The Martian Job

About

In "The Martian Job," a 155,000-word interactive novel, you're a safecracker planning a heist at a Martian casino. Choose your approach, form alliances with a motley crew, and navigate the Martian government's corruption. Your actions will determine your fate, as you could become wealthy or end up tending bar. This text-based game offers a chance to explore Mars and its power dynamics, with choices that affect the story's outcome.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 20 reviews

story6 positive mentions

emotional2 negative mentions

The game features a fun and interesting science fiction story about a heist, with diverse characters and the freedom to choose your own gender and sexual orientation.
It offers good replayability with various romance options and the potential for different story paths depending on player choices.
Some players appreciate the chill nature of the game, finding it entertaining despite its flaws.

Many players feel that the choices in the game are meaningless, as the story often forces players down a predetermined path regardless of their decisions.
The writing is criticized for being subpar and heavy-handed, with characters described as dull and lacking depth.
There are complaints about the lack of meaningful relationship-building and the overall boring nature of the story, leading to frustration among players.

story
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
79%
8%
The story is a science fiction heist narrative that incorporates elements of drama and romance, featuring diverse characters and player choice regarding gender and sexual orientation. However, many reviewers criticize the plot for being thin and disjointed, with choices that often feel inconsequential or ignored, leading to a frustrating experience. While some appreciate the potential for different storylines, such as corporate corruption or a classic heist, the execution leaves much to be desired, with calls for more depth and consistency in the storytelling.
- “It's a science fiction story about a heist, with drama and romance elements.”
- “The included characters are diverse with regards to gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity, and you are free to choose your own gender and sexual orientation for the romance elements of the story.”
- “Since I have always liked the 'professional gentleman thief' type characters, 'The Martian Job' is a solid buy for a surprisingly compact story.”
- “Ultimately, it felt like waiting after every choice to see how you failed this time for reasons that felt impossible to predict and disjointed from the overall story.”
- “The plot is paper thin, the choices don't matter because you always succeed no matter what, or other characters will tell you 'no' and decide for you. The characters are dull as dishwater, and I even saw a few grammatical errors.”
- “I think I tried five times to join the bad guy, and the story always ignores it in the most stupid way. Why in hell do you even offer that option then?”
gameplay
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
Gameplay is often likened to interactive movie scripts, with varying quality in storytelling and character development. Players appreciate the illusion of choice, influenced by the number of endings and how they can be achieved, although the romance mechanics are limited to initial character preferences. Skilled writers enhance the experience with memorable mechanics, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “It's fun to see with each game how different writers try to convey their story. Some have a good base material, create an interesting world, and develop quality characters that the player becomes involved with. The illusion of changing the story is enhanced by the number of endings and how you can reach them. Skilled writers even add mechanics that make their games memorable.”
- “The game doesn't provide a true romance mechanic; the interactions are limited to how much you liked a character from the first meeting. The game openly asks, 'Do you like him/her/they?' This single question defines your relationship with that character for the whole story.”
- “The gameplay offers a unique experience where the player's choices feel impactful, and the narrative unfolds in a way that keeps you engaged and invested in the characters and their journeys.”
- “The game doesn't provide a true 'romance' mechanic, and the interactions are pretty much limited to 'how much you liked this character' from the first meeting. The game openly asks you, 'Do you like him/her/they?' This single question defines your relationship with that character for the whole story.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is criticized for being unengaging, with users finding the story to be dull and lacking depth.
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game offers strong replayability due to its multiple romance options, allowing players to explore different storylines and outcomes, all at an affordable price.
- “The various romance options add great replayability for a low price.”
- “The multiple story paths and character interactions make each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With different endings and choices to explore, this game offers endless replayability.”