The 39 Steps

82%
Game Brain Score Based on 301 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
The 39 Steps Game Cover
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Whether you know The Thirty Nine Steps inside out, or have never heard of Richard Hannay, this is the classic story as it has never been told before. Prepare to experience the original man-on-the-run thriller in a completely new way. Be transported back to 1914 London, where Richard Hannay finds himself framed for a murder he didn't commit. Now he must escape the Capital and stay alive long enoug…

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Reviews

82%
Audience ScoreBased on 301 reviews
story129 positive mentions
grinding4 negative mentions
  • The artwork and visuals are beautifully rendered, enhancing the storytelling experience.
  • The voice acting is top-notch, adding depth and immersion to the narrative.
  • The adaptation stays true to the original novel, providing a captivating and engaging story.
  • The gameplay is minimal, with very little interactivity beyond clicking to progress the story.
  • The pacing can be slow, leading to moments of boredom as the narrative unfolds.
  • Some users found the controls awkward, particularly the mouse gestures required to navigate the text.
  • story397 mentions

    The story of "The 39 Steps" is a faithful adaptation of John Buchan's classic espionage novel, presented as an interactive visual novel that combines text, voice acting, and artwork to create an immersive experience. While the narrative is engaging and well-told, many reviewers noted the lack of meaningful player choices and the slow pacing, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite its limitations as a game, the storytelling and production quality are praised, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven content.

    • “The narrative unfolds through beautifully rendered still images and voice acting, faithfully capturing the suspense and intrigue of the original story.”
    • “The story itself is a classic, a man on the run thriller.”
    • “With superb voice acting, wonderful visuals, and an intriguing story, '39 Steps' will definitely have you pulled in.”
    • “The story is already told; you are just doing random things with the mouse so you are not just sitting there reading the screen.”
    • “It is important to realize that there is no gameplay (besides occasionally deciding the order of what to click or matching pre-defined actions), no choices or branching storylines, or anything like that.”
    • “Overall, I found the story to be confusing, slow-paced, and predictable, and for a 'game' that is literally just clicking through text after text after text, it needs to have an amazing and immersive story to make it worthwhile.”
  • graphics80 mentions

    The graphics in "39 Steps" are widely praised for their beautiful, hand-painted artwork that enhances the storytelling experience, creating an immersive atmosphere. While the visuals are mostly static with some subtle animations, they effectively convey the period setting and complement the superb voice acting and sound design. Overall, the game's aesthetic is considered appealing, though some users noted that the interface could be improved and that the graphics, while lovely, may not be the most dynamic compared to other titles.

    • “The gorgeous hand-drawn artwork really makes you feel like you're in pre-WWI Britain, and the overall interface is sleek without betraying the lovingly-rendered throwback aesthetic.”
    • “The artwork is often so beautiful I took screenshots just for the sake of it.”
    • “The merging of graphics, the music, the artwork, the voice talent, and the story are all excellently done.”
    • “The art style is simplistic and often feels half-finished or rushed, which is disappointing when the semi-pretty pictures make up almost your entire experience listening to the story.”
    • “The visuals were well done, but static and uninteresting.”
    • “As critics might say, 'it's a text adventure with background graphics.' I strongly recommend viewing some videos and getting more information about the game before buying it.”
  • music53 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall mood, complementing the beautiful artwork and superb voice acting. While the soundtrack is generally well-received, some users noted issues with looping and a few tracks that felt out of place. Overall, the combination of music, sound effects, and voice performances creates an immersive experience that effectively supports the narrative, despite some minor criticisms.

    • “The artwork that accompanies each scene is beautiful and the music complements it greatly without being intrusive.”
    • “The music really helps set the mood for each scene and the voice acting is mostly spot on.”
    • “The atmosphere that was created by the music, sound, art, voice acting, and UI is top-notch.”
    • “The music is fitting, but the loops are cut terribly, and the final track makes you wonder if you were watching Jason Bourne.”
    • “The only mark on this experience was that although the music was fitting, some of the melodic and atmospheric tracks suffered from improper looping.”
    • “Although the audio effects, the voice acting, and the music are fine, they alone are not enough to bring the story to life.”
  • gameplay52 mentions

    The gameplay in *The 39 Steps* is minimal and primarily revolves around simple interactions like clicking and scrolling through text, with few choices or branching paths. While the mechanics are straightforward and often feel more like reading a book than playing a game, the immersive storytelling and high production value compensate for the lack of traditional gameplay elements. Overall, it appeals more to fans of narrative-driven experiences rather than those seeking complex gameplay.

    • “The gameplay was subtle and propelled the story while involving you as the main character.”
    • “I was immersed in the environment and loved the way the gameplay unfolded the story.”
    • “Lovely artwork, relaxing gameplay with a good story.”
    • “It is important to realize that there is no gameplay (besides occasionally deciding the order of what to click or matching pre-defined actions), no choices or branching storylines, or anything like that.”
    • “There's not much in the way of actual gameplay, and there's no replay value, but there's lots of atmosphere and it really does immerse you in the novel and has excellent production value.”
    • “If you are looking for a game with actual mechanics, choices, or exploration, I suggest you look elsewhere.”
  • atmosphere33 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, effectively capturing the era's manners, language, and aesthetic through detailed artwork, sound effects, and music. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a sense of tension and nostalgia, making it a compelling experience for fans of atmospheric storytelling, despite its limited gameplay and replay value. Overall, the game's production values contribute significantly to its engaging atmosphere, making it a standout adaptation of the classic novel.

