Duke Grabowski, Mighty Swashbuckler

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 163 reviews
  • story
  • humor
  • graphics
Duke Grabowski, Mighty Swashbuckler Game Cover
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In "Duke Grabowski, Mighty Swashbuckler," players control a former pirate turned innkeeper, embarking on humorous adventures to become a renowned swashbuckler. Solve puzzles, interact with quirky characters, and engage in swashbuckling combat across points-and-click island environments. Duke's quest for respect and riches leads to hilarious exploits, featuring hand-drawn animation and voiceovers.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 163 reviews
story20 positive mentions
grinding2 negative mentions
  • Charming and funny dialogue reminiscent of classic point-and-click games like Monkey Island.
  • Beautifully designed backgrounds and solid voice acting enhance the overall experience.
  • Simple and straightforward puzzles make it accessible for newcomers to the genre.
  • The game is very short, typically taking only 2-3 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Puzzles are overly simplistic and lack the complexity found in traditional adventure games.
  • Some technical issues, such as glitches and awkward character animations, detract from the overall polish of the game.
  • story66 mentions

    The game's story is a lighthearted and comical pirate adventure that, while charming and humorous, is criticized for its brevity and lack of depth, often feeling incomplete or rushed. Players appreciate the engaging dialogue and likable characters, but many express a desire for more content and complexity, as the narrative concludes just as it seems to gain momentum. Overall, it serves as a fun, albeit short, introduction to a potentially larger story, leaving players hoping for future installments.

    • “The story is adorable and has some charm; it's too cheap to pass by.”
    • “Loved the graphics, story, and voice acting!”
    • “Very funny with a great storyline.”
    • “The story is... fine, I guess, but the characters leave something to be desired.”
    • “It ends just as the story feels like it’s starting to really pick up, leaving the whole thing feeling unfinished.”
    • “The story felt a little rushed and cut in the end.”
  • humor60 mentions

    The humor in this point-and-click adventure game is widely praised for its charm and clever dialogue, reminiscent of classic titles like Monkey Island. Many players found themselves laughing consistently throughout the short gameplay, appreciating the witty writing and engaging characters, although some noted that the humor could be hit-or-miss, with occasional cringeworthy moments. Overall, the game delivers a fun and entertaining experience, making it a worthwhile choice for fans of lighthearted adventure games.

    • “A short, cute, and funny point-and-click adventure gem, reminiscent of old school Monkey Island style games.”
    • “The story is good, the dialogue is clever, the humor is actually funny, and the NPCs have personalities.”
    • “Very funny and short classical point-and-click adventure game from the people who have brought us 'The Curse of Monkey Island'.”
    • “The character of Duke is forgettable, and the humor is not funny.”
    • “The jokes fall flat and often feel forced, lacking any real wit.”
    • “I expected a lot more laughs, but the humor just misses the mark.”
  • graphics41 mentions

    The graphics of the game are described as charming and colorful, with a stylized 3D art style that evokes nostalgia for classic adventure games like "Monkey Island." While some players find the graphics to be somewhat dated or inconsistent, many appreciate the vibrant visuals and the overall atmosphere they create, complemented by good voice acting and music. However, there are occasional graphical issues that detract from the experience, but the lighthearted tone and humor of the game help to offset these shortcomings.

    • “The artwork is made with love, detailed and beautiful surroundings.”
    • “It has beautiful, cartoony 3D graphics that are bright and colorful, good animations, good voice acting, nice music and sounds.”
    • “The graphics look very old but in a weird way it kinda feels like it adds to the charm of the game.”
    • “The graphics look very old, but in a weird way, it kind of feels like it adds to the charm of the game.”
    • “To be honest, the graphics and the animations aren't that great, but it's colorful and the music is quite good and in line with the theme.”
    • “As you can see in the screenshots, the graphics are ugly and I find it off-putting - it makes the game feel like a mobile game port.”
  • music32 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and nostalgic ties to classic adventure games like "Monkey Island," with many reviewers noting its ability to enhance the overall experience. While some describe it as above average and fitting for the setting, a few mention that it can be somewhat repetitive or jarring at times. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, complementing the game's visuals and voice acting effectively.

