Detroit: Become Human

Developer: Quantic Dream
Release: Jun 18th 2020
Platforms:
Action
Adventure
Immersive
Emotional
Replayable
Narrative Inconsistencies
Slow Pacing
Detroit: Become Human Poster

" Immersive action-adventure with deep moral choices and stunning visuals but slow pacing "

Detroit: Become Human Review

Detroit: Become Human is widely praised as a groundbreaking interactive narrative experience that transcends traditional gaming. Players control three android characters, each with distinct storylines filled with deeply emotional and philosophical themes about consciousness, freedom, and morality. The game offers a near-infinite variety of outcomes based on player choices, making each playthrough unique and highly replayable.

Graphically, it is considered a masterpiece for its time, with realistic motion capture, detailed environments, and immersive soundtracks tailored to each character. The gameplay mainly revolves around quick-time events and decision-making, which some find challenging yet rewarding. While the story and characters receive high acclaim for depth and emotional impact, some players note occasional inconsistencies in narrative choices and pacing. Overall, Detroit: Become Human is regarded as a cinematic, thought-provoking journey that pushes the boundaries of interactive storytelling.

Highlights

Players consistently praise the game's stunning graphics and lifelike character animations, which create an immersive futuristic world.

The branching storyline with multiple playable characters allows for complex moral decisions and numerous endings, enhancing replayability.

The soundtrack and audio design complement the emotional depth of the narrative, enriching the overall experience.

The user interface and gameplay mechanics, centered around quick-time events and choice-driven dialogue, are generally well-received for their smooth integration with the story.

Criticisms

Some players feel that the game occasionally struggles to fully explore the philosophical questions it raises, particularly around the nature of android consciousness and morality.

There are noted inconsistencies in how choices affect character relationships and plot outcomes, which can detract from immersion.

The pacing can feel uneven, with slow walking segments and abrupt narrative shifts that may frustrate some.

Controls and quick-time event mechanics receive mixed feedback, with some finding them unintuitive or overly demanding.

The story’s complexity, split among three protagonists, can be hard to follow for some players.

Pros

  • Stunning, realistic graphics that blur the line between game and movie.
  • Deep, emotionally charged narrative with complex moral choices.
  • Multiple playable characters offering diverse perspectives and storylines.
  • Highly replayable with numerous branching endings based on player decisions.
  • Immersive soundtrack tailored uniquely to each protagonist.
  • Smooth integration of quick-time events with storytelling.
  • Strong voice acting and motion capture performances.

Cons

  • Narrative inconsistencies reduce the impact of some player choices.
  • Some story elements and philosophical questions feel underexplored.
  • Slow pacing and walking segments can disrupt immersion.
  • Occasional frustrating quick-time event mechanics and controls.
  • Complex story split across multiple characters can be confusing.
  • Certain plot twists may feel forced or unnecessary.
  • Limited action and gameplay variety beyond dialogue and QTEs.

Rating Criteria

Story
Difficulty
Graphics
Duration
Stability
Worth the Price
Capsule image

Detroit: Become Human puts the destiny of both mankind and androids in your hands, taking you to a near future where machines have become more intelligent than humans. Every choice you make affects the outcome of the game, with one of the most intricately branching narratives ever created.

Release Date Jun 18th 2020
Publisher Quantic Dream
Developer Quantic Dream
Required Age 17+
Platforms

User Reviews

Very Positive (37,345)
95% Positive 5% Negative

Online Reviews

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Metacritic
80