The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan

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Critics Recommend

Average Score

Total Reviews: 110

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Man of Medan is a decent beginning for the Anthology series, but technical issues abound and the system of choices and consequences is flat and shallow.

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Critics Recommend

Critic Reviews: 110

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 110

Man of Medan is a decent beginning for the Anthology series, but technical issues abound and the system of choices and consequences is flat and shallow.

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Critic Reviews for The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan

Reviews

High Score - 100/100

Low Score - 40/100

James O'Connor (GameSpot)

6/10

“Man of Medan is a thinner, flawed follow-up to Until Dawn that is saved by its online co-op mode.”

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Michael Leri (Game Revolution)

3.5/5 stars

“Despite its technical shortcomings, Man of Medan is a decent maiden voyage for Supermassive’s new Dark Pictures Anthology series. ”

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Josh Hawkins (Shacknews)

6/10

“While Man of Medan isn’t the greatest game you’ll play this year, it does a good enough job of setting the Dark Pictures Anthology series out to sea. ”

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**Read all 110 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.

Read the Reviews (110 total)

Outlet	Author	Score	Date	Quote	Read
33bits	Juanma F. Padilla	95 / 100	09-08-2020	An original approximation of what it would be like to play a tabletop role-playing game on your computer or console, an original plot and the feeling of reading a good book in which you are the protagonist. All that and more is Disco Elysium, a unique game that any fan of the genre should have in their library.	Read review
3DNews	Александр Бабулин	10 / 10	10-20-2019	Literature-centric game, full of unexpected references and non-standard accents. Detective noir meets deep and charming old-school RPG and going to real masterpiece	Read review
ACG	Jeremy Penter	Recommended	10-14-2019	Video Review	Read review
AnaitGames	Víctor Manuel Martínez García	10 / 10	11-06-2019	The best RPG in years, Disco Elysium is the kind of game that makes you want more from all the other games --a groundbreaking and absolutely essential masterpiece.	Read review
Attack of the Fanboy	Brandon Adams	5 / 5 stars	12-13-2019	Disco Elysium is perhaps one of the best role-playing games of all time, and I don't say that lightly. I haven't played a game that has been able to so masterfully flex to my actions as well as ZA/UM's freshman outing. The writing is sharp, the characters genuine, and the choices possess true stakes.	Read review
BaziCenter	Makan Alikhani	10 / 10	11-06-2019	Disco Elysium is not only a deep, innovative RPG, but is also one of those pieces of art that emerge maybe only once a decade. The Belarusian developers brutally throw the loneliness, struggles and helplessness of modern human into the players faces and leave them to deal with it. Disco Elysium not only offers a very deep and engaging story, but also mixes it superbly with some top of the line role playing elements, and gives you one of the most special experiences in recent years.	Read review
Bazimag	Sina Golab Zade	9.4 / 10	10-21-2019	You should just go and play Disco Elysium right now because someday you will wake up with cold sweat, feeling ashamed that you didn't feel the disco when it made a come back.	Read review
CGMagazine	Preston Dozsa	9 / 10	12-02-2019	Disco Elysium is an RPG where you play as an amnesiac cop investigating a murder. Thanks to its writing and emphasis on freedom, it's unlike any other RPG out there.	Read review
Checkpoint Gaming	Omi Koulas	Recommended	10-22-2019	Disco Elysium is an enthralling song of inner-struggle, tabletop role-playing, and mystery.	Read review
COGconnected	Jake Hill	92 / 100	11-05-2019	The world is not our own, but the fantasy of it allows the game to dig really deep, and I considered political views I hadn’t had to confront in years.	Read review
Critical Hit	Brad Lang	8.5 / 10	10-17-2019	Occasionally obtuse and slow, Disco Elysium excels at delivering one of the best role-playing game experiences in a very long time with exceptional writing, world building and mechanical immersion	Read review
Cultured Vultures	Jimmy Donnellan	9.5 / 10	10-28-2019	Disco Elysium is an absolute triumph of character, narrative, and player choice. One of the most intoxicating and dazzlingly dense RPGs of its generation that deserves to be in the GOTY conversation.	Read review
