The Book of Unwritten Tales
- July 31, 2012
- King Art
- 19h median play time
Severely lacking in originality; Doesn't restrict itself when poking fun at fantasy tropes.
Get on Steam"The Book of Unwritten Tales" is a humorous, fantasy-themed point-and-click adventure game. Players explore a series of beautifully designed environments and solve puzzles as they control a cast of four unique characters. The game is set in a world filled with intriguing lore and a diverse array of mythical creatures, providing a charming and engaging experience for all fans of the genre.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Tablet
Reviews
- The game features a charming story with humorous dialogue and clever references to popular culture, making it enjoyable for fans of fantasy and adventure.
- The puzzles are logical and not overly difficult, allowing players to progress without excessive frustration.
- The graphics are beautiful, and the voice acting is well done, enhancing the overall experience of the game.
- Some puzzles can feel tedious and may require backtracking, which can disrupt the flow of the game.
- The character movement is slow, leading to moments of frustration as players wait for characters to traverse scenes.
- The ending feels abrupt and lacks a satisfying resolution, leaving players wanting more closure to the story.
- story414 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "The Book of Unwritten Tales" is a humorous and engaging fantasy adventure that follows a diverse cast of characters on a quest to retrieve a powerful artifact while poking fun at classic fantasy tropes and pop culture references. While some reviewers noted its predictability and cliché elements, many appreciated the clever writing, charming characters, and the lighthearted atmosphere that keeps the narrative entertaining. Overall, the game is praised for its well-crafted storytelling, enjoyable dialogue, and a blend of humor that resonates with fans of the genre.
“The story is both clever and funny, and the gameplay and progression is intuitive, often naturally encouraging you to leave and come back to various locations and trigger cut scenes and new possible inventory items and dialogue to become available.”
“The story is entertaining with a humor that does not even want to be sophisticated and relies much on pop culture references and breaking the fourth wall.”
“The story is great and the game is long for a point-and-click.”
“The story is unapologetically clichéd, and there’s something comfy and cozy about the atmosphere.”
“The characters and the story aren't interesting enough to make me care.”
“The story's ending, however, is one of the least satisfying endings to a game I've ever played.”
- humor395 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The humor in "The Book of Unwritten Tales" is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging characters, and a plethora of pop culture references that resonate with fans of classic adventure games. Many players found themselves laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and humorous situations, although some noted that the reliance on references could feel forced or unoriginal at times. Overall, the game successfully blends light-hearted humor with engaging storytelling, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
“The humor hits far more than it misses, and rarely falls flat in a way that hurts the game.”
“A genuinely funny, charming adventure game.”
“The game is hilarious, fun, and has a great plot.”
“LucasArts adventure wannabe from Germany, boring and unfunny, but with nice graphics.”
“Too cliché, not funny (which is hard, so I try not to be too judgmental about it), puzzles awkwardly designed.”
“The graphics are awkward at times, especially on face animations, but ironically I find plenty of charm in them. If not funny (my gnome's face totally looks like a dork at times), it's not handicapping to the gameplay; the animations are just a bit technically limited.”
- graphics162 mentions
- 69 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many users praising the beautiful artwork, vibrant colors, and engaging visual style that enhances the overall experience. While some noted that the graphics can feel dated or clunky at times, especially in animations, the overall aesthetic is often described as charming and well-suited to the game's themes. Additionally, the ability to adjust resolution and the presence of minor graphical glitches did not significantly detract from the enjoyment of the game.
“The graphics are beautiful, and the storyline is fairly interesting.”
“The graphics were simply amazing (from characters' outfits to cutscenes), and I can't fault that one bit.”
“Despite being originally released in 2009, the graphics still look very beautiful and hand-drawn with a lot of attention to detail, which makes this a beautiful journey to adventure in.”
“The graphics quality is low-to-average for an indie studio.”
“Overall, compared to games that are out today, the visuals are, in short, dated, and the characters look quite odd.”
“The graphics are awkward at times, especially on face animations, but ironically I find plenty of charm in them; if not funny, it's not handicapping to the gameplay, the animations are just a bit technically limited.”
- gameplay75 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily a classic point-and-click adventure, featuring intuitive mechanics and a charming story filled with humor and pop culture references. While many players appreciate the smooth flow and engaging puzzles, some criticize the gameplay for being tedious, with slow character switching and occasional clunky mechanics that can lead to frustration. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of older adventure games, though it may feel linear and occasionally cumbersome.
“Gameplay flows very smoothly, and the graphics are beautiful.”
“The story is both clever and funny, and the gameplay and progression is intuitive, often naturally encouraging you to leave and come back to various locations and trigger cut scenes and new possible inventory items and dialogue to become available.”
“Fantastic point and click adventure game, great story, beautiful artistry, and fun gameplay.”
“Gameplay gets tedious - it is easy to miss things and get stuck for ages.”
“Gameplay is tedious and involves a lot of backtracking and fetch quests.”
“The gameplay is so absolutely linear that you have to know exactly what the developers expect you to click on and in the correct order-- all the time, every time, which kills the game for me.”
- music69 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the beautiful soundtrack and effective integration into the gameplay. While some noted a lack of variety in tracks, the compositions are described as fitting and emotionally resonant, contributing significantly to the game's charm. Overall, the music, along with excellent voice acting, is considered a standout feature that elevates the gaming experience.
