MADiSON is a first-person psychological horror game that combines frightening visions with the fear of the unknown, leaving only the flash of a Polaroid camera as a defense. With creepy changing photos and objects with a mind of their own, MADiSON's terrifying jumpscares are enough to occupy most players attempting to avoid the demonic presence pursuing the character.
MADiSON's runtime isn't too long, making for a succinct yet memorable journey. The horror of a haunted urban household arguably borrows many themes from horror staples like Fatal Frame and the canceled Silent Hills/P.T. game, meaning there are plenty of opportunities for references and secrets to be hidden in the dark.
Along with dangerous proxies lurking in the ever-changing house layout, MADiSON makes good use of the possessed camera for defense in the dark. Along with finding MADiSON's secret achievements, the bright flash will ward off the demon pursuing Luca, and present a surprisingly complex storyline in the process.
7 Gravestone Names
After a nightmare-fuelled journey through some underground tunnels, Luca eventually ends up in a graveyard shrouded in fog. This is reminiscent of many horror game locations, most notably Silent Hill's trademark fog. Players who can work up the nerve to examine the graves will find a plethora of Easter eggs and secrets.
One such example can be found on a prominent grave close to the center of the site bearing the name 'Alex Di Stefano', who wrote, directed, and developed most of MADiSON. Another example can be found in the four corners of the graveyard, which bear smaller graves that list unusual names. These are essentially dedications to people who supported MADiSON while in development and act as an interesting creator cameo for these individuals who helped this terrifying game see the light of day.
6 Blue Knees' Hiding Place
Blue Knees is the name of a demonic presence that has been rumored to exist by the Maxwell family due to a cursed book. Inside the grandparent's room, Elizabeth Maxwell explains how she believes Blue Knees to be real due to her blindness and paranoia.
Whether its presence is real or not can be decided by the player due to ambiguous clues left throughout the game. However, a hidden clue can be found right from the start by entering the bathroom and turning the mirror around. This also unlocks one of MADiSON's hidden achievements and provides a compelling hint for Blue Knee's inevitable appearance.
5 The Maxwell Family Tree
The biggest secret revolving around Madison Hale herself is likely her connection to Hans in the cathedral level, who was also targeted and kept alive via Luca's possessed camera. It is heavily implied that the same demon who possessed the camera was the one possessing Madison Hale, but her origins are barely explained directly.
By paying close attention to the anonymous voice in the confessional booth, however, players can put the clues together by realizing that Hans is Madison's father. This is further hinted at when the player moves the letter i from his nameplate onto Madison Hale's nameplate, suggesting that the curse that plagued Hans was passed onto Madison (and later the "MAD SON" Luca.)
4 How Hans Died
Very little is explained to the player about Hans when encountering him in the cathedral level, short of his desire to kill Luca for seemingly no reason. Curiously, when players foolishly run into Hans and get attacked, hints about this monster's death can be discovered by paying attention to his character model.
After close examination, Hans' character model clearly displays a knife jutting out of his neck, painting a clearer picture of how exactly Han's wife killed him. In a sense, the cathedral could be interpreted as a symbolic purgatory for Hans to atone for his past sins or indeed seek revenge against his wife.
3 Potential Pyramid Head Cameo
Much like Pyramid Head's first appearance from Silent Hill 2, walking past the projection room in MADiSON will present the player with a terrifying sight: a suspiciously angular presence lit up by a red light and what looks like hands protruding out from the shadows.
Once up close, it is clear that the sight is just a wall-mounted cuckoo clock at the end of a darkened corridor, but the unnerving psychological scares can leave players stunned at the frighteningly familiar sight. As a result, this can easily unnerve experienced horror gamers while leaving first-timers blissfully unaware of the implicit horror.
2 Decayed Polaroids
Over the course of the game, Luca will take an increasing number of Polaroids to try and solve MADiSON's fiendishly imaginative puzzles. However, some certain polaroids will deliberately not be visible after being taken, instead becoming a murky reddish haze instead.
This signifies the presence of something possessed by the demon, including Madison Hale, Blue Knees, and Hans the Nazi soldier. This story detail pays off at the end of the game, when the possessed camera photographs a dying Luca in his last moment, heavily implying that Luca is now the new host of the demon.
1 Luca's Fate Was Foreshadowed From The Start
The sudden ending switch sees Luca himself being the seventh sacrifice needed to purge the demon's presence, which can be an unexpected shock for many. However, observant players will notice that Luca's fate has been hinted at during previous points in the game (such as the decayed polaroids mentioned above).
Perhaps the most damning bit of evidence that can be found for Luca's fate is from the starting room where Luca picks up the possessed camera. On each recurring visit to this room, it is possible to look up to the rafters and see a noose hanging up above Luca, the same one he uses to try and complete the ritual.
After uncovering the dark truths, astute players can spot that this cursed ritual was planned from the start. All of these subtle details help to foreshadow Luca's ultimate fate, serving as a shocking twist ending to MADiSON's horrifying story. ​​​​​
MADiSON is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.