Its web of potential avenues isn’t exactly Mass Effect of something from the David Cage book of consequence-based narratives, but it does create a consistently entertaining experience as the hirsute triumvirate bounce from one encounter to the next. The characters you encounter and the paths the story takes are entirely up to you, with each one splintering off depending on your seemingly innocent choices. From the mystery of what’s to come (the NPCs you meet seemingly knowing nothing of a blank treasure map, a fact that only urges you to set sail again and divine its true purpose) to the use of voices to create everything from the soundtrack to everyday sounds (yes, someone really did record themselves impersonating a coffee machine), it feels pleasantly homemade from top to bottom. It’s here you get a little taster for what Burly Men at Sea is preparing to serve up.

Every journey starts with the three titular men of caliber - whimsically-named Hasty Beard, Steady Beard and Brave - discovering a blank map in a bottle, a rather handy plot device that leads them to port in search of answers. Burly Men at Sea’s most memorable moments are best discovered on your own playthrough, so we’ll do our best not to ruin its juiciest bits, but we will say you'll likely encounter them in a unique combination each time you play, and that’s where the real selling point reveals itself. It’s not necessarily about what you do to reach a certain destination, but what you find along the way. As such, there isn’t much actual ‘game’ to be had - you’ll mostly just drag the edge of the screen to move the titular trio of bearded sailors and tap to open doors - but that’s obviously the intention of husband-and-wife studio Brain&Brain is going for. It’s an experience that’s clearly been made with family viewing in mind, its pithy dialogue often winking at the adults as much as its slapstick antics entertains the kids. The end result is something more akin to an interactive storybook than a game.

You’ll encounter all sorts of weird and wonderful characters as your turn its virtual pages, plotting points on a mysteriously blank map as you choose the chapters that comprise this maritime yarn. Well, actually, it wants you to tell its story, guiding three sea-faring brothers as they sail the sea in search of adventures worthy of the telling. Burly Men at Sea wants to tell you a story.

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