Wayward Manor

40%
Game Brain Score Based on 63 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Wayward Manor Game Cover
For a game with such a well established author behind it, Wayward Manor is a little disappointing. However it is quite endearing. Perhaps a game to be played with your children, rather than viewing it as a fully fledged puzzle game.
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In "Wayward Manor," become a mischievous ghost seeking to reclaim your home from its new human inhabitants, the odd Budd family. Manipulate objects and create frightful scenarios in this 1920s-era puzzle/adventure game to drive the Budds to madness and regain control of your mansion. This unique concept was inspired by a Lego prototype and Neil Gaiman's storytelling prowess.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

40%
Audience ScoreBased on 63 reviews
story11 positive mentions
gameplay7 negative mentions
  • Neil Gaiman's narration adds a charming touch to the game, providing some enjoyable moments.
  • The game features cute character designs and quirky humor that can be entertaining, especially for younger audiences.
  • There are occasional challenging puzzles and achievements that can provide some replay value.
  • The gameplay is repetitive and simplistic, often feeling like a chore rather than an engaging experience.
  • The graphics are dated and unappealing, resembling low-quality titles from previous generations.
  • Many players experienced bugs and glitches that hindered their ability to progress, leading to frustration.
  • story48 mentions

    The story of "Wayward Manor," penned by Neil Gaiman, has received mixed to negative reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in its execution. Critics argue that the narrative feels underdeveloped and tacked on, failing to leverage Gaiman's storytelling prowess, while the gameplay often overshadows the plot. Although some appreciate the unique premise and character personalities, the overall sentiment is that the story lacks depth and engagement, leaving fans of Gaiman feeling let down.

    • “The characters each have a distinct personality which makes them unique, and what ties the individual levels together is a short story written for this game by none other than Neil Gaiman.”
    • “Wayward Manor has an interesting story, cute characters, and a unique direction of art.”
    • “The story is fun enough: you take on the role of a recently released ghost who needs to spook the living inhabitants of Wayward Manor to make them leave, with the manor itself guiding you through the point and click style levels to take back the house.”
    • “Overall, it is a simple, boring story without any charm to it, making it genuinely surprising that Gaiman was the author behind it.”
    • “The story seems like it could have been really interesting... such a shame that it was completely eclipsed by the soul-crushing monotony of the gameplay.”
    • “Sadly, the biggest disappointment for me was Wayward Manor's story.”
  • gameplay36 mentions

    The gameplay of "Wayward Manor" has been widely criticized for its repetitive and shallow mechanics, primarily revolving around simple point-and-click puzzles that lack creativity and depth. Many reviewers noted the execution as sloppy, with a choppy flow between story and gameplay, and numerous bugs detracting from the overall experience. While the premise and art are appreciated, the gameplay ultimately fails to engage players, leading to a disappointing experience.

    • “Put all of those things together into the gameplay style (point & click, puzzler) and voilà: you have a fun game!”
    • “The gameplay was simple, a point and click combination puzzle game that didn't have me frustrated by level 2 by some overly-complicated design.”
    • “All in all, the focus was more on the fun gameplay than bogging the player down with too much story.”
    • “There is just no cleverness to any of the gameplay, and while the idea behind this is solid, it quickly becomes clear the odd gentlemen couldn’t think of a good way to implement it in the actual game.”
    • “The gameplay is mind-numbing.”
    • “Sadly due to limited gameplay with many puzzles just reusing the same items over and over again; broken puzzles, and game-breaking glitches galore, I cannot recommend the game.”
  • graphics32 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many reviewers noting that they appear outdated and reminiscent of low-quality titles from the PS2 era. While some appreciate the unique Victorian-inspired art style and find it charming, the execution is often criticized for being poorly rendered, glitchy, and lacking depth. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant drawback, detracting from the game's potential despite its interesting narrative elements.

