To Be or Not To Be

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"To Be Or Not To Be" is an interactive, non-linear game based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, written by Ryan North and featuring art from notable webcomic artists. You can guide different characters, such as Hamlet or Ophelia, through their own storylines, leading to often humorous deaths. The gameplay is reminiscent of the "Choose Your Own Adventure" books, with multiple outcomes depending on your choices. The game showcases North's wit and the unique art style of various talented contributors.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 233 reviews

humor134 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Hilarious reinterpretation of Hamlet with countless absurd options and endings, making it a unique and entertaining experience.
Great artwork and witty dialogue enhance the storytelling, providing a fun and engaging way to explore Shakespeare's classic.
High replay value due to multiple branching paths and achievements, allowing players to discover new outcomes with each playthrough.

The checkpoint system is frustratingly limited, often requiring players to replay large sections to explore different choices.
Narration can be out of sync with the text, and the humor may not resonate with everyone, leading to a less enjoyable experience for some.
Some players find the writing style overly simplistic or juvenile, which may detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.

humor
137 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The humor in "To Be or Not to Be" is widely praised for its cleverness, irreverence, and ability to transform Shakespeare's "Hamlet" into a hilarious choose-your-own-adventure experience. Many players found themselves laughing out loud at the absurdity and wit of the writing, although some noted that the humor may not resonate with everyone, particularly those unfamiliar with Ryan North's style. Overall, the game is recommended for fans of quirky, comedic storytelling, with a strong emphasis on replayability and varied endings.
- “The humor is spot-on, often irreverent, and it takes Shakespeare’s Hamlet to places I never thought possible (but always wanted to see).”
- “This game is hilarious.”
- “Not only is it a choose-your-own-adventure style game like none other, and a hilarious send-up of Shakespeare and the baffling choices his characters make, but it's also one of the funniest comedies/spoofs I've seen in years.”
- “I may be in the minority with this one, but this game is not funny.”
- “Some people will say it's not funny.”
- “Unless that was supposed to be funny, which leads me to my next criticism: the humor.”
story
95 mentions
20 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The game's story is a humorous and absurd reimagining of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," allowing players to make wild choices that often lead to hilarious and unexpected outcomes. While it offers a rich tapestry of branching narratives and numerous endings, some players find the structure lacking depth and coherence, with a few tedious storylines. Overall, it is celebrated for its clever writing, engaging humor, and the ability to appeal to both Shakespeare enthusiasts and newcomers alike.
- “I feel like this game sees how Shakespeare's work can be genuinely wild sometimes, and then took that to the realistic endpoint of giving the player the choice to make the plot even wilder.”
- “The great thing about this game is you don't really have to know much about Shakespeare or Hamlet to get into the storyline, but if you do, it just makes it even funnier.”
- “There are so many different ways the story can go, and it's hilarious to watch the different endings unfold.”
- “The content itself is fine and can be fun, but the whole checkpoints thing is really bad for a 'choose your own adventure' story.”
- “Adventure games are to make the players engage in the story, but this is just a painstaking buffoonery that is hard to follow.”
- “While the gameplay doesn't have much artwork, like in a visual novel, certain plot elements allow you to unlock pieces of artwork created by a variety of webcomic artists.”
music
21 mentions
33 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received for its charm and ability to enhance the atmosphere, though it is criticized for being repetitive and occasionally too loud, overshadowing the narration. Players appreciate the fitting background tracks that align with the game's tone, but many express frustration over the lack of volume control options, limiting their ability to enjoy both music and narration simultaneously. Overall, while the soundtrack contributes positively to the experience, its limitations detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The music is quite good and matches well with the sequence that you are reading whenever it changes.”
- “Very humorous and enjoyable game, with nice art and soundtrack.”
- “It's simplicity and humor mixed with a great soundtrack and beautiful graphics keeps me in a good mood every time I play this fabulous game.”
- “The set of songs in the background is far too repetitive.”
- “The music and narration volumes cannot be controlled.”
- “The music is louder than the narrator's voice, so you can't really play them both and get the full effect of the game.”
graphics
18 mentions
33 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the engaging and humorous artwork, as well as the pleasing art style and user interface. However, others criticize the overall artwork as sparse and not fully integrated into the gameplay, with many pieces serving as unlockable rewards rather than enhancing the experience. Despite these criticisms, the clever use of various artists' styles and the game's overall aesthetic contribute positively to the player's enjoyment.
- “Thoroughly engaging, surprisingly funny, and with stupidly entertaining artwork.”
- “The artwork is great, the sense of humor is funny, and the user interface is easy to understand.”
- “It's simplicity and comism mixed with a great soundtrack and beautiful graphics keeps me in a good mood every time I play this fabulous game, and it's definitely worth the amount of money that I paid for it.”
- “I would suggest buying a physical copy of the book, because the artwork is somewhat sparse (one for every unique ending) and not worth the inconvenience, in my opinion.”
