Sherlock Holmes The Awakened Reviews
If you think about what Frogwares had to go through this past year in Ukraine, it’s an amazing feat that Sherlock Holmes The Awakened came to fruition. Sure, the game doesn’t break any new ground, but the team did it, and it just works! This crossover between Lovecraft and Sherlock is a dream come true for a detective and horror fan like myself. Even though The Awakened re-uses many of the same assets and engine and suffers from some of the same frustrations as Chapter One, it still remains a compelling detective experience from start to finish. There’s plenty of madness to lose your sanity to and lots of cases waiting to be solved!
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is a rewarding investigative experience with familiar gameplay that has you play as both Sherlock and Watson as they follow the phenomenon of Cthulhu around the world while fighting to keep their sanity. Although it's smaller in scope than the previous title and is lacking in terms of side-quests, it's still a fun journey and is presented beautifully to boot.
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened explores a haunting adventure that is unsettling to live through and succeeds as a creative take. Marketed as a Lovecraft meets Sherlock Holmes original story, there are tinges of both mythologies that will satisfy any eager fan of either world.
Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is a thoroughly enjoyable detective adventure which is well written and explores some dark themes. The gameplay, mostly notably the absence of action, will not be to every player’s taste but for those who appreciate this style, it will deliver an exceptionally rewarding experience.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened does a brilliant job at showcasing a curious case of the most famous detective in the world, one in which he needs to go beyond his intellect to deal with things his skepticism never let him believe in. The narrative sequence and ambientation don't disappoint when compared to its literary adventures. It's a must-play title for fans of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Just a couple of notes. First, as this is based on the works of Doyle and Lovecraft and set in Victorian times, some questionable ideas are espoused here. For the most part, the game goes out of its way to repudiate such views, like the man abusing his servant. But be aware they are there (the game warns you about this in its loading screens). Second and far less important, the game is relatively short. It took about fourteen hours to complete, and I wasn’t exactly trying for a speed run. I in no way think this is a bad thing, however. The timeframe kept the story tight and meant the game did not outstay its welcome. The game releases April 11, 2023, so if you pick it up let me know what you think in the comment below!
The cosmic divinity imagined by H.P. Lovecraft remains immersed in its eternal sleep, because in the interesting videogame mixture concocted by Frogwares it is above all the influence of Arthur Conan Doyle to drive a narrative made of investigations and common crimes, while the horrors of the astral planes remain under the radar and can only be touched in short sequences.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Made in a warzone, Sherlock Holmes The Awakened is a solid remake that covers all of the bases you'd normally expect from Frogwares' Sherlock series, delivering an absorbing mystery and a procession of nicely executed puzzles. It's a perfect stop-gap before Chapter Two comes along.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened combines a faithful remake of the 2007 game and a sequel that builds on the previous entry, Chapter One. The picturesque island is swapped for a horror setting inspired by the underworld, the occult, and, most importantly, H.P. Lovecraft, where a seemingly simple case is set and gradually unravels through the gameplay experience.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, despite visual inconsistencies and limited accessibility for newcomers, remains a solid entry in the series. Its Lovecraftian twist, complex mysteries, and character development engage players. While some areas need improvement, the game offers a captivating experience for Sherlock Holmes and adventure game fans. Frogwares delivers a notable adventure, albeit not perfect.
An enthralling horror mystery that, outside of its relatively short length, doesn't seem to have suffered at all from the difficult circumstances of its development.
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened could have been an intriguing clash of Cluedo/Clue with Cthulu, but instead it’s just a case of squandered potential.
While Sherlock Holmes The Awakened has an incredibly rich story to experience, it feels like you have to work much harder than normal to get to it. The overall gameplay is incredibly smooth and the mechanics balance each other out quite well, but a form of hint is desperately needed for a game like this.
If you feel that a detective story mixed with Lovecraftian occult is right up your alley - Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened is THE game for you. But don’t expect a more ambitious storyline or challenging puzzles.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened remains as a simply correct title that wastes its references. Only recommended for the biggest fans of the studio's work or of the original title, of which it is fair to say that it is a good reinvention.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened has a very good and interesting storyline, capable of keeping us glued to the end, but it suffers from a few too many bugs and gameplay that is a bit too frustrating and confusing. It is worth a try, but maybe after the arrival of some patches and a price drop.
Review in Italian | Read full review
This supernatural adventure of Frogwares manages to surpass the original game by leaps and bounds. Whether you've played the previous game or not, you'll enjoy this new version just as much.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Deviating from the more typical fare taken on Sherlock and his pal Watson, a pinch of Lovecraftian horror spices things up
Quite possibly the best Sherlock game that Frogwares has made in years, if not ever.