The Inheritance of Crimson Manor

87%
Game Brain Score Based on 760 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • atmosphere
The Inheritance of Crimson Manor Game Cover
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"The Inheritance of Crimson Manor" is a narrative-driven mystery game set in a Victorian-era mansion. Players step into the shoes of a detective, unraveling the dark secrets of the recently deceased Lord Crimson and his family. Through exploration and puzzle-solving, unearth clues, interrogate suspects, and June 12, 2022 update: now features voice acting and new animations to enhance the storytelling experience.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 760 reviews
story161 positive mentions
stability42 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful graphics and a well-designed atmosphere that immerses players in the Victorian mansion setting.
  • Puzzles are varied and logical, providing a satisfying challenge without being overly difficult.
  • The hint system is helpful, allowing players to progress without getting stuck for too long.
  • The game suffers from bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with camera control and item interactions.
  • Backtracking is often tedious due to the large size of the mansion, making it easy to forget where certain puzzles or items are located.
  • There is no manual save option, requiring players to replay the entire game to experience different endings.
  • story363 mentions

    The story of the game is generally described as intriguing but somewhat predictable, with a macabre tone that unfolds through notes and documents scattered throughout a mansion. While some players appreciated the environmental storytelling and the gradual revelation of the plot, others found it lacking in depth and horror, often feeling that it could have been more compelling. Overall, the narrative is seen as serviceable, with a mix of engaging elements and missed opportunities for greater impact.

    • “The story is compelling, drip-fed out over the course of the game, and the lore intersects nicely with some of the puzzle theming.”
    • “I really enjoyed how you pieced together the story with all the little papers (newspapers, medical reports, notes from Mr. Strange himself, letters, etc.).”
    • “With a creepy story, wonderfully morbid Victorian setting, and a nice dose of gothic horror, this game is filled with a lot of puzzle types.”
    • “The story though is so paper thin you can see through it from the very beginning and the ending is anticlimactic.”
    • “I was hoping for more from the story, as it hinted at a few things that either never went anywhere or wrapped up very quickly.”
    • “The overall story is fine, nothing groundbreaking or will have you talking to your friends and coworkers about it, other than how serviceable it is.”
  • graphics125 mentions

    The graphics of the game are generally praised for their beauty and attention to detail, creating an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While some users noted minor graphical glitches and inconsistencies, the visuals are considered above average, especially for an indie title, contributing positively to the game's spooky and immersive setting. Overall, the graphics are a standout feature, complementing the engaging puzzles and storyline.

    • “With its stunning graphics, compelling storyline, and addictive puzzles, this game is an absolute gem for any adventure enthusiast.”
    • “First and foremost, the visuals in this game are absolutely breathtaking.”
    • “The graphics are great, with beautiful artworks throughout the mansion.”
    • “The irony of the whole thing is that the programmers that did the graphics and design work seemed very professional, but the people that decided what would have to be done (the continuity) were lost in space and managed to take what could have been a great experience and turned it into painful misery.”
    • “The graphics, art, and overall experience feel like an older, lower-quality game than something from 2021 ought to be.”
    • “I got a few consistent graphical glitches too, like light shafts coming down as stretchy brown triangles on the upper levels of the main hall and a really weird repeating issue of doors (regular and cabinets) suddenly cloning themselves (fully functional though, just had to open them twice).”
  • atmosphere106 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and detailed environments, particularly the elegant yet eerie Victorian gothic setting. Players appreciate the combination of atmospheric music, intricate graphics, and sound design that enhances the overall experience, creating a captivating and sometimes creepy ambiance. While the game leans more towards a relaxing puzzle-solving experience rather than outright horror, it successfully evokes a sense of mystery and exploration.

    • “The attention to detail in every room, from the ornate furnishings to the atmospheric lighting, created an immersive experience that made me feel like I was truly exploring a grand mansion filled with secrets.”
    • “The game delivers on its promise of a Victorian gothic atmosphere.”
    • “That said, Inheritance of Crimson Manor has an incredible atmosphere and a compellingly creepy Lovecraftian story.”
    • “I'm no historian, but I do enjoy the Victorian/Edwardian ages in particular and have an interest in the history of the things we use every day, and there are just so many inaccuracies that it completely ruined the atmosphere for me.”
    • “I enjoy games like this; puzzle solving without time constraints or threats, it’s a relaxing experience—while it attempted a creepy atmosphere, it became clear that the creaks of floorboards and other sounds were on a loop and didn't mean anything.”
    • “I would say there's not really any horror other than creepy atmosphere, so if you're looking for strictly a horror game, this might not be for you.”
  • gameplay76 mentions

    Gameplay is a mixed bag, featuring intuitive mechanics and engaging puzzles reminiscent of classic escape room experiences, but marred by repetitive tasks and some clunky elements. While many players enjoyed the intriguing atmosphere and fair puzzle design, others criticized the reliance on trial-and-error and backtracking, leading to a less satisfying experience overall. The game offers around 4-10 hours of playtime, depending on puzzle-solving skills, but some felt the value did not justify the price.