    • “The game really invokes the atmosphere, manners, and language of that era.”
    • “The lighting effects, the haunting score, the use of shadows all blend together to create a perfect atmosphere of tension.”
    • “Buchan's novel is followed very closely in the game, which does an excellent job in transferring the overall feel and atmosphere of the period and place during which the action takes place: London, Scotland, and the English countryside early summer 1914, just before the outbreak of the First World War.”
    • “There's not much in the way of actual gameplay, and there's no replay value, but there's lots of atmosphere and it really does immerse you in the novel and has excellent production value.”
    • “Buchan's novel is followed very closely in the game, which does an excellent job in transferring the overall feel and atmosphere of the period and place during which the action takes place: London, Scotland, and the English countryside in early summer 1914, just before the outbreak of the First World War.”
    • “The atmosphere that was created by the music, sound, art, voice acting, and UI is top-notch.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    Overall, the game has been criticized for its low replayability, with many reviewers noting that it can be completed in a short time (3-6 hours) and lacks significant interactivity or alternative paths to explore. While the atmosphere, characters, and production value are praised, the consensus is that once the story is finished, there is little incentive to replay it, making the full price seem unjustified.

    • “Not much of a replay value, but for a point-and-click/interactive story, it was fun and a must for anyone who likes spies and games that lean more towards a story than gameplay.”
    • “Even though the replay value is low, the story is decorated with nice drawings and voice lines.”
    • “Because it can be read through in a relatively short time and has little replay value, the full price is too high, but when it is on sale, it is worth giving it a try.”
    • “There's not much in the way of actual gameplay, and there's no replay value, but there's lots of atmosphere and it really does immerse you in the novel and has excellent production value.”
    • “Sadly, because it's a finished story, it has absolutely no replay value. Play it, enjoy it, get achievements, uninstall, done.”
    • “The downsides are that at several moments the game didn't seem to register my input to continue, which is something that might be worked out with a future patch, and that the replay value of this already very short game is almost non-existent.”
  • humor5 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its engaging voice acting, featuring amusing British and Scottish accents, as well as clever storytelling techniques reminiscent of silent films. Players find the comedic elements, particularly references to games like Team Fortress 2, to be genuinely funny, contributing to an overall entertaining experience. The game's humor is further appreciated through the amusingly lengthy credits, which add an unexpected layer of comedy.

    • “The developers did a wonderful job incorporating several forms of storytelling, including humorous silent film-esque animated segments to relate stories within the story.”
    • “And if you have played a bit of Team Fortress 2, I'm sure you'll burst out laughing just as I did when the French general talks about the nature of the spy.”
    • “Pretty good game, 10/10 for funny accents.”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be a mixed experience; while it is recommended for farming enthusiasts and features engaging soundscapes, it can also become tedious and feel more like a chore than an enjoyable gameplay experience.

    • “❧ Periodically very tedious, even for the patient.”
    • “It doesn't feel like a game; at times, it feels even more tedious to go through than it would be to just read a thick book.”
    • “Recommended for game farming.”
  • optimization2 mentions

    The optimization of the game is praised for its high-quality voice acting that enhances character roles, alongside visuals that match the standards of a well-crafted graphic novel. Additionally, the music and audio performances are noted to be comparable to those found in top-tier audiobooks, contributing to an immersive experience.

  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as more akin to a book, with optional content that resembles period-specific advertisements, which some players found repetitive and reminiscent of promotional material. Despite these critiques, many users appreciated the immersive storytelling and the overall reading experience.

    • “The monetization feels more like a book than a game, as it lacks puzzles or meaningful choices. Instead, it offers optional content like newspapers that resemble ads from that era, which detracts from the gaming experience.”
    • “While the story had its enjoyable moments, it often felt like it was meandering or repetitive, with sections that seemed more like advertisements for Scottish tourism, focusing excessively on the scenery and the charm of the locals.”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing, with some players finding the story incredibly boring, while others describe it as heartfelt and captivating. This divergence suggests that the narrative may resonate deeply with some, while leaving others disengaged.

    • “A heartfelt and captivating story that resonates deeply.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters left me in tears.”
    • “I felt a profound connection to the narrative that stayed with me long after playing.”
    • “Incredibly boring story”
    • “The characters felt flat and unrelatable, making it hard to connect emotionally.”
    • “I expected a deep emotional experience, but it left me feeling indifferent.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development in the game is minimal, as the narrative primarily focuses on the main character's escape from various predicaments, leaving little room for deeper plot exploration or character growth.

    • “It's essentially an innocent-man-on-the-run thriller, and the middle 3/5ths of the game basically have the main character escaping one sticky situation after another, with little in the way of actual plot or character development taking place.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and rushed, leaving me disconnected from the protagonist's journey.”
    • “Despite the intriguing premise, the characters remain one-dimensional and fail to evolve throughout the game.”
  • stability1 mentions

    Users report a high level of stability, with no errors or glitches encountered during gameplay.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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