Daily Mirror	James Ide	5 / 5 stars	10-19-2019	If you love RPGs, reading or fancy something different	Read review
Daily Star	Dan Lipscombe	5 / 5 stars	10-20-2019	Disco Elysium doesn’t feel like a game, but then it doesn’t really feel like a movie or a book either. It’s hard to pin down exactly what it is, but I love it and I can’t get enough of it.	Read review
Darkstation	Mark Steighner	4 / 5 stars	11-05-2019	Disco Elysium deserves applause for having a singular vision and generally bringing it to fruition through its art, writing, setting, characters and gameplay mechanics which suggest the heyday of classic isometric RPGs.	Read review
Destructoid	Chris Carter	8.5 / 10	11-08-2019	The heart and soul of Disco Elysium is stumbling through success, which has a certain charm to it. Sometimes that road is bumpy and restricted, but the fluff behind those bumps is at least interesting.	Read review
DualShockers	Steven Santana	9 / 10	10-25-2019	Disco Elysium is an impressive RPG that eschews combat for conversations and introduces an engaging world that rewards inquisitiveness.	Read review
Eurogamer	Malindy Hetfeld	Not Recommended	10-18-2019	A verbose and rich psychological roleplaying game that doesn't offer enough choice in the role you play.	Read review
Everyeye.it	Claudio Cugliandro	9 / 10	11-04-2019	ZA / UM, authors of Disco Elysium, showed great courage in not pretending to revolutionize a genre, but in dedicating themselves body and soul to overcoming their limits by exploiting their merits.	Read review
Fextralife	Castielle	8.5 / 10	10-14-2019	Disco Elysium is certainly not a game for those that are faint of heart, but if you have a sense of humor, and you're looking for a breath of fresh air then Disco Elysium is a must buy game. If it doesn't make you laugh out loud a time or three, I'll ride the Cock Carousel.	Read review
Game Debate	Stuart Thomas	9.5 / 10	11-02-2019	I loved it, though I barely understood much of it. It's a wild ride despite being mostly walls of text.	Read review
Game Informer	Joe Juba	9 / 10	11-12-2019	The mystery has a satisfying payoff, but the bigger draw is navigating the main character's competing thoughts and weighing what kind of person you want him to be	Read review
Game Revolution	Jason Faulkner	4.5 / 5 stars	11-27-2019	If you’re someone who doesn’t “like to read” or wants a lot of action in their games, Disco Elysium might not be the best pick. It does an excellent job of bridging the worlds of literature and gaming, and offers a unique blend on the venerable CRPG formula.	Read review
Gameblog	Gianni Molinaro	10 / 10	10-21-2019	So deep, so well-written, so pleasant to watch, so funny and so dark, so clever, so free and replayable : for sure Disco Elysium is the kind of trip you will remember. One of the best RPG ever made.	Read review
GameCrate	Justin Woo	9.3 / 10	10-15-2019	I've never laughed this much while playing a game. Well-read, nihilistic, dark, and intellectual, Disco Elysium is like your favorite poli-sci professor huffed paint and ran naked through the quad.	Read review
GameMAG	Unknown	9 / 10	01-17-2020	Disco Elysium is one of the most striking and memorable games of 2019.	Read review
Gameplanet	Chris Brown	8.5 / 10	11-05-2019	Disco Elysium is one of the most interesting games we've seen in decades in terms of its themes and writing. A conversation heavy investigative RPG that leans very heavily on the genre's pen and paper roots. We've not seen this type of RPG in quite some time, and certainly not one as well executed as this. If you like your RPG's densely worded I think you'll find a lot to like here.	Read review
Gamersky	Unknown	9.5 / 10	03-27-2020	Disco Elysium is a very special RPG that most of your time will be spent on reading. It features a well-written detective story, various tricky skill trees, and memorable characters. This game might be the best one of its kind. But if you can't stand reading for a long time, just don't try it.	Read review
GameSkinny	Ty Arthur	10 / 10	10-31-2019	Looking for something even weirder than Torment and with even more character customization options? Disco Elysium is RPG of the year. Hell, maybe even the decade.	Read review
GameSpot	David Wildgoose	10 / 10	11-04-2019	Disco Elysium is a detective RPG that sets a new standard for storytelling.	Read review
