Sam & Max Hit the Road

About

Sam & Max Hit the Road is a quirky adventure game where you play as Sam, a canine detective, and Max, a hyperactive "rabbity thing," as you search for a runaway bigfoot across America. Solve puzzles, interact with eccentric characters, and engage in hilarious antics in this offbeat game based on Steve Purcell's cult comic books. With mini-games and animated humor, this road trip adventure is full of surprises.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

96%

Audience ScoreBased on 569 reviews

humor157 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

The game features hilarious dialogue and clever writing, making it a joy to play.
The art style and animations are charming and have aged well, providing a nostalgic experience.
It's a classic point-and-click adventure that offers a unique blend of absurd humor and engaging puzzles.

Many puzzles are overly cryptic and require a walkthrough, which can be frustrating for players.
The controls and interface feel dated, making navigation and interaction cumbersome at times.
Some players may find the humor and references outdated, which could detract from the overall experience.

humor
157 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Sam & Max: Hit the Road" is widely praised for its absurdity, clever writing, and memorable character interactions, making it a standout in the point-and-click genre. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, quirky scenarios, and the unique charm that has endured over the years, although some find the humor's dark and surreal elements may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to deliver laugh-out-loud moments and a delightful experience filled with eccentric characters and comedic situations.
- “The game's absurdist humor gives 'Hit the Road' such a unique charm that other games at the time did not dare attempt.”
- “I died a while ago and I didn't want to come back to life, that was until I heard someone playing this and knew that becoming a rotting corpse of what was once a member of society was worth it if it meant I could play this fantabulous and hilarious game.”
- “Sam & Max remains one of the rare games that actually produces laugh-out-loud moments, and the voice acting is just hilarious.”
story
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
8%
The story of the game is a mix of absurd humor and quirky characters, often described as entertaining yet nonsensical, appealing primarily to fans of lighthearted comedy. While some reviews criticize the plot for being shallow or frustrating, many praise its charm and the engaging, zany adventures of the protagonists, making it a quintessential point-and-click experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a fun, if not deeply profound, journey filled with unexpected twists and classic comedic elements.
- “This game is honestly funny, has a good story, has fun (and deranged) characters, and still plays perfectly fine.”
- “The story is a rollercoaster of totally hilarious and nonsensical situations, which parodies American culture.”
- “This game has great, madcap humor and brilliant writing, fun characters, and an engaging story and world.”
- “The plot is poor and the entertainment value purely relies on the characters being funny.”
- “It's a short one-and-done story with no bearing on the future Telltale game's plots.”
- “The plot of this game takes turns that are unpredictable but at the same time so very cliché, and I mean that in a good way; it's like every turn of the story seems absurd, but not so absurd that you get discouraged from continuing.”
music
37 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
51%
8%
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and well-composed tracks, effectively enhancing the overall atmosphere and humor of the experience. Many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic MIDI sound, noting that it complements the quirky art style and witty dialogue, making it a memorable aspect of the game. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a delightful addition that resonates well with players, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “The music, artwork, and writing is so charming, I can't help but grin at Sam and Max's chicanery.”
- “Everything from the animation to the scene design to the music is brimming with detail and inspiration such that every new moment of the game is a delight.”
- “The old jazz music is well scored and pleasurable to listen to.”
- “Even for an MS-DOS soundtrack, it sounds heinous but heinously beautiful in my book.”
- “The OST is really catchy; I don't think it's anything outstanding, but the tunes sprinkled throughout the game are good enough for you to remember while not distracting from the gameplay.”
- “The music, and this might be down to personal taste, I still enjoy greatly as well.”
graphics
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
44%
9%
The graphics of "Sam & Max Hit the Road" are characterized by their charming, cartoonish pixel art style that reflects the comic origins of the characters, earning praise for their nostalgic appeal despite being dated by modern standards. While some players appreciate the vibrant visuals and animation, others note that the lack of clear differentiation for interactable objects can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, the game's graphics are seen as a delightful throwback that complements its humor and storytelling, making it a beloved classic in the point-and-click genre.
- “As for the graphics, sound effects, and everything, they're simply awesome; I've got nothing else to say about it.”
