68
MONSTER
Martha Is Dead is a dark first-person psychological thriller, set in 1944 Italy, that blurs the lines between reality, superstition and the tragedy of war.
Game analysis
Monster Scorecard
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Story and Narrative
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75
A bold psychological horror that tackles dark themes with atmospheric depth but falters in narrative coherence and pacing, leaving players divided between its ambitious vision and uneven execution.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR STORY
Story Score
75
Positive Reviews (80-100)
61%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
28%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
11%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the story and narrative.
TL;DR
story and narrative
A bold psychological horror that tackles dark themes with atmospheric depth but falters in narrative coherence and pacing, leaving players divided between its ambitious vision and uneven execution.
Gameplay Mechanics
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60
Martha is Dead is a polarizing mix of atmospheric storytelling and clunky gameplay—praised for its haunting narrative and creative photography mechanics but plagued by sluggish pacing, repetitive tasks, and technical flaws that undermine its ambition.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR GAMEPLAY
Gameplay Score
60
Positive Reviews (80-100)
15%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
65%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
20%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the gameplay mechanics.
TL;DR
gameplay mechanics
Martha is Dead is a polarizing mix of atmospheric storytelling and clunky gameplay—praised for its haunting narrative and creative photography mechanics but plagued by sluggish pacing, repetitive tasks, and technical flaws that undermine its ambition.
Graphics and Visual Design
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78
Martha is Dead dazzles with hauntingly beautiful 1940s Italian visuals, immersing players in meticulously detailed environments, but technical glitches like texture pop-in and frame drops undermine its atmospheric cohesion.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VISUALS
Visual Score
78
Positive Reviews (80-100)
62%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
37%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
1%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the graphics and visual design.
TL;DR
graphics and visual design
Martha is Dead dazzles with hauntingly beautiful 1940s Italian visuals, immersing players in meticulously detailed environments, but technical glitches like texture pop-in and frame drops undermine its atmospheric cohesion.
Music and Sound Design
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80
Martha is Dead's sound design and music are a haunting, immersive triumph, blending period-accurate folk, dissonant strings, and eerie ambience to amplify its psychological horror and historical authenticity—though minor issues like generic tunes and subtitle glitches slightly undercut an otherwise stellar auditory experience.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR SOUND DESIGN
Sound Score
80
Positive Reviews (80-100)
70%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
28%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
2%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the music and sound design.
TL;DR
music and sound design
Martha is Dead's sound design and music are a haunting, immersive triumph, blending period-accurate folk, dissonant strings, and eerie ambience to amplify its psychological horror and historical authenticity—though minor issues like generic tunes and subtitle glitches slightly undercut an otherwise stellar auditory experience.
Voice Acting
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75
Italian voice acting in Martha is Dead dazzles with authenticity and emotional nuance, hailed as a standout for its cultural immersion. Yet the English dub falters with poor translation, weak delivery, and technical glitches, creating a divisive experience. Despite flaws, the Italian version remains a defining strength.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR VOICE ACTING
Acting Score
75
Positive Reviews (80-100)
53%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
41%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
6%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the voice acting.
TL;DR
voice acting
Italian voice acting in Martha is Dead dazzles with authenticity and emotional nuance, hailed as a standout for its cultural immersion. Yet the English dub falters with poor translation, weak delivery, and technical glitches, creating a divisive experience. Despite flaws, the Italian version remains a defining strength.
Technical Performance
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53
Martha is Dead’s technical performance is a mixed bag: while Xbox Series X/S and PC offer smooth play, PS5 and Xbox One suffer from crashes, bugs, and frame issues. Despite occasional praise for visuals or fixes, instability overshadows the experience, leaving critics divided between its artistic merits and lack of polish.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE
Tech Score
53
Positive Reviews (80-100)
11%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
52%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
38%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the technical performance.
TL;DR
technical performance
Martha is Dead’s technical performance is a mixed bag: while Xbox Series X/S and PC offer smooth play, PS5 and Xbox One suffer from crashes, bugs, and frame issues. Despite occasional praise for visuals or fixes, instability overshadows the experience, leaving critics divided between its artistic merits and lack of polish.
Replay Value
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54
Martha is Dead offers fleeting replay value through multiple endings and atmospheric storytelling, but its rigid linear structure, repetitive gameplay, and lack of post-completion content render it a one-time experience, with critics dismissing its charm as insufficient to offset its shortcomings.
SCORE DISTRIBUTION FOR REPLAY VALUE
Replay Score
54
Positive Reviews (80-100)
3%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
74%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
23%
Based on analyzing reviews that specifically scored or critiqued the replay value.
TL;DR
replay value
Martha is Dead offers fleeting replay value through multiple endings and atmospheric storytelling, but its rigid linear structure, repetitive gameplay, and lack of post-completion content render it a one-time experience, with critics dismissing its charm as insufficient to offset its shortcomings.
Overall Verdict
68
MONSTER
OVERALL SCORE DISTRIBUTION
Monster Score
68
Positive Reviews (80-100)
35%
Mixed Reviews (50-79)
55%
Negative Reviews (0-49)
10%
Based on analyzing all available reviews that scored and critiqued the game.
TL;DR
Bold yet flawed, Martha is Dead dazzles with atmospheric depth and thematic courage but falters under technical hiccups, uneven gameplay, and a story that loses focus, leaving players divided between admiration and frustration.
68
MONSTER
Reviews
123 reviews found100
Dexerto
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A beautiful, contemporary work of visual art that pushes boundaries and immerses the player into a woeful world, not for the faint of heart
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100
Player 2
Apr 7, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
A breath of fresh air with a hard-hitting story, but may not be for everyone
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95
MondoXbox
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Martha is Dead is a deeply immersive and mature horror adventure that tackles serious themes with a high level of detail in story, graphics, and sound, though it may not be suitable for all players.
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91
Wccftech
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Martha is Dead is a true ghost story that meets and exceeds expectations, with a near-flawless design
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90
IGN France
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Martha Is Dead is praised as a near-perfect indie title with a compelling narrative, immersive gameplay, and high-quality audio-visual elements. It challenges players' perceptions of reality and imagination.
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90
TheXboxHub
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Martha is Dead is a brilliant era-based thriller with a captivating story, amazing visuals, and a well-executed soundtrack. Despite the moments that have been censored by Playstation, the game offers much more than those moments. It is an experience that will stay with players for some time.
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90
Multiplayer.it
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Martha is Dead is praised for its refined writing and excellent artistic direction, marking it as a standout title in its genre. It is described as a disturbing yet captivating experience that deserves to be explored.
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90
SECTOR.sk
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Martha is Dead is a unique and immersive psychological thriller that combines a compelling narrative with impressive visuals and sound design, making it a noteworthy experience despite minor areas for improvement.
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90
Xbox Tavern
Feb 28, 2022
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The reviewer considers Martha is Dead to be one of the best titles they've played this year, with a gripping and thrilling narrative.
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85
Malditos Nerds
Feb 24, 2022
AI-generated summary • May contain inaccuracies • See full review for precise details
Martha is Dead is a deeply impactful game with a unique story and immersive gameplay, despite some technical flaws. It is highly recommended for those seeking a mature narrative experience.