The Séance of Blake Manor is going to happen whether investigator Declan Ward likes it or not. Arriving at the titular hotel just in time for a gathering of mystics, paid by an anonymous client to track down the missing Evelyn Deane, you only have the weekend to unravel the truth behind the dark dreams and supernatural occurrences that are bubbling to the surface as power swells ahead of the ritual. But with so many secrets to unpick, where do you start?
Set in the west of Ireland in 1897, The Séance of Blake Manor is a lavish supernatural adventure that's easily become one of the best mystery games in recent years – and it's a genre I love. Irish folklore is fantastic to delve into, as is the attention to detail in its period setting. Even whether certain characters are literate can provide vital clues, but clear signposting means you never feel admonished for not knowing something about mythology or history. So too are supernatural parts of solutions crucial, yet carefully balanced so these aspects don't undermine the logic of clues. Untangling how certain schools of magic think and work is an important part of the mystery. It creates a wonderful texture.
