Martha is Dead

 Xbox Series X
Metascore
65

Mixed or average reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 28
  3. Negative: 5 out of 28
  1. Generación Xbox
    Mar 20, 2022
    71
    Martha is Dead is one of those stories that will leave its mark on you. A few performance issues do hinder the experience a bit, but it's still a highly recommended game.
  2. GameOver.gr
    Mar 27, 2022
    70
    Martha Is Dead is definitely an improvement over LKA’s previous game. Giulia’s fragile character provides an interesting protagonist and the story gripped us from the first minutes. Unfortunately, the last part of the game isn’t as strong and culminates in a somewhat predictable way.
  3. Metro GameCentral
    Mar 4, 2022
    70
    A highly original, dark gothic thriller whose lack of compromises will restrict its audience but are hard not to admire.
  5. LevelUp
    Feb 24, 2022
    70
    Martha is Dead has an interesting idea, but not enough to be considered a great game in spite of its flaws. If you're a fan of thrillers or the setting of Martha is Dead appeals to you, it is worth a check. It's not a life-changing horror game, but it's immersive enough to keep you hooked for a while.
  6. CGMagazine
    Feb 24, 2022
    70
    Martha is Dead tells a deeply personal and complex story that strikes at some complex issues that are only held back from greatness due to technical struggles.
  7. BaziCenter
    Mar 3, 2022
    60
    Martha is Dead is far from what I thought It’d be, and even though it begins strong, things start to fall short and end in total disappointment.
  8. VideoGamer
    Mar 1, 2022
    60
    If only Dalcò, rather than honouring his heroine by smothering her search for truth in confounding gloom, had abided by her love of illumination.
  9. GamingBolt
    Feb 28, 2022
    60
    Martha is Dead is best appreciated from a distance, because while its narrative premise and setting are certainly impressive, the game itself is slow as molasses and frustratingly clunky.
  10. Game Informer
    Feb 25, 2022
    60
    LKA made the best recreation of an Italian setting I’ve ever seen in a game and I wanted nothing more than to enjoy it. However, LKA’s love of Italy is the only warmth I felt in Martha is Dead. The rest left me feeling as cold as Giulia’s dead sister.
  11. Movies Games and Tech
    Feb 24, 2022
    60
    This game is not terrible, however, it is not fantastic. This genre has to have a strong story to be remembered due to the lack of action, thrills, and spills. Martha is Dead just lacks that spark to make it great. The ending of the game is fairly predictable, and it was not the most enjoyable journey to get there. Unfortunately, it falls short of its peers but is still worthy of your time.
  12. Twinfinite
    Feb 24, 2022
    50
    The development team has to be applauded for pushing the boundary of the horror industry with its ideas. It’s just a shame that it stumbles so heavily when it comes to the execution and dilutes its strongest element with generic, repetitive gameplay.
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  1. Xboxygen
    Feb 24, 2022
    Martha is Dead is a successful dive into the abyss of a family drama filled with mysteries. Within a historical context that is as interesting as it is gripping, its careful and controlled narrative easily keeps the audience on their toes. One needs to see whether the clumsy movements, the sluggish gameplay and the frequent back and forth will not obstruct the immersion, even if they are far from overshadowing the game’s myriad of qualities.

Awards & Rankings

54
#54 Most Discussed Xbox Series X Game of 2022

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.1

Mixed or average reviews- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 32
  3. Negative: 3 out of 32
  1. Jt0429
    Feb 26, 2022
    6
    Good-
    The narrative's premise and the story it sets up is one of the most inriguing I have played in years. The setting feels really    Good-
    The narrative's premise and the story it sets up is one of the most inriguing I have played in years. The setting feels really authentic and immerses me in it's world. The game looks really really good. One of the best looking indie horror games that I have seen in years.

    Bad-
    The gameplay feels very clunky. There are weird moments in the game and sections that just are not fun or scary and feel pointless. It feels so slow-paced even for an atmospheric horror game. I am waiting for the game to pick up the pace but it never seems too.

    Thoughts-
    Martha Is Dead has a lot going for it, but it often gets in its own way. The narrative premise is unique and makes its distinct elements work together surprisingly well, but it’s pacing might very well turn you away if you don’t have the patience (or inclination) to stick with it. The setting is beautiful and lovingly crafted, but actually playing the game often feels like a chore for one reason or the other. There are some good ideas here that deserved to be in a better game, but as it stands right now, Martha is Dead is a frustrating experience that fails to do justice to those ideas.    … Full Review »
  2. misslety
    Feb 26, 2022
    10
    An excellent game. I've been missing a REAL horror game. The amount of detail is out of this world. Congrats to the developers, better thanAn excellent game. I've been missing a REAL horror game. The amount of detail is out of this world. Congrats to the developers, better than the most big developers we see. We should give an aplause for them! Congrats!… Full Review »
  3. Joe2539
    Jan 3, 2023
    10
    Very Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good Good
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