GamingTrend	Bryan Lawver	95 / 100	11-01-2019	Disco Elysium is a difficult game to describe, but it's easy to recommend. One of the most inventive games in recent memory, it's an often cynical, mean-spirited RPG that's nonetheless full of beauty and humanity. While its obsession with the nastier parts of the human psyche will definitely turn some people off, the depth of its story and systems reward a deep dive into the mire, as do its beautiful art and writing.	Read review
Geek Culture	Jake Su	9.7 / 10	12-30-2019	A truly outstanding piece of art, Disco Elysium is an RPG that warrants playing over and over again.	Read review
Geeks Under Grace	Malachi Key	9.5 / 10	08-06-2020	Disco Elysium presents an unforgivable experience that is only occasionally weighed down by pacing issues, but otherwise soars to new heights of interactive storytelling.	Read review
God is a Geek	Gary Bailey	7.5 / 10	10-21-2019	Disco Elysium is an intelligent game with lots to say, but struggles with its tone while saying it.	Read review
GotGame	Cole Nixon	9 / 10	12-24-2019	Overall , while paying respects to gaming’s founding fathers in familiar yet polished gameplay, Disco Elysium paves its own path. While the controls sometimes feel lacking, it is the narrative heart and aesthetics that truly shine to an exemplary level.	Read review
GRYOnline.pl	Krzysztof Mysiak	9.5 / 10	11-21-2019	Disco Elysium is a truly magnificent game not just for every RPG lover out there, but for any gamer looking for something more than simple entertainment. Get ready for dozens of hours of intellectual exercise – ZA/UM’s title elevates the entire gaming world, bringing the medium closer to true and meaningful art form.	Read review
IGN	By Simon Cardy	9.6 / 10	10-16-2019	Disco Elysium is a deep, sharply written, unique blend of noir-detective fiction and traditional pen-and-paper RPGs.	Read review
IGN Spain	Albert Manjón	8.5 / 10	10-21-2019	An excellent role-playing game that will delight lovers of the genre but does not serve as an entrance for new players.	Read review
Impulsegamer	Chris O'Connor	4.8 / 5 stars	11-19-2019	Disco didn't die, but someone did and you have to find out who and whodunnit!	Read review
Jump Dash Roll	Rob Kershaw	10 / 10	10-24-2019	Wordy, involving and whip-smart, Disco Elysium is a tremendous achievement which deserves to be held up as the new template for story-driven RPGs.	Read review
Kotaku	Jason Schreier	Recommended	11-08-2019	There’s unexpected joy in the little moments of Disco Elysium	Read review
Leadergamer	Alper Dalan	10 / 10	10-21-2019	Now we know that the cigarettes don't need fire to get lit.	Read review
Marooners' Rock	Joseph Siemsen	9.6 / 10	10-24-2019	If you are a fan of RPGs and want to play something that mixes up the genre, I cannot recommend this game enough.	Read review
Metro GameCentral	GameCentral	7 / 10	10-21-2019	A fiercely original take on traditional computer role-playing games that often seems unrefined and self-indulgent but is still a welcome shake-up of genre norms.	Read review
MonsterVine	Shannon P. Drake	5 / 5 stars	12-03-2019	Finally, a roleplaying game where you play a role instead of “press button, make the number go up.”	Read review
New Game Network	Josh Hinke	84 / 100	11-12-2019	Disco Elysium is an experience that other developers will be hurrying to unpack so they can try to steal some of its magic. It's been a long time since a video game story has gotten its hooks into me quite as this one has. Despite some shortcomings, I'll be remembering the characters and moments from this adventure for years to come.	Read review
Oyungezer Online	Can Arabacı	9 / 10	10-22-2019	Disco Elysium's name will be frequently mentioned 10 years from now, as one of the most original and legendary RPG's. If you're not scared by lots and lots and lots of text, this is a must have game.	Read review
PC Gamer	Andy Kelly	92 / 100	10-15-2019	An irresponsibly deep detective RPG that lets you be any kind of detective you want. Even a bad one.	Read review
PCGamesN	Richard Scott-Jones	9 / 10	11-08-2019	An utterly original RPG that sets new genre standards for exploration and conversation systems, and a brilliantly written tragicomedy about our inability to release the linchpins of our identity. Even when they hurt us.Richard Scott-Jones	Read review
Polygon	Laura Dale	Recommended	11-05-2019	Disco Elysium shines most when it gets weird. I was once pretending to be a psychic medium to get a woman to let me look through her supposedly haunted bookstore for a huge novelty polar bear freezer I could use to hide a very dead human body. I knew there were probably more reasonable options for places to store a corpse, but where's the fun in keeping it somewhere official and boring? This is what my character thought was best, and I was there for the ride.	Read review
