The Last Case of Benedict Fox

72%
Game Brain Score Based on 365 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
The Last Case of Benedict Fox Game Cover
The Last Case of Benedict Fox on PS5 is a huge improvement on last year's release, with fluid and responsive combat being its best feature.
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"The Last Case of Benedict Fox" is a definitive edition of a game featuring intense and exhilarating combat and traversal. Play as Benedict Fox, a detective with a demon companion, exploring the minds of the deceased to solve a grisly murder mystery in a decrepit mansion. Discover a dark world full of secrets, forbidden rituals, and puzzles in this Burton-esque arcane adventure.

  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

72%
Audience ScoreBased on 365 reviews
story98 positive mentions
optimization13 negative mentions
  • The game features stunning visuals and a unique art style that captivates players.
  • The puzzles are engaging and challenging, providing a rewarding experience for players who enjoy problem-solving.
  • The Lovecraftian themes and intriguing storyline keep players invested in the game.
  • The controls are clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.
  • There are numerous bugs and performance issues, including long loading times and glitches that can disrupt progress.
  • The combat feels simplistic and lacks depth, making encounters less satisfying.
  • story229 mentions

    The story of "The Last Case of Benedict Fox" is generally praised for its intriguing and atmospheric narrative, blending elements of mystery and Lovecraftian themes. While many players appreciate the unique storytelling and engaging plot twists, some criticize the character development and clarity, noting that certain aspects feel rushed or poorly explained. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize story and exploration over combat, despite some technical issues and narrative inconsistencies.

    • “The last case of Benedict Fox is honestly a breath of fresh air if you're looking for something atmospheric and story-driven.”
    • “The story is engaging and easy to follow, just the right amount of dark and mystery, while not losing the positive mood of the atmosphere.”
    • “Overall, the game captures the Lovecraftian atmosphere really well and tells a really interesting story that left me wanting more.”
    • “The characters are underdeveloped, and while I rarely play metroidvanias for their storytelling, it seems even the voice actors were completely uninterested, what with their lifeless performances.”
    • “While I enjoyed uncovering small scenes and learning about the couple, I felt there were a lot of loose ends, strange motivations, and aspects to the story that didn't quite add up.”
    • “The story is also weirdly presented, and while the many item descriptions do have world-building bits, there's definitely a lack of cohesiveness felt, and, at least for me, the story falls quite short when it should have been one of the more important aspects of the game.”
  • graphics127 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning art style and beautiful visuals, which effectively create an immersive atmosphere. However, some players have reported performance issues, including lag and graphical glitches, that detract from the overall experience. Despite these technical shortcomings, the unique aesthetic and vibrant environments are often highlighted as standout features that enhance the game's appeal.

    • “The graphics are simply stunning, with beautiful environments and characters that have a distinct visual style all their own.”
    • “The atmosphere, the gorgeous 2.5D graphics, the story (up until the end that is) and the voice acting are top notch.”
    • “The art style is unique and beautiful, the attention to detail is impressive, the sound design is top-notch, and the performance is exceptional.”
    • “Weird graphical performance issues (more demanding than it should be, even on lowest settings).”
    • “The game keeps stuttering and lagging even on RTX 4090.”
    • “Lastly, there are numerous bugs and graphical glitches that are jarring and shouldn't have been overlooked in testing.”
  • gameplay123 mentions

    The gameplay of "The Last Case of Benedict Fox" is a mixed bag, combining metroidvania exploration with puzzle-solving elements that some players find engaging while others deem frustrating due to clunky mechanics and unclear instructions. While the art style and atmosphere are praised, many reviews highlight issues with combat, movement, and technical performance, suggesting that the game feels rough around the edges and could benefit from further polishing. Overall, players appreciate the ambition and unique mechanics but express disappointment in the execution, leading to a conflicted reception.

    • “A metroidvania with an amazing atmosphere and smooth, fun gameplay.”
    • “The gameplay is enjoyable and the mechanics are easy to grasp, even for new players.”
    • “I thoroughly enjoyed the gameplay, the story, the setting, even despite some frustrating moments during boss fights and puzzles.”
    • “The tarot card mechanic feels like it was tacked on without much thought - interesting in theory, but not really impactful.”
    • “The gameplay is also boring and soulless with poor controls as well.”
    • “The game also does a poor job of communicating its many mechanics; some elements of gameplay will never be explained and you'll be left with trial and error to figure out how to progress further into the game.”
  • atmosphere63 mentions

    The atmosphere in "The Last Case of Benedict Fox" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, engaging story, and immersive world-building, often drawing comparisons to Lovecraftian themes. Reviewers highlight the game's beautiful art design and soundscapes, which contribute to a captivating and mysterious ambiance, although some note a lack of musical variety. Overall, the game's atmospheric qualities are considered its strongest aspect, making it a compelling choice for fans of story-driven metroidvanias.

    • “The last case of Benedict Fox is honestly a breath of fresh air if you're looking for something atmospheric and story-driven.”
    • “The atmosphere and visuals are amazing, the characters are well written and the world is intriguing.”
    • “The atmosphere from the graphics, story, and ambient sounds/music really create an immersive world.”
    • “My only complaint is the music; basically, there's no music. I think the devs went with the idea that the 'atmosphere' must be dense all the time, but in my opinion, this doesn't mean there shouldn't be any song playing in the background.”
    • “Some nice ambient tracks while exploring Limbo could have really helped the atmosphere.”
    • “The sound design is exceptional, with a soundscape that expertly complements the game's eerie and mysterious atmosphere.”
  • optimization40 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and long load times, even on high-end systems. While some users experienced smooth gameplay, others found the game poorly optimized, leading to frustrating gameplay interruptions. Overall, the game's ambitious design is overshadowed by its technical shortcomings, making it difficult for some players to fully enjoy the experience.

