Sam & Max Hit the Road

About

Sam & Max Hit the Road is a single player puzzle game with comedy and science fiction themes. It was developed by Lucasfilm and was released on November 16, 2018. It received positive reviews from critics and overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

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.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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95%

Audience ScoreBased on 744 reviews

humor201 positive mentions

grinding4 negative mentions

The game features incredibly witty dialogue and humor that never gets old, making it a joy to play.
Beautiful pixel art graphics and a charming, absurd story that captures the essence of the Sam & Max franchise.
It's a classic point-and-click adventure that offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre.

The puzzles can be frustratingly obtuse and often require a guide to solve, making the gameplay experience tedious at times.
The controls and user interface feel clunky and dated, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
Some of the humor may not resonate with modern audiences, and certain jokes can feel mean-spirited or outdated.

humor
201 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Sam & Max: Hit the Road" is widely praised for its absurdity, clever dialogue, and nostalgic charm reminiscent of 90s cartoons. Players appreciate the witty banter between the main characters, Sam and Max, as well as the game's offbeat and often dark comedic elements, though some find the humor's reliance on dated references may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the game is celebrated for its ability to deliver laugh-out-loud moments amidst challenging puzzles and quirky interactions.
- “The game's art style and humor is very reminiscent of the 90's Saturday morning cartoons I grew up with.”
- “Genuinely a very funny game, lots of witty dialogue and funny interactions.”
- “The humor is offbeat and often hits the mark, with Sam’s dry wit and Max’s manic energy providing some good laughs.”
story
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
57%
7%
The story of the game is characterized by its quirky humor and absurdity, often described as a rollercoaster of nonsensical situations that parody American culture. While some players appreciate the engaging characters and entertaining plot, others find the story lacking depth and the puzzles frustratingly illogical, often requiring a guide to navigate. Overall, it is a short, comedic adventure that appeals to fans of absurd humor, though it may not satisfy those seeking a more profound narrative experience.
- “Sam & Max Hit the Road is easily the most influential game the series has produced - the game feels completely open for the player to explore and each location is unique and filled with wacky characters and gags that somehow all work together to create a story that whips you along like an old roller coaster.”
- “The story is great and there are a bunch of hidden secrets throughout.”
- “It is a journey of nonsensical discovery, a story of hijinks and humor that, as dumb and childish as it might be, is still funnier than it has any right to be.”
- “And there's basically no storyline at all.”
- “The actual puzzles felt nonsensical, the story nonexistent, but the overall vibe was great.”
- “The plot is poor and the entertainment value purely relies on the characters being funny.”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The graphics of "Sam & Max Hit the Road" are characterized by charming pixel art that evokes nostalgia for 90s cartoons, though many players acknowledge that the visuals feel dated and occasionally stiff by modern standards. While the art style is praised for its cartoonish appeal and clever design, some reviewers note that the lack of clear visual cues for interactable objects can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences. Overall, the game's unique aesthetic and humor continue to resonate with fans, making it a beloved classic despite its age.
- “Beautiful pixel art graphics, ingenious dry humor, and a completely insane story.”
- “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.”
- “The graphics are perfectly done with sprites and animation created by the comic book creator himself in some instances, definitely carrying that definitive LucasArts adventure style.”
- “The visuals, while charming in a retro way, feel stiff and dated today.”
- “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.”
- “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.”
music
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
53%
7%
The music in the game has received widespread praise for its catchy and well-composed tracks, with many users noting its ability to enhance the overall experience without being distracting. Despite being built on older MIDI technology, the soundtrack is described as both charming and fitting for the game's humorous and whimsical atmosphere. Overall, players appreciate the unique musical themes for different locations and the delightful integration of music with the game's art and dialogue.
- “The original soundtrack of this game is impeccable.”
- “The music is very catchy, and some of the jokes are pretty funny.”
- “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 music is like being trapped in an elevator but strangely it works.”
- “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.”
gameplay
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
74%
8%
The gameplay of "Sam & Max Hit the Road" is characterized by traditional point-and-click mechanics, which some players find charming but others deem outdated and frustrating due to awkward controls and pixel-hunting challenges. While the humor and writing are praised, many reviewers note that the puzzles can be obtuse and tedious, making the overall experience less enjoyable compared to more modern adventure games. Despite its nostalgic appeal, the gameplay often feels clunky and lacks the polish found in later titles.
- “Easy gameplay, very fun.”
- “Gameplay goes with simple point-and-click adventure by interacting with objects, environments, and using items to solve puzzles or obstacles blocking your way.”
- “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.”
- “The gameplay and puzzles are also severely lacking.”
- “The UI is awkward and limits the gameplay to a few actions.”
- “Problematic control mechanics and a lot of pixel hunting will annoy you and will come close to ruin all the joy.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
Reviews highlight the grinding aspect of the game as tedious and unenjoyable, with players noting that it requires significant time investment and often lacks clear direction. The gameplay is described as old-school, featuring obtuse puzzles that may appeal to some but ultimately detract from the overall experience for many.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “One of the most tedious and unenjoyable point-and-click games I've ever played.”
- “This game is extremely tedious.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its charming, cartoonish style and vibrant, colorful graphics, which effectively complement the quirky humor and themes of roadside attractions. Players appreciate the animated backgrounds and overall aesthetic, although the humor may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the enjoyment of the game.
- “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.”
- “The story and atmosphere were decent, although the style of humor may not be for everyone.”
- “But even by those standards, Hit the Road looks great (e.g., the animated backgrounds), with the pixelated graphics fitting well with the cartoonish atmosphere.”
- “Made with splendid graphics and a cheesy, colorful cartoon-style atmosphere.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players appreciate the humor and puzzles that encourage multiple playthroughs, others find the linear plot limits its replay value. The consensus suggests that while the jokes may entice some to replay, many feel there isn't enough new content to warrant repeated plays.
- “Graphics, humor, puzzles, and replayability—it's all there.”
- “Replay value: 5. If you've played this, you've seen everything worth seeing.”
- “The plot is linear, but it is replayable just for the jokes.”
- “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 well-optimized, running smoothly on ScummVM, which enhances the overall experience. Users appreciate the stellar voice acting and sound design, contributing to the game's comedic elements without any performance issues.
- “Really enjoying this game, and it runs smoothly on ScummVM.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by lively and wholesome voice acting, which creates a unique blend of weirdness and warmth, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The voice acting is lively yet wholesome.”
- “It's a weird and wholesome experience.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviewers praise Sam and Max for their exceptional character designs, highlighting their appeal and charm as standout elements of 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.”

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84%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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Frequently Asked Questions

Sam & Max Hit the Road is a puzzle game with comedy and science fiction themes.

Sam & Max Hit the Road is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

Sam & Max Hit the Road was released on November 16, 2018.

Sam & Max Hit the Road was developed by Lucasfilm.

Sam & Max Hit the Road has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its humor but disliked it for its grinding.

Sam & Max Hit the Road is a single player game.

Similar games include The Curse of Monkey Island, Deponia, Beneath a Steel Sky, Deponia: The Complete Journey, Paradigm and others.

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