The Three-Body Problem

About

"The Three-Body Problem" is a single-player Fantasy Interactive Fiction game with an intriguing story. As a queer, polyamorous, celestial witch, you perform a ritual in the woods, but a stranger changes everything. The game features Dominant/submissive kink, consent negotiation, and a full moon, with two versions available for added accessibility.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

81%

Audience ScoreBased on 100 reviews

story30 positive mentions

grinding3 negative mentions

The novel presents a mind-boggling exploration of hard science fiction concepts, intertwining real scientific theories with speculative ideas, making it both thought-provoking and engaging.
Cixin Liu's storytelling offers a unique perspective on Chinese history and culture, particularly during the Cultural Revolution, enriching the narrative with depth and context.
The book's themes of first contact and the implications of alien civilizations challenge readers to think critically about humanity's place in the universe and the potential consequences of such encounters.

The pacing of the story can be slow, especially in the early chapters, which may deter some readers from fully engaging with the plot.
Character development is often criticized as shallow, with some characters feeling more like plot devices than fully realized individuals, making it difficult for readers to connect emotionally.
The translation may lead to some awkward phrasing and cultural references that could confuse readers unfamiliar with Chinese history and societal norms.

story
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
80%
2%
The story of "The Three-Body Problem" intricately weaves themes of first contact and alien invasion against the backdrop of China's Cultural Revolution, exploring humanity's existential dread and moral complexities. While the narrative unfolds slowly, with a focus on scientific concepts and a broad cast of characters, some readers find the pacing uneven and the character development lacking, leading to moments of confusion. Overall, the plot is praised for its originality and depth, though it may challenge readers with its technical details and extensive exposition.
- “The story begins during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and uses it as a launching pad for all that goes forward.”
- “The story itself: while the majority of the story takes place over a period of a few hundred years, the whole arc stretches from the opening scene in the Cultural Revolution in China through to pretty much the end of the universe.”
- “The story is compelling and I am going to start the second book in the series.”
- “The story takes a long time to capture my attention, and when it finally did, I found the book to be quite fascinating.”
- “The narrative and momentum of the story are brought to a grinding halt, and all of the mysteries are robbed of the chance to organically build to any sort of satisfying conclusion, because it's time for a gigantic exposition dump.”
- “I was mostly enjoying this book until I got to its final act, which jettisoned all of the story's characters, pace, intrigue, cohesion, and overall goodwill in favor of an infodump that's ridiculously hurried yet still somehow tedious and overlong.”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Character development in "The Three-Body Problem" is a mixed bag; while some characters receive detailed backstories through flashbacks, many others remain underdeveloped or lack depth, leading to a sense of inconsistency. Critics note that the focus on broader concepts often overshadows character growth, resulting in a narrative where development feels shallow or inconsequential, particularly for secondary characters. Overall, while there are moments of strong character exploration, the execution varies significantly throughout the story.
- “Great character development.”
- “Although, I will say, he does a lot of flashbacks, and in many cases the character development was there, just delayed or buried in later chapters.”
- “Character development seems a little shallow sometimes, but this series is more about focusing on the concepts.”
- “Finally, the character development is non-existent.”
- “The character development is kind of all over the place - some characters are developed in detail, others, hardly at all.”
- “Except for the main antagonist, character development is not great.”
gameplay
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The gameplay is heavily influenced by complex scientific concepts, particularly the three-body problem, which integrates elements of hard science fiction into the experience. Players can expect a blend of strategic challenges and technical exposition, reminiscent of narratives found in works like "Ender's Game." Overall, the mechanics appear to demand a thoughtful engagement with advanced scientific principles.
- “I’m not sure of the mechanics for the computer game, but I got a good Ender's Game vibe from it.”
- “The second challenge was that this is definitely 'hard sci-fi.' The title comes from an actual problem of orbital mechanics which is explored via an online game in the story, and which ties directly into the alien civilization.”
- “The three-body problem is hard sci-fi, full of lengthy passages of technical exposition about everything from quantum mechanics to artificial intelligence.”
- “The gameplay is bogged down by lengthy passages of technical exposition about everything from quantum mechanics to artificial intelligence, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The game feels overly complicated, as it tries to incorporate hard science fiction elements that may alienate players who are not familiar with the concepts.”
- “The mechanics are so intricate that they often detract from the overall enjoyment, leaving players feeling overwhelmed rather than challenged.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a genuine roller-coaster experience, with significant highs and lows that engage players, despite some narrative elements feeling implausible. However, many reviewers found it challenging to form emotional connections with the characters, describing them as wooden and shallow, which detracted from the overall impact. A nostalgic reference to "flatland" added a heartwarming touch for some players, providing a brief emotional resonance amidst the critiques.
- “There are many twists accompanied by highs and lows that actually justify the use of the cliché 'emotional roller-coaster'.”
- “The elegantly executed conclusion (first of a trilogy, after all) made me feel in reflection that the story was too unbelievable to work, and yet when reading, I was absolutely convinced it was real.”
- “A respectful nod to 'flatland' made it heartwarming and nostalgic for me.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the narrative significantly disrupts the story's flow, particularly in the final act, where an excessive exposition dump undermines character development and emotional engagement. This results in a tedious experience that detracts from the overall intrigue and cohesion of the plot.
- “The narrative and momentum of the story are brought to a grinding halt, and all of the mysteries are robbed of the chance to organically build to any sort of satisfying conclusion, because, brother, it's time for a gigantic exposition dump.”
- “I was mostly enjoying this book until I got to its final act, which jettisoned all of the story's characters, pace, intrigue, cohesion, and overall goodwill in favor of an infodump that's ridiculously hurried yet still somehow tedious and overlong.”
- “It's all very tedious because it's pretty much impossible to establish an emotional connection to any of the characters, much less put oneself in their shoes - they're all so wooden and shallow.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The atmosphere is characterized by a blend of frenetic technical dialogue that detracts from character development, alongside elegant and evocative writing that introduces an alien quality, enhancing the overall ambiance of the narrative.
- “In translation, the writing is elegant and evocative with just enough 'difference' remaining to give the writing a slightly alien quality that adds to the atmosphere.”
- “The aliens spend fifty pages ticking off a list of solutions to all of the book's dangling plot threads by shouting technical mumbo-jumbo at each other at a breakneck pace, without bothering to develop as characters, and without even stopping for breath when they accidentally unleash hostile intelligent life into their world's atmosphere.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in "Brother Odd" by Dean Koontz is characterized by its warmth and grace, effectively critiquing western culture and science within a science fiction context. Reviewers appreciate the blend of humor with themes of justice and hope, making it a thoughtful yet entertaining read.
graphics
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The reviews highlight that the graphics are not only visually appealing but also enhance the overall aesthetic experience of the game, contributing to a stimulating and immersive environment for players.