Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

About Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened

Frogwares released Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened on April 11, 2023, as a standalone adventure puzzle title. It runs on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Microsoft Windows. This entry marks the first time in the series to tackle Lovecraftian horror directly. You step into the shoes of Holmes and Watson during 1884, just as they are roommates before becoming famous partners. The plot follows a string of disappearances across Europe and the United States linked to a dark cult worshipping an Ancient God. Holmes confronts something beyond logic for the first time, pushing him toward madness while you solve cases that defy rational explanation.

Gameplay

Sessions revolve around exploring detailed environments and gathering clues without traditional combat. You move through Victorian streets and dimly lit rooms to find evidence, interact with suspects, and reconstruct events at crime scenes. The game switches between standard point-and-click interactions and a first-person mode for closer inspection of objects. Puzzles often require logic and connecting disparate facts rather than simple inventory management. A typical hour involves traveling between cities, interrogating witnesses who may lie, and piecing together a narrative that defies the laws of physics. You manage an evidence board to track leads, and failing to spot small details can lead to dead ends or missed clues before advancing the story.

What Players Think

Critics and players have been mixed on this entry. Metacritic holds it at 73 out of 100 while IGDB scores it 81.2 based on 30 ratings. Community moods suggest appreciation for the atmosphere but criticism regarding pacing. The average playtime sits around 12 hours for most players to finish the main story. Achievement data shows a total of 28 unlocks with an average completion rate of just 41%. Only 8.70% of users have earned the "Reawakened" trophy, making it the rarest objective in the game. Review snippets frequently mention the terrifying concept but note that some puzzles feel repetitive after the initial chapters.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best for players who want a narrative heavy on mystery and atmosphere rather than action. The current price of 3.99 dollars on the Epic Games Store makes it a low-risk purchase despite the mixed critical reception. You should expect a linear experience with 28 achievements that might frustrate completionists since the average player only unlocks about half of them. The game shines during its investigation phases but struggles when lore dumps slow down the momentum. It is worth buying at the historical low price if you are a fan of Victorian detective stories mixed with cosmic horror elements.

Storyline

A Lovecraft meets Sherlock Holmes crossover, The Awakened puts you up against the legendary Cthulhu Mythos. Investigate a series of mysterious disappearances, apparently linked to a dark cult that worships an Ancient God. Whatever their plan is, you must put a stop to it… or face unspeakable consequences. For the first time in his life, Sherlock is truly afraid. A man of rationale and reason, he faces an otherworldly entity that defies all logic, and this discovery is as enlightening as it is shattering. The pursuit of the truth pushes Sherlock to the verge of madness, and it’s the only story that Watson will never publish. Taking place in 1884, The Awakened lifts the curtain on how Sherlock and John, mere roommates at the time, became the world-famous crime-solving duo.