Rock, Paper, Shotgun	Alice Bell	Recommended	10-15-2019	A masterpiece, but flawed, and proof positive that if ZA/UM can do flawed masterpiece for their first outing, they might already be chipping away the flaws in time for their next.	Read review
RPGamer	Zack Webster	4.5 / 5 stars	11-22-2019	Developer ZA/UM succeeded in making a game where progress isn’t tied to the defeat of, say, four hundred rats in a sewer, but to thoughtfully engaging with the world and characters it has to offer.	Read review
Screen Rant	Leo Faierman	4.5 / 5 stars	11-07-2019	Disco Elysium is an exquisitely-written RPG of external and internal turmoil, political unrest, and self-destruction, packaged into a detective noir.	Read review
SECTOR.sk	Branislav Kohút	8 / 10	10-31-2019	This is great role playing game for crime story lovers. There is so much to read	Read review
Shacknews	Sam Chandler	9 / 10	11-21-2019	It’s not very often that a game of this calibre comes along. Disco Elysium is mad with psychedelic energy, unabashedly dramatic, and dangerously well-written.	Read review
Skill Up	Ralph Panebianco	Recommended	12-21-2019	Video Review	Read review
Slant Magazine	Steven Scaife	4.5 / 5 stars	10-18-2019	The game offers one of the most fascinating, unique, and fulfilling portrayals of the human mind.	Read review
SomHráč.sk	Jakub Bjaček	90 / 100	12-03-2019	Disco Elysium is an unconventional and innovative isometric RPG, offering unusually complex mechanisms and great literary qualities in the vein of Planescape: Torment and Arcanum. It boasts strong atmosphere and attention to details that are sometimes overlooked by the larger videogame developers.	Read review
SpazioGames	Daniele Spelta	9 / 10	10-17-2019	Disco Elysium is a noir cRPG made of the dream-stuff: it's complex, politically involved and a true piece of art. Sometime it can be slow, but it's a wonderful trip.	Read review
TechRaptor	Robert Grosso	9 / 10	10-24-2019	An intense role-playing odyssey, despite some overstuffed writing, Disco Elysium is an experience that has to be played to be believed.	Read review
The Digital Fix	Eden Penketh	Recommended	10-28-2019	Studio ZA/UM's first foray into video games is a fantastically adult piece that takes the established and perhaps tired tropes of moral choice and player agency in RPGs and turns them on their heads, twists them into unexpected new shapes, surprising and delighting as it does. Its mixture of melancholy, mystery, fantastical mundanity and internalised musing make for a unique and thought provoking experience.	Read review
The Games Machine	Alessandro Alosi	9.2 / 10	11-06-2019	Disco Elysium is a little great masterpiece that, due to slow gameplay and its impressive quantity and quality of dialogues, cannot be appreciated by everyone. Unfortunately for them, of course.	Read review
Twinfinite	Zhiqing Wan	4.5 / 5 stars	11-26-2019	Disco Elysium is gritty and unapologetic, witty and bleak, and forces you to deal with your darkest demons and self-doubt. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.	Read review
USgamer	Mike Williams	4.5 / 5 stars	10-16-2019	Disco Elysium wants to get you in touch with the voices in your head. This detective RPG calls back to the old Infinity Engine games like Planescape: Torment and Baldur's Gate, but it put a unique spin on everything. With a beautiful oil painting aesthetic, it also features a system that treats your skill like additional party members, each with their own opinions on your actions. Ultimately, every lengthy run-though of Disco Elysium is about the consequences of your choices and actions, adding up to some fantastic stories. A great, surprising entry into RPG canon.	Read review
Wccftech	Rosh Kelly	9.5 / 10	10-15-2019	It's impossible not to fall for Disco Elysium, from its intriguing murder detective work to the world it depicts, not to mention the voices inside your own head. It's an experience that could easily make the top of some Game of Year lists and for good reason.	Read review

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Game Info

Game Description / Storyline:

Enter the world of The Dark Pictures – A series of standalone cinematic horror games. Players will be challenged to explore and uncover each story with the knowledge that all their choices have consequences and all playable characters can live, any and all can die… Man of Medan is the first game in The Dark Pictures anthology, bringing supernatural horror to the South Pacific. Five friends set sail on a holiday diving trip with a rumored WWII wreck to find. As the day unfolds and a storm rolls in, their trip soon changes into something much more sinister. Who will live? Who will die? It’s down to you. Can you save them all?

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