“The music is a very strong asset for the game; they hired a composer who created a brilliant soundtrack that matches very well with the game and its moments.”
“The soundtrack is top-notch and strikes the perfect balance between providing background music and enhancing each scene.”
“The music is gorgeous, and the settings are very well designed, especially for a game with the kind of funding that 'The Book of Unwritten Tales' had.”
“This game feels very 90's, with the art, and especially the music.”
“Might have been a good game, but I couldn't get into it when the prerendered cutscenes were lower quality than the game itself and the music was so loud you couldn't hear what people were saying.”
“Music is mediocre.”
- grinding26 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- -8 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The aspect of grinding in the game is frequently described as tedious, with many players noting that it involves excessive backtracking, fetch quests, and puzzles that can feel repetitive or frustrating. While some appreciate the engaging storyline and well-written dialogue that alleviates some of the tedium, others find the gameplay mechanics overly restrictive and the overall experience can become monotonous, particularly in later chapters. Despite these criticisms, there are moments of charm and humor that help balance the grind for some players.
“It has a good balance; it's neither tedious nor too simple.”
“The grinding feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
“I appreciate how the grind allows for meaningful progression.”
“Gameplay is tedious and involves a lot of backtracking and fetch quests.”
“Chapter 4 becomes particularly tedious as you are required to trek back and forth across the map numerous times.”
“Unfortunately for me, it turned out to be a quest of boredom and tediousness.”
- stability17 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches affecting gameplay and performance. While some players appreciate the overall experience and visuals, many report frustrating interactions and a lack of developer support for patches. Overall, the game's stability detracts from its potential enjoyment, making it appealing primarily to a niche audience willing to overlook these flaws.
“Bug-ridden, unfinished, and requiring so many previous unrelated experiences to make sense of… this game is truly aimed at an extremely narrow band of players.”
“This is buggy as all get out - it screws up WhatsApp and the Steam app when I come out of it.”
“I really enjoyed playing it but it has glitches that the developers don't appear to be interested in providing patches for.”
- atmosphere15 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a cozy, whimsical blend of familiar fantasy elements, enhanced by charming hand-drawn backgrounds and a fitting soundtrack. While some character models may feel dated, the overall presentation, humor, and engaging world-building create an inviting experience that resonates with fans of classic adventure games. The combination of vibrant visuals, good voice acting, and a light-hearted tone contributes to a delightful and immersive atmosphere.
“The atmosphere, characters, story, and jokes is what happens when you take Tolkien, Dungeons and Dragons, Harry Potter, some general fantasy and sci-fi lore, throw it in a blender, and garnish with a liberal helping of sarcasm.”
“It's a world you wish you lived in, amazing atmosphere and soundtrack.”
“The atmosphere is wrapped up with astonishing music and a well-tailored graphical style.”
“Game atmosphere is light, plot is nothing new, art is colorful and the soundtrack is somewhat okay, though a few more tracks would not hurt the game.”
“The story is unapologetically cliché and there’s something comfy and cozy about the atmosphere.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its wholesome and engaging emotional experience, featuring clever writing and humor that playfully critiques fantasy tropes. While some find the pacing slow and the story lacking, many appreciate the heartwarming moments and the emotional connection fostered by the music and character interactions. Overall, it evokes nostalgia and a sense of joy, making it a delightful experience for players.
“A heartwarming delight, most of the time.”
“The music even drew me into the game in an emotional way: it helped me to identify with the characters.”
“Fun and humorous game making fun of many fantasy and adventure tropes, and with a villain that might actually die from emotional poisoning if you hug her.”
“The game is very slow, with a boring story and an annoying sense of humor.”
“The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters.”
“I felt no emotional impact; the story failed to engage me on any level.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low, typical of many adventure and point-and-click titles, as once puzzles are solved, they lose their challenge. While some players may return to discover missed elements, the absence of bonus features and the limited playtime further diminish its replay value.
“There are a few annoying quirks about the gameplay, which might not make it replayable for some, while others will definitely play it again to find things they missed the first time through.”
“Pressing the spacebar will allow you to see all the clickable locations on the screen. Be warned, however, that this might make the game a little too easy. Additionally, there are no bonus features to unlock once you've beaten the main game, thus lowering the replayability value.”
“However, I feel the replay value of the game is much lower.”
“Like in most adventure games, there is also no replay value.”
“It does have the small drawback of all point-and-click games in that there is no replayability; once you solve a puzzle, it stops being a puzzle.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Overall, users report good performance with the game, noting only a single crash that was mitigated by an effective autosave feature. Optimization appears to be solid, with no significant issues affecting gameplay.
“Performance is good too.”
“I experienced one crash, but the autosave feature had my back; other than that, I had no performance issues.”
“The game runs poorly on lower-end systems, making it nearly unplayable for some users.”
“Frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay really detract from the overall experience.”
- character development2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is largely lacking, with players noting that the only memorable character is the gnome, while the rest of the cast lacks depth and lore, leading to forgettable experiences. Despite appealing character designs and dialogue, the overall development fails to engage players.
“The fine sets and cute character design, along with all the lines they spoke, really brought the characters to life.”
“The only interesting character is the gnome; everyone else has no lore or character development. I forgot all of them by the end of the game.”
“Fine sets and cute character design, but the characters lack depth and meaningful development.”
