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"Jolly Rover" is a swashbuckling adventure game with a humor-filled pirate theme. The game follows the story of Gaius James Rover, a cursed pirate captain turned into a dog, who seeks to regain his human form and restore his family's honor. Featuring brain-teasing puzzles, clever dialogue, and unique pirate-themed gameplay mechanics, Jolly Rover offers a light-hearted and entertaining experience for all players.

Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
Jolly Rover screenshot
+5

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 280 reviews
story28 positive mentions
grinding1 negative mentions

  • Charming and humorous writing with a likable main character, making for an enjoyable experience.
  • Well-executed point-and-click mechanics with a helpful hint system that makes puzzles accessible without being frustrating.
  • Visually appealing with good voice acting, creating a nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic adventure games like Monkey Island.
  • The game is quite short, typically taking only 4-6 hours to complete, which may leave players wanting more.
  • Technical issues such as improper aspect ratio on modern monitors can detract from the overall experience.
  • Some puzzles may be too easy for seasoned adventure gamers, leading to a lack of challenge.
  • story
    76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Jolly Rover" is a lighthearted and humorous adventure featuring a swashbuckling dog protagonist on a quest to lift a curse in a pirate-themed world. While some reviewers noted its cookie-cutter elements and linear progression, many appreciated the quirky characters, clever puns, and engaging puzzles that enhance the overall experience. Overall, the narrative is enjoyable and reminiscent of classic adventure games, making it a fun choice for fans of the genre.

    • “The main character develops from a prig into a swash-dachshund, which is a reasonably good arc for a reasonably good story about pirate dogs.”
    • “The story is full of puns and humor which fits well to the genre.”
    • “The game flows perfectly and the witty storyline fits in very well with the puzzles.”
    • “Bland point and click with a generic story in a derivative setting featuring a pointless scoring system.”
    • “Could not get into the characters, story, anything really.”
    • “Kind of funny and charming at first, but the typical problems point-and-clicks often have (pixel-hunting, non-intuitive puzzle solutions), combined with the fact that the whole plot and setting get old very, very fast just make the game a failure.”
  • humor
    71 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "Jolly Rover" is widely praised for its charming, witty dialogue and playful pirate-themed puns, reminiscent of classic adventure games like "Monkey Island." Players appreciate the light-hearted tone, clever writing, and engaging character interactions, which contribute to a fun and entertaining experience. While the humor is generally suitable for all ages, it includes subtle adult jokes that may appeal more to teenagers and older audiences.

    • “Definitely reminds me of Monkey Island because of the humor and the pirate theme; also, there are pieces of eight to find, not sure if this was a real currency during this time period or just a Monkey Island inside joke.”
    • “A fantastic point-and-click adventure with intuitive puzzles, great voice acting, a huge number of branching choices, tons of collectibles, and genuine humor.”
    • “Amusing throughout, Jolly Rover offers inoffensive, yet quality humor, challenging puzzles that never cross the infuriating logic line and simply a charming experience overall.”
    • “Unfunny, terrible art design, and voice acting that sounds like they got seven college kids together for a circle jerk and recorded it.”
  • graphics
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally described as charming and colorful, with a retro cartoon style that appeals to a younger audience and evokes nostalgia. While many reviewers appreciate the artistic quality and animation, some note that the graphics can be low-resolution and lack a modern wow factor, particularly for seasoned gamers. Overall, the visuals are considered pleasant and well-suited to the game's adventurous theme, though they may not meet the expectations of those seeking high-end graphics.

    • “The graphics are aimed at a young audience: it's colorful, in style with old cartoons that could have been broadcasted during my childhood, and they're well done.”
    • “The graphics are retro styled and work well with the whole layout of the gameplay itself.”
    • “A proper point & click adventure game with charming graphics, funny dialog, and crazy but solvable puzzles.”
    • “It's a very low effort ripoff, the graphics are mediocre at best.”
    • “The graphics are cartoons, but still in a 1920x1080 widescreen you see a 4x3 signal and a little blurred graphics.”
    • “The art style and the dialog at the beginning of the game make it almost feel like it should be lumped in with young children's games like Putt-Putt and Pajama Sam.”
  • gameplay
    19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay features smooth point-and-click mechanics that facilitate intuitive puzzle-solving, complemented by a charming musical score. While the game is relatively short, averaging around 3 to 5 hours, it offers a nostalgic adventure experience with easy and amusing puzzles, unique collectible mechanics, and a humorous tone that keeps players engaged. However, some players may find the simplicity of the puzzles and the potential for the parrot companion to spoil surprises a bit frustrating.