- “And if you have a favorite comic artist of international renown, chances are that an artwork of theirs is featured in the game—although I have to point out that the artworks, unlocked by reaching various endings, are not present in the game itself, but rather serve as non-useful rewards, so if you were hoping to see a ton of cool art, you're kind of out of luck.”
- “While the gameplay doesn't have much artwork, like in a visual novel, certain plot elements allow you to unlock pieces of artwork created by a variety of webcomic artists.”
replayability
8 mentions
88 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its numerous choices and branching storylines, allowing players to experience different outcomes and endings with each playthrough. Its humorous take on classic themes and the absence of a definitive winning state further enhance its replay value, making it particularly appealing to theater and comedy enthusiasts. Overall, players can expect a fresh experience each time they engage with the game.
- “There's a very high replayability aspect, and even with a few sets of decisions where you get the same endings in different ways or on a different timeline, every experience is a new one if you choose for it to be!”
- “It also has great replayability due to the fact that there is no winning state per se, but loads of interesting and funny forks that lead to also interesting and funny endings.”
- “This game has huge replayability because of the large number of choices and branching storylines.”
gameplay
5 mentions
40 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized as a lighthearted, text-driven experience suitable for older children, featuring a mix of humor and reading. However, it lacks traditional gameplay elements such as saving, adjustable narration speed, and clear explanations of mechanics, resulting in a primarily click-through format. Players who enjoy Ryan North's unique humor will likely find it enjoyable, but those who prefer more interactive gameplay may be disappointed.
- “Very silly, great game for kids (like 10+ probably, some sex/murder jokes), no-pressure gameplay with lots of reading!”
- “The gameplay is fun, although I wouldn't recommend it to someone who doesn't enjoy reading or appreciate Ryan North's brand of humor (snarky, sarcastic, and nerdy).”
- “However, you cannot save, you can't change the narration speed, and they do not explain some of the end-game mechanics.”
- “As such, there's not much 'gameplay' - it's literally just clicking the mouse to advance text boxes and select options.”
- “While the gameplay doesn't have much artwork, like in a visual novel, certain plot elements allow you to unlock pieces of artwork created by a variety of webcomic artists.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often feeling compelled to repetitively click through content to unlock achievements or endings, which detracts from their enjoyment. The necessity to revisit numerous choices and save points adds to the frustration, making the experience feel laborious rather than engaging.
- “And then if you're like me, you'll tediously click through it for another hour trying to collect all the ending images/achievements, while not having fun.”
- “Having to skip parts of the story is just as tedious as having to make tons of saves.”
- “When you're going through every decision trying to get all the endings, it can get a bit tedious to go through so many choices again.”
optimization
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its excellent optimization, running flawlessly without any performance issues, which is expected given its lightweight nature. Overall, players report a smooth experience with no shortcomings.
- “Worked perfectly, with zero issues and zero performance shortcomings. It's not a heavy game at all, so no surprise there.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game effectively blends humor with emotional depth, showcasing Hamlet's amusingly dramatic teenage perspective while also delivering poignant moments. Players can explore the emotional complexities of characters like the brilliant yet unstable Ophelia and Hamlet's father, adding layers to the narrative experience.
- “Hamlet's emo teen logic in the game is just too amusing, and somehow the whole thing also manages to have a touching moment or two.”
- “You can also choose to play as the beautiful, brilliant, emotionally unstable Ophelia or Hamlet's dad!”
atmosphere
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-300 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is primarily defined by a simplistic pseudo-baroque piano theme that plays throughout, with occasional shifts to enhance spooky or action-packed moments. However, the repetitive nature of the soundtrack, lasting around eight minutes over a two-hour playthrough, may detract from the overall immersive experience.
- “The simplistic pseudo-baroque piano theme plays throughout most of Hamlet's run, with occasional shifts that perfectly match the spooky atmosphere or action-packed scenes. The soundtrack, which felt like 8 minutes in total, beautifully complements the two-hour playthrough experience.”
- “The simplistic pseudo-baroque piano theme plays for most of Hamlet's run, with only two or three occasional shifts to match either a spooky atmosphere or an action-packed scene. The entire soundtrack felt like it lasted only 8 minutes in total, despite the two-hour playthrough.”
- “The atmosphere is lacking depth and variety, making it hard to stay engaged during long stretches of gameplay.”
- “The game fails to create a truly immersive environment, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Users report stability issues, including slow UI transitions, unresponsive mouse clicks, and bugs such as the haml-o-meter not disappearing. Additionally, the inability to rewind after completing a path adds to the overall friction in the user experience.
- “The UI transitions were slow and exacerbated by the useless haml-o-meter and stats. Sometimes it was buggy, with mouse clicks not registering or the haml-o-meter not disappearing. Additionally, rewinding was not available once the path was completed.”
- “The game frequently crashes, making it nearly impossible to progress without losing significant progress.”
- “I experienced constant lag and frame drops, which made the gameplay frustrating and unenjoyable.”