MADiSON fuses P.T. and Fatal Frame into a new first person horror

Comparing first person horror games to Konami’s long-cancelled P.T. is old hat by now. However, there’s no escaping the influence it has had on the genre, isolating players in intimate environments and gradually dialling up the tension without leaning on gore and jump scares.

MADiSON is the latest title to try this format and makes for an impressive debut from Argentine studio Bloodious Games. While we definitely enjoyed what we played of the ambitious horror title, it’s important to disclose that we weren’t able to finish our review playthrough due to a persistent save bug that wiped our progress on several occasions. These issues are said to have been fixed in a post-launch update, though we’d still advise caution.

Without giving too much away, MADiSON centres around the story of Luca, a young man who finds himself imprisoned within his grandparents’ home. Instead of reliving nostalgic childhood memories, he desperately searches for an escape from the dillappated estate, slowly unspooling a macabre mystery.

It’s this mystery that is the most compelling part. Where some horror games stop at creating an eerie atmosphere, MADiSON guides you through its twisted world with an intriguing narrative that delves into grisly murders and the supernatural.

You’ve likely spotted the polaroid camera that features prominently throughout the game. Not only is it hiding secrets of its own, this heirloom also factors into MADiSON’s first person gameplay, allowing you to take snapshots of your surroundings. The house you roam is almost like a puzzle box, forcing you to hunt for items and spot environmental clues, opening new doors and pathways the further you delve into its dark mystery.

There’s a loose sense of linearity here that some players will find refreshing though it’s easy to get lost at times, not knowing which puzzle to solve next. On top of that, some of the items you need can be easily missed and the solutions too vague, leading to spells of manic back-tracking.

As an indie horror, don’t expect MADiSON’s production values to rival those of Resident Evil Village, but with that said, the team at Bloodious has done a great job creating a detailed space that feels lived in, by both humans and a more sinister evil entity. And while the character performances won’t stick with you though they help bring life and character to what could have been a fairly mute, text-heavy horror game.

MADiSON is out now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.