The 39 Steps

About

The 39 Steps is a single player casual role playing game with a thriller theme. It was developed by The Story Mechanics and was released on April 25, 2013. It received positive reviews from players.

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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Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 602 reviews

story258 positive mentions

replayability6 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 compelling and engaging story.

The gameplay is minimal, with very little interactivity, making it feel more like a passive reading experience.
The pacing can be slow, leading to moments of boredom for players expecting more action.
Some controls, such as mouse gestures for navigation, feel awkward and unnecessary.

story
794 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
66%
2%
The story of "The 39 Steps" is a faithful adaptation of John Buchan's classic novel, presenting a gripping tale of espionage and intrigue set just before World War I. While the narrative is engaging and enhanced by excellent voice acting and visuals, many reviewers noted that the gameplay is minimal, offering little interactivity or choice, which may detract from the experience for those seeking a more dynamic gaming experience. Overall, it is praised for its storytelling quality, though some found the pacing slow and the plot occasionally predictable.
- “The narrative unfolds through beautifully rendered still images and voice acting, faithfully capturing the suspense and intrigue of the original story.”
- “If you're looking for an interactive experience brimming with suspense and classic adventure storytelling, The 39 Steps delivers.”
- “The story is excellent, the art is phenomenal, and the 'extras' are also pretty neat to see.”
- “The music was solid as well as the voice acting, but the story, which was supposed to be about a man on the run and espionage, was too off point most of the time.”
- “In the end, the story is already told; you are just doing random things with the mouse so you are not just sitting there reading the screen.”
- “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.”
graphics
160 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
34%
2%
The graphics in "39 Steps" are widely praised for their beautiful, hand-painted artwork that enhances the storytelling experience, creating an immersive atmosphere reflective of the pre-WWI setting. While the visuals are primarily static with some subtle animations, they effectively complement the superb voice acting and sound design, contributing to a compelling narrative. However, some users noted that the simplistic art style can feel rushed at times, and the user interface could be improved.
- “The voice acting is superb (performed by a real theater company, I believe), 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.”
- “I have rarely ever seen such rich and vibrant artwork in games.”
- “The merging of graphics, the music, the artwork, the voice talent, and the story are all excellently done too.”
- “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 some information about the game before buying it.”
music
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the overall mood, complementing the beautiful artwork and superb voice acting. While the soundtrack is described as invigorating and fitting, 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, although some felt that the music alone couldn't fully elevate the storytelling.
- “The artwork that accompanies each scene is beautiful and the music complements it greatly without being intrusive.”
- “From walking around foggy London streets to hiking through the Scottish countryside, the music and art combine to really enhance the overall mood.”
- “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.”
gameplay
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
67%
6%
The gameplay in *The 39 Steps* is minimal and primarily revolves around simple point-and-click mechanics and scrolling through text, with little to no choices or branching paths. While the interactive elements serve to enhance the storytelling experience, many players find the gameplay overly simplistic and linear, making it feel more like an interactive novel than a traditional game. Despite its lack of complex mechanics, the game is praised for its engaging narrative, beautiful artwork, and immersive atmosphere, appealing to those who prioritize story over 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.”
- “Beautiful artwork, and entertaining gameplay with stellar voice-acting retelling the classic John Buchan thriller 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.”
- “The gameplay is too simple, making you wish there was more for you to do.”
- “If on the other hand you are looking for a game with actual mechanics, choices or exploration, I suggest you look elsewhere.”
atmosphere
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
28%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, effectively capturing the period details and emotional tension of the narrative. Reviewers highlight the beautiful artwork, haunting music, and strong voice acting that collectively enhance the experience, making it feel more like an interactive novel than a traditional game. While some players noted a lack of gameplay depth and replay value, the overall production quality and atmospheric design are considered exceptional, appealing particularly to fans of atmospheric storytelling.
- “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.”
- “I really tried to like this game, the graphic side is appealing, the atmosphere is okay, but the annoying interface and time-wasting way the story is moving on made me give it up after 40 minutes.”
- “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.”
- “Only with beautiful artwork and decent sound effects mixed in to enhance the atmosphere.”
replayability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
50%
33%
Overall, the game has very low replayability, with most players noting that it can be completed in just a few hours and lacks significant interactivity or alternative paths. While the atmosphere, production value, and storytelling are praised, the consensus is that once the story is finished, there is little incentive to replay it, making the full price seem excessive. Players recommend it on sale for those who enjoy narrative-driven experiences, but caution against expecting lasting engagement.
- “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 the replay value is low, the story is decorated with nice drawings and voice lines.”
- “That said, with only 5-6 hours of content and the 'replayability' of a novel, the $15 price point does seem a bit high.”
- “It doesn't have any replay value after you finish it in about 3 - 4 hours.”
- “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.”
humor
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its engaging voice acting, featuring amusing British and Scottish accents, as well as clever storytelling techniques like silent film-inspired animations. Players find the comedic elements, particularly references reminiscent of Team Fortress 2, to be a standout feature, contributing to an overall entertaining experience. The game's humor is further appreciated through its quirky credits sequence, which adds an unexpected layer of fun.
- “Voice acting is good, with some hilarious British gentleman action and some frankly unintelligible Scottish accents.”
- “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.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is described as both rewarding for farming enthusiasts and occasionally tedious, with some players finding it more laborious than reading a lengthy book. While the vibrant sound effects and music enhance the experience, the repetitive nature of the gameplay can detract from its enjoyment.
- “❧ 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.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the game's optimization excels in delivering high-quality voice acting and visuals that resemble a well-crafted graphic novel, complemented by impressive music and audio performances. Overall, the audio-visual experience is noted to be on par with that of a premium audiobook.
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived as more akin to a narrative experience than traditional gameplay, with optional content that resembles period newspapers and advertisements. While some users found the storytelling occasionally repetitive and promotional, they appreciated the immersive reading experience it provided. Overall, the game leans towards a literary format rather than a conventional game structure, which influences its monetization approach.
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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 divide suggests that the narrative may resonate deeply with some, while leaving others disengaged.
- “Heartfelt and captivating story.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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 or so 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.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users report a high level of stability, with no errors or glitches encountered during gameplay.