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The Book of Unwritten Tales

Severely lacking in originality; Doesn't restrict itself when poking fun at fantasy tropes.
The Book of Unwritten Tales Game Cover
82%Game Brain Score
story, humor
grinding, stability
89% User Score Based on 1,830 reviews
Critic Score 50%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

LinuxPCTabletMac OSWindows
Buy Nowfrom $1.46
Buy NowGet on Steam $19.99
The Book of Unwritten Tales Game Cover

About

The Book of Unwritten Tales is a single player arcade action adventure game with fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by KING Art and was released on July 31, 2012. It received neutral reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

The game challenges the player with a series of puzzles and brain teasers presented as a traditional point and click adventure game. The puzzles are embedded in an adventure story that will take most players an average of twenty hours to complete. There are 60 locations to explore with a total of 40 non-player characters and about 250 interactible items. A notable feature of The Book of Unwritten…

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The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
The Book of Unwritten Tales screenshot
+13
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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,830 reviews
story426 positive mentions
grinding50 negative mentions
  • 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 and voice acting are well done, contributing to an immersive and entertaining experience.
  • 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 some players wanting more.
  • story
    828 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "The Book of Unwritten Tales" is a lighthearted and humorous fantasy adventure that follows a gnome, an elf princess, and a human pirate on a quest to retrieve a powerful artifact while navigating various comedic and cliché-filled scenarios. While the narrative is often predictable and filled with pop culture references, it is engaging enough to keep players entertained, with well-developed characters and witty dialogue that add charm to the experience. However, some players noted that the story can feel rushed towards the end and may lack depth, but overall, it successfully blends humor with classic adventure tropes.

    • “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 was engaging and interesting with humor woven in throughout.”
    • “The book of unwritten tales is a charming point and click adventure with a rich story line and memorable characters.”
    • “The story is very simple, but as one of the supporting cast puts it, 'the battle between good and evil is never cliché!'”
    • “The story's ending, however, is one of the least satisfying endings to a game I've ever played.”
    • “The story is really short considering the price of the game.”
  • humor
    790 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in "The Book of Unwritten Tales" is widely praised for its cleverness, charm, and abundance of pop culture references, often eliciting genuine laughter from players. Many reviews highlight the game's self-referential and meta-humor, reminiscent of classic point-and-click adventures, while some critiques mention that certain jokes may feel forced or rely too heavily on familiar tropes. Overall, the game successfully combines engaging storytelling with a light-hearted, humorous approach that appeals to both casual and seasoned gamers.

    • “This game's perfect point-and-click adventure goodness, awesome humor (it also takes itself not as seriously) and cute and memorable characters.”
    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game have received generally positive feedback, with many reviewers praising the beautiful artwork, colorful visuals, and engaging character designs. 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 fitting for the game's style. Additionally, the ability to adjust resolution and the game's smooth performance on modern systems contribute to a satisfying visual experience.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, dialogues are funny.”
    • “The graphics are so colorful and beautiful!”
    • “The graphics were simply amazing (from characters' outfits to cutscenes), and I can't fault that one bit.”
    • “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.”
  • gameplay
    150 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is a classic point-and-click adventure that features intuitive mechanics, engaging puzzles, and a humorous story, though it can be marred by some clunky character-switching and tedious backtracking. While many players appreciate the charming visuals and clever dialogue, some find the gameplay linear and occasionally frustrating due to its reliance on specific interactions. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of older adventure games, with a mix of enjoyable and tedious elements.

    • “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.”
    • “The developers have done a good job of programming the navigation in this game; it is quite polished and is primarily mouse-driven with a minimum of keys required to play, which makes for some fairly quick gameplay when it is needed.”
    • “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.”
  • music
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 sound design. While some noted a lack of variety in tracks, the music is generally described as fitting well with the game's themes and scenes, contributing to an engaging emotional experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong asset, complementing the game's visuals and storytelling effectively.