- “The graphics are perfectly done with sprites and animation created by the comic book creator himself in some instances, and definitely carry that definitive LucasArts adventure style.”
- “Sam & Max Hit the Road is an undisputed classic of 90's computer gaming, as the wonderfully zany visuals are perfectly complemented by a hilariously irreverent road trip comedy adventure.”
- “Interactable objects or hidden areas you need to walk to aren't highlighted or differentiated graphically at all, so it's a massive pixel hunt fest on top of it.”
- “Graphics are rough but the story is worth it.”
- “Not only did I get the sense that this was a very old game, but by reading its initial release was back in 1993-- and by staring at its graphics-- I immediately understood.”
gameplay
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
72%
10%
The gameplay is characterized by classic point-and-click mechanics that involve interacting with quirky objects and solving often absurd puzzles, which can be both entertaining and frustrating due to outdated controls and pixel-hunting challenges. While the humor and writing are praised, many players find the gameplay tedious and janky, reflecting the limitations of its age, making it a mixed experience for those unfamiliar with the genre. Overall, it offers a nostalgic charm for fans of retro adventure games, but may deter newcomers due to its cumbersome mechanics.
- “Gameplay goes with simple point and click adventure by interacting with objects, environments and using items to solve puzzles or obstacles blocking your way.”
- “The gameplay is about what you'd expect from a point-and-click from LucasArts, some pretty wacky solutions to the puzzles.”
- “While the mechanics of a point-and-click game may seem dated by today's standards, this game is more about clicking and interacting with various people and items and watching the resulting (often humorous) dialogue unfold.”
- “Returning to this classic over thirty years later, the writing still lands plenty of humor, but all the actual gameplay cracks around the edges, making it hard to recommend.”
- “The gameplay loop is frustrating; you have to wiggle your mouse all over the place and wait for the cursor to change. The game asks you to look at a 640x480 screen and know to pick up the transparent fish bowl that is on top of an appropriately shaped pole.”
- “Problematic control mechanics and a lot of pixel hunting will annoy you and come close to ruining all the joy.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
50%
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a charming, colorful cartoon style that appeals to fans of quirky roadside attractions, complemented by engaging music and a unique sense of humor. While many players find the atmosphere enjoyable and fun, some note that the humor may not resonate with everyone. Overall, it creates a vibrant and whimsical experience.
- “I've always had an interest in chintzy roadside attractions, so I found myself instantly in love with the game's atmosphere.”
- “I had a lot of fun with the style (which is one of my favorites), the music, and the atmosphere.”
- “Made with splendid graphics and a cheesy, colorful cartoon-style atmosphere.”
- “The story and atmosphere were decent, although the style of humor may not be for everyone.”
- “Made by splendid graphics and with a cheesy colorful cartoon style atmosphere.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, with some users noting that once you've experienced the content, there's little incentive to return. While the humor and puzzles are appreciated, they do not significantly enhance the replay value.
- “Graphics, humor, puzzles, replayability, it's all there.”
- “Replayability is a key feature that keeps the game fresh and engaging.”
- “Replay value: 5 (if you've played this, you've seen anything worth seeing.)”
- “Good sense of humor but there's no replay value.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its smooth performance on ScummVM, indicating effective optimization that enhances the overall experience. Additionally, the stellar voice acting and sound design contribute positively to the game's comedic elements.
- “Really enjoying this game, and it runs smoothly on ScummVM.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be extremely tedious, with some describing the gameplay as old school and filled with obtuse puzzles that may appeal to certain fans but can be frustrating for others.
- “This game is extremely tedious.”
- “Gameplay: 4 (It is old school in every sense of the word. Obtuse puzzles galore! If that is your thing, you won't be disappointed. I personally found it tedious.)”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight the emotional aspect of the game as being both lively and wholesome, creating a unique blend of weirdness and warmth through its voice acting. This combination enhances the overall emotional experience, making it engaging and memorable.
- “The voice acting is lively yet wholesome.”
- “The game has a weird yet wholesome charm.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The character development of Sam and Max is highly praised, with users highlighting their exceptional design and endearing qualities, making them standout characters in the game.
- “Sam and Max are genuinely peak character designs, and I love them to bits.”
- “The character development in this game is incredibly rich, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
- “I appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the story, showcasing their growth and depth.”