    • “Voices are very good, the interface is great, and the music suits the setting beautifully.”
    • “The music is absolutely fantastic and evokes memories of the Curse of Monkey Island, which drew me in immediately.”
    • “The artwork is bright and the music is jaunty, so the entire atmosphere of the game is laid back and relaxed.”
    • “It's hard to review this game as it's just too short. I had just got to the point where I didn't care that the interface was clunky or that I didn't particularly like the main character; the music had got to me and I felt like I was playing a Monkey Island game, and then it stopped.”
    • “Somewhat scratches an itch; the music and visuals are there reminding you of the glory days of adventure gaming, but sadly the meat of a good LucasArts style adventure game, the memorable characters and puzzles that give you a real sense of accomplishment upon completion, are not.”
    • “The music is fine though.”
  • gameplay16 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as brief, with most sessions lasting between 1 to 4 hours, and features typical point-and-click mechanics. While some players appreciate the unique inventory system and engaging narrative, others criticize the slow pacing, tediousness, and occasional bugs. Overall, the puzzles are considered easy and the gameplay light, with a mix of enjoyable and frustrating elements.

    • “The game's rather brief, but did a good job satiating my thirst for point-and-click gameplay.”
    • “The use of other characters' skills as inventory 'items' as well as leaving items in inventory as idea bubbles before you have an idea for what to do with them is a unique mechanic for a point-and-click game.”
    • “The gameplay is pretty typical for a point-and-click adventure game and it works well for the most part.”
    • “The game has small bugs in subtitles and the mechanics are not well made (action menu is a bit odd) and the gameplay is kinda slow with the scene changes and slow walking of character.”
    • “I tried to like this, but I found the gameplay to be incredibly tedious and the voice acting really annoying.”
    • “It's very light on the gameplay, with actual puzzles being very scarce and quite unchallenging.”
  • atmosphere8 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is praised for its vibrant graphics, engaging music, and humorous dialogue, reminiscent of classic pirate adventure games like Monkey Island. While there are minor graphical issues, the overall ambiance is described as lively and enjoyable, with beautiful backgrounds and a laid-back vibe that enhances the experience.

    • “The atmosphere is spot on and reminds me of the better Monkey Island games; in particular, the backgrounds are outright beautiful.”
    • “This is a very funny and atmospheric point-and-click adventure.”
    • “A shame, really... it's got that comic atmosphere and vibe, but... that, in this case, is not enough.”
    • “Even some piratey atmosphere is there.”
    • “The artwork is bright and the music jaunty, so the entire atmosphere of the game is laid back and relaxed.”
  • character development2 mentions

    The character development is highlighted by stellar designs and engaging dialogue, which contribute to a humorous and immersive experience, complemented by a well-crafted string of puzzles.

    • “The character designs are stellar.”
    • “The game features a nice string of puzzles, great character design, and absolutely hilarious dialogue.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, with some describing it as not particularly challenging but still somewhat monotonous. The overall experience is marred by frustrating gameplay elements, including annoying voice acting, despite the game being completable in a short time frame.

    • “I tried to like this, but I found the gameplay to be incredibly tedious and the voice acting really annoying.”
    • “Not a hard game, a bit tedious in places but beatable in 2 hours.”
  • stability1 mentions

    The game suffers from numerous stability issues, including glitches, freezing, and instances where players become stuck and unable to move. Despite these problems, some users feel the price justifies the experience.

    • “Unfortunately, there were many glitches, parts where I got stuck and couldn't move. The game would freeze, but for the price, I shouldn't complain.”
    • “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly impossible to enjoy the experience.”
    • “I encountered numerous bugs that disrupted gameplay, leading to frustrating moments.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some users reporting smooth performance and efficient resource management, while others have experienced significant lag and technical issues. Overall, the game's optimization appears to vary widely depending on individual system configurations.

  • replayability1 mentions

    Many users feel that the game's 100% achievement completion within a single hour significantly diminishes its replayability, as there is little incentive to revisit the experience once all goals have been achieved.

    • “Achieving 100% completion in just one hour completely eliminates any chance of replay value.”
    • “Once you've seen everything in a single playthrough, there's no incentive to go back.”
    • “The lack of meaningful choices means that replaying the game feels pointless.”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, combining humor and charm in a touching pirate adventure. The well-crafted dialogue and delightful art and animation contribute to a heartfelt experience that resonates with players.

    • “A touching pirate adventure that made me chuckle on a good few occasions - a lot of love went into the dialogue ('Touch the grog kegs? Nah, they've been tapped already.'), and the art and animation is charming.”
  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game aligns well with its advertising, suggesting that players can expect a clear and honest representation of what they are paying for, catering specifically to its target audience.

    • “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending money.”
    • “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the content.”
    • “The prices for in-game items are outrageous, and it ruins the overall experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

3hMedian play time
4hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 6 analyzed playthroughs

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