    • “I personally didn't encounter any performance issues and the game ran beautifully (playing on a fairly modest setup of an RTX 2060 GPU & Ryzen 7 3800X CPU).”
    • “It runs smoothly on the highest graphics settings and I only have a 1070 Ti.”
    • “I didn't notice any performance issues with it (i9-12900H 2.90, 16GB RAM, 3080 Ti) - smooth gameplay on ultra settings at 2560x1440 resolution.”
    • “The game is just so badly optimized.”
    • “Great game but terrible lag and stuttering when playing for a while, so I can't fully recommend it -- if you're able to stand saving and reopening the game every hour or two, then go for it... maybe it is because I am on a gaming laptop but my specs are quite high (AMD R7, GeForce 4050, 32GB of RAM) and it stutters like crazy.”
    • “However, the performance is not great - a lot of stutters when running through areas and slowdown when a lot of stuff is happening onscreen.”
  • music37 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its atmospheric qualities and ability to enhance immersion, while others criticize the lack of variety and presence throughout gameplay. Many players note that the soundtrack is limited, often only becoming noticeable during key moments like boss encounters, leading to a sense of silence during exploration. Overall, while the sound design and thematic elements are appreciated, a more robust musical presence is desired by several reviewers.

    • “The atmosphere from the graphics, story, and ambient sounds/music really create an immersive world.”
    • “From serene melodies to adrenaline-pumping battle themes, the soundtrack is an integral part of the game's overall experience.”
    • “The music is haunting and beautiful, and the sound effects are top-notch, with every footstep, creaking floorboard, and gust of wind sounding incredibly realistic.”
    • “My only complaint is the music; basically, there's no music. I think the devs went with the idea that the 'atmosphere' must be dense all the time, but in my opinion, this doesn't mean there shouldn't be any song playing in the background.”
    • “Sound design is unremarkable, but more disappointingly, there is very little music.”
    • “You are left in almost silence as you explore through the clunky platforms, with the only notable music kicking in during boss encounters. Even then, there is no hype or drive behind it, just a very basic and lackluster sting medley.”
  • stability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has improved since its initial release, with many players noting a reduction in bugs, though some still experience occasional glitches and slowdowns. While combat and movement can feel clunky, and there are reports of visual and audio issues, the majority of players find the experience manageable and enjoyable despite these imperfections. However, the game still requires further polish to address lingering stability concerns.

    • “As far as bugs go, I maybe glitched into place a few times or found my way into areas I wasn't supposed to be, but overall, I had a pretty bug-free experience.”
    • “The game runs smoothly without any major issues, making for a stable and enjoyable experience.”
    • “I was impressed by how stable the game felt; I didn't encounter any crashes or significant performance drops.”
    • “It has some real bad slowdowns and visual glitches at times.”
    • “Lastly, there are numerous bugs and graphical glitches that are jarring and shouldn't have been overlooked in testing.”
    • “What finally got me was a buggy final boss fight.”
  • grinding6 mentions

    Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal, as there is no need to farm enemies for resources, provided they explore the map thoroughly. However, the game's design is criticized for its overly large and complex levels, tedious fetch quests, and fragmented navigation, which can lead to a frustrating experience despite the potential for enjoyable combat and exploration. Overall, while grinding is not a significant issue, the pacing and design choices contribute to a sense of tedium.

    • “Movement is fluid, backtracking is easy, and there is no grinding required as long as you fully explore the map.”
    • “One of the worst things in this game is how the level is overly huge and complicated, and lots of the annoying fetch quests end up in loops that could have been cut during the design phase. This game could have been so much more well-paced if it was better streamlined and less tedious.”
    • “Opening new areas is almost always tied to character progression, but you can't farm enemies as each of them drops experience only once, which quickly relegates them to tedious roadblocks with no real payoff.”
    • “Too many fragmented hallways where exploring all the tiny corners to find potentially key items becomes tedious.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by impressive and well-crafted character designs that enhance the overall atmosphere and immersion. Reviewers appreciate the artistry and detail in the characters, which effectively complement the game's setting and narrative, although some express frustration with gameplay progression and user guidance.

    • “The character designs are great and really match the overall feel of the game.”
    • “The level of detail and artistry is beyond impressive, with beautifully handcrafted environments and character designs that bring the game's world to life.”
    • “Character designs are also well done.”
    • “As much as I love the setting, the character design, the story, the vibe, the combat, the gameplay progression, and user guidance is very frustrating.”
  • emotional3 mentions

    The game effectively evokes emotions through its character development, particularly with Benedict, whose apathetic demeanor contrasts with his impactful moments during intense scenes. While the story is engaging and visually stunning, some players felt the final boss and ending were rushed, slightly diminishing the overall emotional experience.

    • “Thymn does a great job of making Benedict seem like an apathetic little guy, but when things get heated, you see that he can deliver an excellent and emotional performance.”
    • “It looks beautiful and the story is great; the final boss and ending feel a little rushed, but on more than one occasion, it made me feel really smart.”
  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity, particularly with mechanics like the ineffective triple jump, which adds to the comedic experience. Additionally, the ambiguity of a creature's intended tone—whether scary or funny—contributes to the overall quirky and unpredictable humor.

    • “This gets more funny by the fact that you can unlock a triple jump that works even less.”
    • “I'm not sure if he is meant to be scary or funny; it just seems like that creature was kind of all over the place.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

71% average critic score

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Play time

4hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-8hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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