    • “The music is a very strong asset for the game; they hired a composer who did a brilliant soundtrack that matches very well with the game and its moments.”
    • “The atmosphere is wrapped up with astonishing music and a well-tailored graphical style.”
    • “The soundtrack is top-notch and strikes the perfect balance between providing background music while helping to paint each scene.”
    • “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.”
    • “Game atmosphere is light, plot is nothing new, art is colorful and soundtrack is somewhat ok, though few more tracks would not kill the game.”
  • grinding
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious due to excessive backtracking, fetch quests, and puzzles that require specific solutions. While some appreciate the engaging storyline and well-written dialogue that alleviates some of the tedium, others feel that the repetitive nature of gameplay can lead to frustration and boredom, particularly in later chapters. Overall, the game strikes a balance between enjoyable moments and tedious gameplay, leaving players divided on their experience.

    • “It has a good balance, not tedious nor too simple.”
    • “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.”
    • “And near the end, the activities got so tedious, and so repetitive, and so mundane, that I just resorted to cheats to get through it to the end.”
  • stability
    34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is plagued by numerous bugs and stability issues, leading to a generally unfinished feel that may frustrate some players. While many enjoy the overall experience and find the glitches manageable, the lack of developer support for patches raises concerns about long-term playability. Despite its charm and artistic appeal, the game's stability issues significantly detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its cozy, whimsical charm, blending elements of classic fantasy and humor with a vibrant graphical style and engaging music. Players appreciate the beautifully drawn environments and well-crafted soundtracks, which enhance the overall experience, despite some dated character models. Overall, the atmosphere is described as inviting and immersive, making it a standout feature of the game.

    • “The atmosphere is wrapped up with astonishing music and a well-tailored graphical style.”
    • “It's a world you wish you lived in, amazing atmosphere and soundtrack.”
    • “The environments are drawn beautifully, making for a great atmosphere.”
    • “The story is unapologetically clichè and there’s something comfy and cozy about the atmosphere.”
    • “Game atmosphere is light, the plot is nothing new, the art is colorful, and the soundtrack is somewhat okay, though a few more tracks would not hurt the game.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its emotional depth, combining humor and heartwarming moments that resonate with players, often evoking nostalgia. Its clever writing and engaging puzzles enhance the emotional experience, while the music effectively draws players into the characters' journeys. However, some critiques mention a slow pace and a less compelling story, which can detract from the overall emotional impact.

    • “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.”
    • “Very slow game, boring story, and annoying sense of humor.”
  • replayability
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 potential for gameplay quirks may deter others from replaying. The total playtime ranges from 6 to 14 hours, making it a worthwhile experience, especially if purchased on sale.

    • “There are a few annoying quirks about the gameplay, which might not make it replayable for some, while others will play it again for sure to find things they missed the first time through.”
    • “(2nd pro tip: pressing spacebar will allow you to see all the clickable locations on the screen. Be forewarned, however, that this might make the game a little too easy.) There are also 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). Total play time will vary from 6 to 14 hours depending on puzzle skills, but if you like point-and-click games or if you can get it on sale, then this would be a good addition to your library.”
  • optimization
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally solid, with users reporting good performance and only occasional crashes, which are mitigated by a reliable autosave feature.

    • “I experienced one crash, but the autosave feature had my back, and other than that I had no issues performance-wise.”
    • “Performance is good too.”
    • “I experienced one crash, but the autosave feature had my back; other than that, I had no performance issues.”
    • “I experienced one crash, but the autosave feature had my back; other than that, I had no performance issues.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 absence of meaningful development diminishes the impact of the supporting characters.

    • “Fine sets and cute character design with all their lines they spoke.”
    • “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.”
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50%Critics’ scoreBased on 1 critic reviews
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19h Median play time
18h Average play time
16-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

The Book of Unwritten Tales is a arcade action adventure game with fantasy and comedy themes.

The Book of Unwritten Tales is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, Linux and others.

On average players spend around 18 hours playing The Book of Unwritten Tales.

The Book of Unwritten Tales was released on July 31, 2012.

The Book of Unwritten Tales was developed by KING Art.

The Book of Unwritten Tales has received neutral reviews from players and neutral reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

The Book of Unwritten Tales is a single player game.

Similar games include The Book of Unwritten Tales 2, Deponia, Kelvin and the Infamous Machine, Unforeseen Incidents, Gibbous: A Cthulhu Adventure and others.