is long and slow pseudo-adventure segments where you walk like a snail and turn like an elephant, trying to control the camera.”
atmosphere
340 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
37%
3%
The atmosphere in "Man of Medan" is widely praised for its eerie and immersive qualities, effectively creating a tense and claustrophobic environment aboard a ghostly WWII freighter. Players appreciate the combination of sound design, lighting, and detailed graphics that enhance the sense of dread, although some critiques mention an overreliance on jump scares that can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game successfully delivers a chilling atmosphere that keeps players engaged, despite some inconsistencies in narrative depth and character development.
- “The story follows five friends on a holiday diving trip that quickly turns sinister, and the game does a fantastic job of creating a tense, eerie atmosphere.”
- “Once on the Medan, the mood shifts to claustrophobic horror: decayed corridors, peeling paint, rust, flooded compartments, and flickering lights create an oppressive, uncanny atmosphere, filled with shadows, fog, rotting corpses, and sudden apparitions.”
- “The atmosphere aboard the ghost ship is palpable, enhanced by stunning visuals and chilling sound design.”
- “Man of Medan inevitably disappointed, as its actors, characters, story, horror, and atmosphere don’t match that standard.”
- “There is absolutely zero atmosphere in this game.”
- “The entire horror element came from poorly timed jump scares with zero buildup, and the atmosphere just wasn't there.”
replayability
237 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The replayability of "Man of Medan" is generally praised, with many players highlighting its branching narrative and multiple endings as key factors that encourage repeated playthroughs. While some reviewers note that the game's short length (around 4-6 hours) and certain repetitive elements may limit the incentive to replay, the variety of choices and outcomes, including the Curator's Cut mode, provide substantial replay value for those interested in exploring different scenarios and character fates. Overall, it is considered a highly replayable experience, especially for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “The butterfly effect-style branching paths mean each decision can lead to drastically different outcomes, which is where much of the game's replay value lies.”
- “With its branching narrative and multiple endings, every choice feels consequential, adding immense replay value.”
- “The game employs a branching narrative system, meaning that choices greatly impact the story’s outcome, leading to multiple endings and replayability.”
- “Replayability: while the game boasts multiple endings and branching paths, the incentive to replay is weakened by the slow pace and repetitive gameplay.”
- “There is some replayability here, but virtually none for me personally as the story does not change drastically due to your decisions, except for who lives, who dies and how good your ending is.”
- “The game is short and does offer replayability but you still have to slowly walk around and sit through repeat dialogue to get a mostly not too impactful but different outcome.”
stability
193 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs and glitches, particularly in co-op mode, leading to frequent restarts and frustrating gameplay experiences. While some users noted minor issues that didn't detract from their enjoyment, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by serious stability problems, making it difficult to recommend in its current state. Many players suggest waiting for patches to address these issues before purchasing.
- “Runs great and looks fantastic, just a few issues here and there.”
- “Runs great.”
- “Runs great for me in 4K.”
- “Me and a homie of mine had to restart over six times because of desync issues and overall gameplay glitches.”
- “This game is a disaster in terms of glitches and issues.”
- “The game is still buggy, i.e., pressing the escape button forces the game to be restarted.”
optimization
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
48%
16%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance and enhanced visuals after updates, while others report significant stuttering, bugs, and performance issues, particularly during critical moments like quick-time events. While many commend the graphics and overall immersive experience, there are notable concerns about the game's ability to run consistently well across different systems, leading to frustration for some users. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely, with some players enjoying a seamless experience while others encounter persistent technical problems.
- “The game is optimized, beautiful, and intriguing throughout the whole story.”
- “The graphics and performance are really top notch although I think at launch it was a different story but as of now it's very well done.”
- “The port is great and extremely well optimized; I played and streamed the entire game from start to finish while playing at 90fps and 90hz refresh rate and everything was so smooth with no framerate drops, it's unbelievable.”
- “There are also occasional bugs and performance hiccups, especially in multiplayer, including desynchronized audio and dropped connections, which can impact the experience negatively.”
- “The lesser amount of dev time is difficult to ignore for this one in particular, as the dialogue is a little choppy and the performance is erratic.”
- “The game is not optimized at all.”
music
107 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and tension, particularly through the opening and end credits songs. While some players found the soundtrack to be impressive and fitting for the horror genre, others criticized it for being generic or not memorable enough during gameplay. Overall, the sound design, including ambient noises and musical stings, contributes significantly to the game's eerie ambiance, though some players noted that the music could sometimes be overshadowed by dialogue and action.
- “The soundtrack is genuinely impressive, adding a layer of atmosphere that enhances the game’s mood and setting.”
- “The music score enhances the tension and drama, making every moment of the game feel like a cinematic masterpiece.”
- “The music in this game really sets the tone and as the player we feel that sense of urgency and dread during the story.”
- “The stories pacing is a rush, which by itself might not be bad, but when combined with clues that are so on the nose it's impossible to not understand what's going on about 10 minutes within the 'ghost ship' which makes all the scares so obvious that even the blaring loud music and noises don't make the jump-scares frightening, mostly just annoying.”