    • “Amazing gameplay, the game is intriguing and wonderful.”
    • “Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay!”
    • “Intuitive gameplay and nice riddles.”
    • “But the actual gameplay is a mess, with puzzles veering from silly trial-and-error busywork, annoying backtracking (you find lots of keys for the other side of the house), and just really clunky.”
    • “Outside of the glitches, gameplay started off promising, but I felt like the puzzles became less interesting in the later half of the game.”
    • “My main criticism, other than the ending, was that the same puzzle mechanics were repeated too often.”
  • music50 mentions

    The music in the game received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance the overall experience, while others found it repetitive or distracting. Some players enjoyed specific tracks, like the credits theme, but noted that certain sounds could be reminiscent of other games, such as Minecraft. Overall, the soundtrack was described as fitting and effective, contributing positively to the game's ambiance despite some criticisms.

    • “The atmosphere, visuals, and music were great.”
    • “It's also super pretty, atmospheric, with music that enhances the experience without being overwhelming or inappropriate.”
    • “The soundtrack is perfect and the artwork equally flawless.”
    • “The music quickly became tedious, although I liked the credits theme.”
    • “Also, the music sounds kind of weirdly like Minecraft music, which was a bit distracting.”
    • “I ended up playing without my headphones because I found the soundtrack to be a bit distracting.”
  • stability46 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including graphical issues and inconsistent controls. While some users experienced no significant problems, others faced game-breaking glitches that required restarts, leading to frustration. Overall, the game appears to have potential but suffers from a lack of polish, making it feel unrefined at launch.

    • “Had no glitches or bugs and definitely had to use big brain in some instances.”
    • “I had no glitches.”
    • “The game is full of glitches and it runs very poorly.”
    • “I encountered game-breaking glitches which forced me to restart the game.”
    • “This game has potential but it should not have been released in such a buggy state.”
  • grinding20 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to excessive backtracking and trial-and-error puzzles. While the game is not overly long, the final third feels rushed and contributes to a sense of monotony. However, some players appreciate the inventory system, which helps mitigate the tedium by guiding progress.

    • “This brings me to the largest disappointment: the final third of the game is completely rushed to the point where it feels tedious to play.”
    • “At worst, things are mildly tedious (in my opinion, there's a bit of an overabundance of 'open this by finding out the sequence by trial and error').”
    • “Highly recommended for spooky season, depending on your ability to employ some patience with some tedious backtracking and a few logical leaps.”
  • replayability12 mentions

    The game is generally regarded as having low replayability, with most players noting that it offers only two endings and lacks significant incentives to play again. While some appreciate the automatic achievement system, the consensus is that it is best enjoyed as a one-time experience.

    • “I can't imagine there being any replay value to the game.”
    • “All in all, it was good but lacks replayability with only two endings to choose from.”
    • “Has no replay value besides the possibility of two 'different' endings.”
  • humor10 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurd design choices, such as the unintentionally funny final ending selection that resembles regular item pickups, leading to random outcomes. Players also find amusement in the overly simplistic puzzles and the dog's humorous anecdotes, which contribute to a lighthearted experience, often prompting them to seek hints just for the comedic value of the incorrect suggestions. Overall, the game's humor is characterized by its quirky elements and unintentional comedic moments.

    • “The funny thing being that a lot of the puzzles are so easily brute forced that a lot of the 'clues' seem incredibly redundant.”
    • “I liked the dog's funny stories and newspapers.”
    • “It became so funny that I pressed 'hint' all the time just to see what would come up, and it was invariably wrong.”
  • optimization10 mentions

    The game's optimization is widely criticized, with users reporting frequent lag spikes, flickering textures, and significant issues with dynamic occlusion and level of detail (LOD). While some acknowledge that the performance issues may be expected from a small studio, the overall consensus is that the optimization is poor and detracts from the experience.

    • “The optimization is very poor--frequent massive lag spikes, flickering textures, massive problems with dynamic occlusion (environments loading in in real time very frequently), LOD issues, and sometimes falling through the floor.”
    • “Optimization also seems to be lacking, but it's within reason for a small studio with a small game.”
    • “A few areas were not well-optimized and made the game freeze up, but otherwise, I really, really enjoyed this!”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players find the game's story to be emotionally engaging and satisfying, enhanced by meticulous attention to detail in the environment. The immersive atmosphere, characterized by ornate furnishings and atmospheric lighting, contributes to a profound sense of exploration and emotional investment.

    • “The story is interesting and emotionally engaging enough that I'm satisfied to have completed the game.”
    • “The attention to detail in every room, from the ornate furnishings to the atmospheric lighting, created an immersive experience that made me feel like I was truly exploring a grand mansion filled with secrets.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

6hMedian play time
6hAverage play time
5-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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