    • “The gameplay is a traditional adventure game: discussing gives you clues, and observing objects can be rewarding. It's a good trip down memory lane with old titles of the same genre.”
    • “It's really very charming and funny, with a good 2+ hours of casual gameplay, depending on how much you dawdle around.”
    • “There is voodoo magic that you learn throughout the game by mixing various symbols together, and it is used effectively as a puzzle mechanic without ever becoming overly complex.”
    • “The game mechanics are your standard point and click controls.”
    • “Solemn and important scenes are switched into humor or blase gameplay so quickly that you have no time to process the emotional significance.”
    • “I say this because if you can't figure out the overly simplified easy puzzles and game mechanics, you can win the game by feeding crackers to your parrot.”
  • music
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is generally well-received, with sea shanties and a charming soundtrack that enhances the pirate adventure theme. While some players note that the music can feel basic at times, it fits the setting well and adds to the overall experience, especially with a collectible system that unlocks additional tracks and art. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's unique charm, making it a worthwhile play for fans of the genre.

    • “Sea shanties to sway your booty: a musical score that rivals a symphony for sailors, enhancing the gameplay experience.”
    • “The artwork is creative and very well done, which adds a certain charm to the game. The music fits the game very well and has a lot of variation.”
    • “There's not much in the way of music, and you can play the game completely muted with no issues.”
    • “The music fits the setting and theme.”
    • “The artwork is creative, and very well done, which adds a certain charm to the game, but the music fits the game very well and has a lot of variation.”
  • replayability
    14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is generally considered limited, with most players noting that it can be completed in a single sitting and lacks significant incentives for multiple playthroughs. While there are some elements like achievements and unlockable content that offer minor replay value, many reviewers feel that the experience does not warrant revisiting after the initial playthrough. Overall, it provides a brief adventure but fails to deliver lasting engagement.

    • “There is some replayability to this game, much like most adventure games.”
    • “Replay value: yes, there is some fun to be had over again here.”
    • “Was quite the fun adventure... although running it a second time to beat the game without hints and to collect all the treasures was really quick compared to the first time around.”
    • “Not much replayability though.”
    • “Replay value is very limited unless you missed some of the achievements.”
    • “The only real complaint I have is that it's so darn short; you can beat it in a single sitting with ease, and there's not much replay value unless you just like farming Steam achievements with a walkthrough on hand.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game presents a mix of emotional moments and humor, often transitioning rapidly from solemn scenes to lighthearted gameplay, which can hinder the player's ability to fully engage with the emotional significance. Despite its family-friendly nature and pirate-dog theme, the balance between humor and emotional depth feels uneven, leaving some players wanting more meaningful engagement.

    • “Solemn and important scenes are switched into humor or blase gameplay so quickly that you have no time to process the emotional significance.”
  • atmosphere
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its nostalgic homage to classic 90s adventure games, blending engaging storytelling, humor, and a whimsical design. While some puzzles may feel outdated, the overall ambiance and charm effectively compensate for any shortcomings, creating an enjoyable experience for fans of the genre.

    • “Everything about it - the story, characters, atmosphere, puzzle design, humor - hits on exactly all the right notes for me.”
    • “Mediocre puzzles and old challenges might not impress; however, the atmosphere and the humor make up for it all.”
    • “Mediocre puzzles and old challenges might not impress; however, the atmosphere and the humor make up for it.”
    • “Personally, I think it's more of a love letter to adventure games of yesteryear, combining the atmosphere and humor typical of major adventure games of the 90s with a few modern twists, including quests to find hidden pieces of eight and crackers, and a clever hint system should you choose to use it.”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly without performance issues or bugs, but players express a desire for better support for widescreen monitors. Overall, it provides a fun experience lasting around four hours.

    • “Lasts about 4 hours or so, with no performance issues or bugs.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development is enhanced by hand-drawn animations and vibrant colors, resulting in lively and visually appealing character designs that contribute to an engaging adventure.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character's unique backstory and growth throughout the game.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve based on player choices, making each decision feel impactful and personal.”
    • “The depth of the characters is impressive; their motivations and relationships are explored in a way that makes the story feel alive and engaging.”
  • grinding
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game lacking, as it is short and can be completed in one sitting, offering minimal replay value beyond farming achievements.

    • “The only real complaint I have is that it's so darn short; you can beat it in a single sitting with ease, and there's not much replay value unless you just like farming Steam achievements with a walkthrough on hand.”

Buy Jolly Rover

5h Median play time
5h Average play time
5-5h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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