    • “Cute art style and some fun bits of narration.”
    • “However, I see that it is all based on Victorian style cartooning, so it's not supposed to look pretty by today's standards; it's supposed to look the way it does, and I find that it's quite charming.”
    • “The graphics, although not up to the quality of some of the larger titles, have character and style.”
    • “The visuals are just bad and look like they belong in a shovelware title for the PS2.”
    • “In a gaming world that focuses on high-quality landscapes and frames per second, Wayward Manor looks as though it was made at the time of PlayStation 2 level graphics, with boxy objects and poorly stretched textures leaving much to be desired by modern gaming’s visual standards.”
    • “Wayward Manor has a lot to offer in terms of story and the tactical use of the environment, but the meager aesthetics and poor coding (at the time of writing) lead to glitching and freezing of the levels, ruining the experience and quality of the game.”
  • music23 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its haunting tone and ability to complement the atmosphere, while others find it repetitive and lacking depth. Many noted that the soundtrack could become irritating over time, with limited variety and occasional glitches. Overall, while the music has its moments, it often fails to leave a lasting impression.

    • “The music had a nice haunting (but not quite scary) tone, which was pretty cool, too.”
    • “Its a very good game, it's simple and fun to play, the characters are funny and the music complements the game.”
    • “Love the music and the art style.”
    • “The musical score is entirely forgettable, and even Gaiman’s narration feels bored and uninterested.”
    • “Music and sound effects get very repetitive.”
    • “Both the visuals and soundtrack lack any real depth; there's no soul in the game's characters and no atmosphere in the soundtrack.”
  • stability7 mentions

    The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting significant bugs, glitches, and unresponsive controls that detract from the overall experience. While some players note minor issues that don't severely impact gameplay, the consensus leans towards a frustratingly unstable experience that makes the game nearly unplayable for many. Overall, the game's technical shortcomings overshadow its artistic merits.

    • “The game runs smoothly without any noticeable bugs.”
    • “I haven't encountered any crashes or glitches during my playtime.”
    • “The performance is solid, providing a stable gaming experience.”
    • “Weird little visual miscues are found throughout the entire game, with poorly timed animations or mistakes so bad they might as well be glitches.”
    • “Really cool game, but the only issue is that it's so incredibly buggy that it's nearly unplayable.”
    • “Sadly, due to limited gameplay with many puzzles just reusing the same items over and over again; broken puzzles and game-breaking glitches galore, I cannot recommend the game.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game offers notable replayability through the pursuit of perfect runs and random objectives, appealing to players who enjoy challenges. Additionally, the presence of tough achievements adds further incentive for replay, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of clever, family-friendly puzzle games.

    • “There is definitely replay value if you want a perfect run.”
    • “Random objectives give the game replay value.”
    • “Buy it if you enjoy a clever, family-friendly puzzle game with some replay value and a unique art style.”
    • “Some replayability with the achievements as well, but they're awfully tough to get them all.”
    • “Buy it if you like a clever family-friendly puzzle game with some replay value and a unique art style.”
  • humor3 mentions

    The game is praised for its hilarious dialogues and funny characters, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. Players find it easy to play and well-designed, with music that enhances the atmosphere, despite some repetitiveness.

    • “It's a fun game and the dialogues are hilarious.”
    • “The characters are funny, the game is easy to play, very well designed, and the music is nice (but sometimes a little repetitive).”
    • “It's a very good game; it's simple and fun to play, the characters are funny, and the music complements the game.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for featuring unlikable and unattractive designs, which detracts from the overall experience. While there are some enjoyable moments during initial gameplay, the lack of depth and surprises in character progression leaves players wanting more.

    • “Character designs are unlikable and unattractive.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth.”
    • “I found it hard to connect with the characters due to their one-dimensional personalities.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while the art style and music contribute to a haunted mansion vibe, the visuals and soundtrack lack depth and emotional resonance, resulting in a somewhat hollow experience.

    • “The art style, music, and minimal writing create a beautifully haunting mansion-like atmosphere.”
    • “Both the visuals and soundtrack lack any real depth; there's no soul in the game's characters and no atmosphere in the soundtrack.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    Reviews indicate that the emotional aspect of the story is lacking, with many finding it simple and unengaging, which is unexpected given the author's reputation.

    • “Overall, it is a simple, boring story without any charm to it, making it genuinely surprising that Gaiman was the author behind it.”
  • grinding1 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly for adults or near-adults, as the puzzles may be too easy and lack challenge, leading to a repetitive experience.

    • “The puzzles are easy for adults or near adults, making the game feel tedious over time.”
    • “Grinding in this game feels like a never-ending chore rather than an engaging experience.”
    • “The repetitive nature of grinding makes it hard to stay motivated and enjoy the game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

42% average critic score

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