To Be or Not To Be

About

To Be or Not To Be is a single player casual role playing game with a comedy theme. It was developed by Tin Man Games and was released on February 4, 2015. It received positive reviews from players.

"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

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 244 reviews

humor139 positive mentions

gameplay3 negative mentions

Hilarious and clever reinterpretation of Shakespeare's Hamlet, filled with absurd humor and witty dialogue.
Offers a vast array of choices and multiple endings, encouraging replayability and exploration of different story paths.
Beautiful artwork from various guest artists enhances the experience, making it visually appealing alongside the engaging narrative.

The checkpoint system is poorly designed, making it tedious to backtrack and explore different choices without having to replay large sections of the game.
The humor may not resonate with everyone, as it relies heavily on modern references and a specific comedic style that can feel forced or cringeworthy.
Some technical issues, such as audio desynchronization and limited sound control options, detract from the overall experience.

humor
143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is a mix of clever, irreverent, and absurdist elements, often drawing on Shakespeare's "Hamlet" for comedic inspiration. While many players found it to be hilariously entertaining and praised its witty writing and creative choices, others felt that the humor was hit-or-miss, with some jokes falling flat or being overly emphasized. Overall, the game's comedic style appeals to fans of Ryan North's work and those who enjoy quirky, unconventional humor, though it may not resonate with everyone.
- “A couple of times it made me laugh until it hurt.”
- “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.”
- “Is this supposed to be funny?”
- “I may be in the minority with this one, but this game is not funny.”
- “Unless that was supposed to be funny, which leads me to my next criticism: the humor.”
story
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
72%
7%
The story aspect of the game is praised for its humorous and absurd take on Shakespeare's "Hamlet," offering players a variety of branching paths and endings that encourage exploration and creativity. While many players appreciate the comedic elements and the ability to make unconventional choices, some criticize the lack of depth in certain storylines and the awkward checkpoint system that can disrupt the flow of gameplay. Overall, it is seen as a fun, interactive experience that appeals to both fans of Shakespeare and newcomers alike, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking a more traditional narrative structure.
- “Highly recommended for anyone who loves great storytelling, humor, or just plain weird fun.”
- “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.”
- “This game has huge replayability because of the large number of choices and branching storylines.”
- “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
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
54%
14%
The music in the game is generally well-received, enhancing the atmosphere and humor, though it suffers from repetitiveness and a lack of volume control options. While the soundtrack complements the gameplay effectively, some players find it too loud compared to the narration, leading to a preference for turning off the narration altogether. Overall, the music adds charm to the experience, but its limitations detract from the overall enjoyment.
- “The music also is quite good and matches well 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 too loud and there aren't any modifiers to make it quieter unless you turn it off.”
graphics
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
50%
17%
The graphics in 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 artwork's scarcity and the fact that many pieces are only accessible as rewards rather than integrated into the gameplay. Overall, while the visuals are appreciated for their quality and creativity, the limited presence of artwork during gameplay detracts from the experience for some players.
- “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 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.”
- “The main art style, layout, font, and restrained color palette is pleasing - I am not sure I fully appreciate the purpose of the unlocking of 'art', presumably it is designed to be a reward/termination of a strand of the story?”
- “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 Positive Neutral Negative
88%
12%
The game boasts high replayability, with numerous choices and branching storylines that lead to varied experiences and endings. Players appreciate the humor and the ability to explore different outcomes, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging. It's particularly appealing to theater enthusiasts and comedy fans, offering a unique twist on classic narratives.
- “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 Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
The gameplay is characterized by a text-heavy, click-based format that emphasizes reading and humor, making it suitable for older kids and fans of Ryan North's style. While it offers a fun experience, it lacks traditional gameplay elements such as saving, adjustable narration speed, and clear explanations of end-game mechanics, which may deter those who prefer more interactive or visually rich experiences. Overall, it appeals to players who enjoy snarky humor and narrative-driven content, but may not satisfy those looking for more dynamic gameplay.
- “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 Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 overall 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.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game blends humor and emotional depth, presenting a fun yet oddly wholesome experience amidst its darker themes. Players find amusement in Hamlet's emo logic while also encountering touching moments, with the option to play as emotionally complex characters like Ophelia or Hamlet's father.
- “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!”
- “Fun and weirdly wholesome despite the number of stabbings.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 multiple instances of lag and freezing, which severely impacted my overall enjoyment of the game.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
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, enhancing their enjoyment of the game.
- “Worked perfectly, with zero issues and zero performance shortcomings. It's not a heavy game at all, so no surprise there.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
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 for most of Hamlet's run, with occasional shifts to match either a spooky atmosphere or an action-packed scene. The entire soundtrack, in my experience, felt like 8 minutes in total, yet it accompanied at least two hours of gameplay.”
- “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 length of the soundtrack felt like just 8 minutes in total, despite the game lasting at least two hours.”