- “The soundtrack was pretty mediocre for the most part which is about the only thing I disliked about the audio design for the game.”
- “They use the same music over and over again (the song makes you want to blow your brains out).”
humor
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
4%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, often stemming from cringeworthy dialogue, awkward character interactions, and unintentional comedic moments that arise from gameplay glitches. While some players find the humor charming and enjoy laughing with friends during play, others feel it undermines the horror elements, making the game more of a "funny bad" experience than a genuinely scary one. Overall, it seems best enjoyed in a group setting where the absurdities can be shared and laughed at, rather than taken seriously.
- “Absolutely love this series, has us both jumping at scary moments and then laughing at each other.”
- “The dialogue is both funny and a bit too on the nose, but I feel like it adds to the charm of the game which is something I really appreciate as a horror hound.”
- “It was great to do this with family, laughing and jump scares are the whole reason why I wanted this game and it delivered.”
- “It's not funny to kill a character off.”
- “The jokes fell flat and felt forced.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
character development
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
54%
26%
Character development in "Man of Medan" is a mixed bag, with many players noting that the short playtime limits the depth of character exploration, leading to bland or underdeveloped characters. While some reviews highlight moments of emotional investment and meaningful choices that affect character arcs, others criticize the writing and voice acting, which detract from players' ability to connect with the characters. Overall, the game struggles to balance its horror elements with substantial character growth, leaving many feeling unsatisfied with the development presented.
- “Character development: 'Man of Medan' excels at character development, making you emotionally invest in the fates of the characters.”
- “Overall a great game in terms of cinematics, atmosphere, and character development.”
- “Deep character development with characters you will love, hate, or generally just be baffled by in some way or another.”
- “The plot barrels forward without much time for character development, and just as things start to get interesting, the game is over.”
- “You don't really feel for any of the characters, which I think is down to the janky voice acting, poor writing, and lack of character development, so there isn't much drive to keep any of them alive.”
- “There's a very large amount of character development missing in this game, and unfortunately it teases you with it and never delivers.”
grinding
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
33%
65%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing the gameplay as slow and repetitive. Many reviews highlight the need for multiple playthroughs to achieve 100% completion, which can feel unrewarding and monotonous due to the lack of significant changes in the story. While some sequences add excitement, the reliance on cheap jump scares and slow movement mechanics detracts from the overall experience, making it feel like a grind.
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “It's not even difficult, it's just so mind-numbingly tedious.”
- “For a game that's supposed to be replayed, it seems very tedious to do so.”
emotional
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
86%
14%
Overall, the emotional aspect of the game received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in the lack of depth and connection to the characters. While some noted that character development and nuanced performances could enhance emotional investment, others criticized the sluggish pacing, predictable story, and flat character portrayals that hindered emotional engagement. Ultimately, the game struggled to deliver a compelling emotional experience, leaving players feeling detached from the narrative and its characters.
- “The nuanced details in character portrayal make it such that players find themselves emotionally invested in the unfolding events, enhancing the overall immersive nature of the game.”
- “Character animations and facial expressions add depth to the emotional impact, intensifying the immersion into the harrowing tale.”
- “Character development: 'Man of Medan' excels at character development, making you emotionally invest in the fates of the characters.”
- “Boring story, slow as can be, and too many long cutscenes.”
- “Terrible and boring storyline.”
- “Very short and a boring story, to say the least.”
monetization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for feeling forced and misleading, particularly due to persistent advertising of a "friends pass" that reportedly does not work, leading to frustration among players. Many users feel that the game is a cash grab, with some expressing disappointment over unexpected costs and the rushed nature of the product, which detracts from its potential. Overall, the aggressive marketing tactics and unfulfilled promises have left a negative impression on the community.
- “If it was skippable I wouldn’t mind so much, but it really came across as forced advertising, especially since the menu itself also advertises the other games in the series.”
- “I have read on forums that supposedly the friends pass ended a while ago but they are still advertising it as if it's usable.”
- “I only planned on playing this game with someone else and ended up paying twice unexpectedly because of a mix of old, but featured advertising (with expiration dates as a vague 'early to mid January' relegated to the very end of the last paragraph), a good sale price, and me not paying close attention.”

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70%Critics’ scoreBased on 11 critic reviews

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4h Median play time

6h Average play time

4-5h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 57 analyzed playthroughs

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The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan is a survival action adventure game with horror and mystery themes.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Windows and others.

On average players spend around 6 hours playing The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan was released on August 29, 2019.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan was developed by Supermassive Games.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope, The Dark Pictures Anthology House of Ashes, The Quarry, The Dark Pictures Anthology: The Devil in Me, The Casting of Frank Stone and others.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan

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