Detroit Become Human

A Masterpiece Worth Replaying

At the time of writing this, I’ve beaten Detroit: Become Human a total of three times. A few years ago, I took two days out of my week to complete two full playthroughs. Recently, I decided to return for a third time, and the game is just as perfect as I remember.

Story-choice games were first introduced to me through Telltale’s The Walking Dead and later through titles like Until Dawn (all by different studios). When done right, these choice-driven games can be compelling — and Detroit: Become Human is exactly that.

A Stellar Cast

Before diving deeper, I want to give a big shoutout to the cast and everyone involved in directing and behind-the-scenes work. The talent here is top-tier, with well-known actors like Jesse Williams, Clancy Brown, Bryan Dechart, and Valorie Curry, among many others. Their performances bring a deeply emotional and believable quality to the characters.

Connor – Duty or Devotion?

The game kicks off with one of our main leads: Connor. He’s an android assigned to assist the police force with investigations. By this point in the story, society is well into the future, where life-sized, human-like androids are a part of everyday life.

Connor is a highly dynamic character, largely thanks to his relationship with Lieutenant Hank, played by Clancy Brown. Connor is mission-focused and all about following orders. But depending on your choices, he can stay on that path of pure obedience — or begin to evolve emotionally, becoming more human, especially in his interactions with Hank.

Kara – The Protector

Next, we’re introduced to our second playable character: Kara. She’s an android designed primarily for household duties. Her owner, Todd, is a deadbeat father and active drug addict. Living with Todd and his young daughter, Alice, Kara is thrust into a volatile home environment.

Early on, it’s revealed that Kara had an “accident” and needed repairs — a strong piece of foreshadowing that Todd was likely responsible for damaging her. As the story unfolds, most players, myself included, naturally feel compelled to protect Alice at all costs. Kara becomes a maternal figure, and their bond grows into something unbreakable.

Markus – The Revolution

Last but not least, we have Markus, our third protagonist. He serves as a caretaker for Carl, an elderly man in a wheelchair. Their relationship plays out almost like a father-son dynamic. Carl deeply cares for Markus and worries about how the world treats androids, especially amid growing protests against them.

After a tragic event separates Markus from Carl, everything changes. Markus's worldview shifts, and he eventually joins — and helps lead — a movement fighting for android rights. His story becomes the overarching narrative that ties all three characters together.

Setting – A Near-Future Detroit

As the title suggests, Detroit: Become Human takes place in Detroit — but in the year 2038. While not a full open-world game, it offers a variety of detailed locations to explore. The city has been revitalized due to heavy Android integration. Androids run shop counters, take buses, and walk alongside humans.

The contrast between polished city centers and rundown outskirts adds depth. Many areas under construction reflect a society still in transition, grappling with ethical questions and economic disparity. The setting does an incredible job of immersing you in the world and the social tension it carries.

Choices – The Heart of the Game

Choices are the backbone of this game. I love the sheer number of options and different routes each of the three main characters can take. After each mission, you’re shown a flowchart of the path you chose, revealing just how many outcomes you didn’t experience.

I learned there are over 40 possible endings. After three full playthroughs, I know I still haven’t seen everything this game has to offer. That level of replay value is rare, especially in story-driven games.

Final Thoughts

I’ve intentionally avoided heavy spoilers in this review because Detroit: Become Human is a game best experienced firsthand. You know those games you wish you could forget just to replay them like it was the first time? This is one of those games — and thankfully, with its many branching paths, each playthrough can feel like a fresh one.

If I had to point out a single “con,” it’d be one mission with Markus where you collect symbols. It felt a bit slow compared to the rest of the game. But even that mission serves its purpose in the story, so I can’t complain too much.

All things considered, my final rating for Detroit: Become Human stands at a whopping 9.5/10.