Adventures of Bertram Fiddle 1: A Dreadly Business

[h1]A Short but Delightful Victorian Adventure[/h1] A simple yet very enjoyable point & click set in a delightfully gloomy version of Victorian London. I really liked the absurd humor and the charming art direction — it gives the game a unique tone that stands out. It’s definitely on the short side, but it’s worth trying, especially during a sale. I don’t regret the trip through this eerie and bizarre London. Recommended for fans of quirky adventures!

Adventures of Bertram Fiddle 1 is a short and simple point n' click game. It's perhaps the easiest game in the genre i've ever played and it was a little rough around the edges but i did enjoy playing it. It's a shame that it was so short; I, among many others, completed it in under 2 hours which would qualify me for a refund (which sucks for the developers.) Buy it on sale and you'll have a chill time!

скучная

fun little game. very funny if on sale.

Excellent game - captivating story, quite charming characters, fantastic music and funny dialogs with cleverly crafted puns. Had a great time playing it!

It's a short game and you need to get the second episode to finish the full adventure but I loved it. The art style and the humour ("My grandfather had an enormous clock" lol) are great. The puzzles were very easy and it's a short game which is honestly perfect if you want an afternoon that will relax you but won't suck you into something that will make you feel like you're ruining your life.

Adventures of Bertram Fiddle: Episode 1: A Dreadly Business is a charmingly eccentric point-and-click adventure that embraces classic genre traditions while infusing them with a distinctly British sense of humor and a playful Victorian aesthetic. Developed by Rumpus and published by Chorus Worldwide Games, the game introduces players to Bertram Fiddle, a pompous yet endearing self-proclaimed “leading explorator” whose confidence far exceeds his competence. Set in a caricatured version of Victorian London, the game immediately establishes its tone as one of lighthearted absurdity, blending murder mystery tropes with slapstick comedy and a steady stream of wordplay. The story begins innocently enough, with Bertram tasked with a simple errand, but quickly spirals into chaos when he accidentally becomes entangled in a murder case involving the notorious Geoff the Murderer. A case of mistaken luggage sets the entire plot in motion, dragging Bertram and his loyal but bizarre cyclops companion, Gavin, into a series of increasingly strange encounters. Rather than focusing on suspense or genuine danger, the narrative treats the mystery as a comedic vehicle, using it to introduce a parade of quirky characters and situations. The result is a story that feels more like a comedic stage play than a traditional detective tale, prioritizing laughs and personality over intricate plotting. Gameplay adheres closely to traditional point-and-click conventions. Players explore hand-drawn environments, interact with objects, converse with non-player characters, and collect items to solve puzzles that gate progression. The puzzles are intentionally straightforward, often relying on simple logic or visual cues rather than complex reasoning. This design choice makes the game very accessible, especially for newcomers to the genre, but it also means that experienced adventure game fans may find the challenge level modest. Occasional gameplay variations, such as short chase sequences where Bertram must avoid obstacles, add a bit of variety but remain forgiving and easy to master. One of the game’s strongest elements is its presentation. The art style is vibrant and cartoonish, filled with exaggerated character designs and expressive animations that give the world a lively, almost animated-series feel. Each location is packed with visual jokes and small details that reward attentive players. This is complemented by full voice acting across the entire cast, an impressive feat for an indie title. The performances lean heavily into theatrical exaggeration, perfectly matching the game’s comedic tone and ensuring that even simple dialogue exchanges feel entertaining. The soundtrack further reinforces the atmosphere, drawing inspiration from whimsical and slightly eerie musical cues that fit the Victorian setting without taking it too seriously. Humor is the driving force behind nearly every aspect of the experience. The script is packed with puns, playful narration, and absurd character interactions, often breaking the fourth wall or poking fun at genre conventions. While this constant stream of jokes will delight players who enjoy overt, cheeky humor, it can occasionally feel relentless, with some jokes landing better than others. Still, the commitment to comedy gives the game a strong identity and helps distinguish it from more somber or puzzle-focused adventure titles. The episodic nature of A Dreadly Business is both a strength and a limitation. At roughly a few hours in length, the episode is tightly paced and rarely drags, making it ideal for a single evening playthrough. However, it also ends just as the story feels like it’s gaining momentum, leaving several narrative threads unresolved. This abrupt conclusion reinforces the feeling that the game is an introduction rather than a complete standalone experience, designed to hook players into continuing Bertram’s story in later episodes. Overall, Adventures of Bertram Fiddle: Episode 1: A Dreadly Business succeeds as a light, character-driven adventure that prioritizes charm, humor, and accessibility over complexity or challenge. Its engaging voice acting, distinctive art style, and consistently playful tone make it a memorable entry in the point-and-click genre, even if its puzzles and narrative depth remain relatively simple. For players seeking a relaxed, comedic adventure with strong personality and classic mechanics, it offers a delightful introduction to Bertram Fiddle’s peculiar world and sets the stage for further misadventures to come. Rating: 8/10

Милая интересная,но короткая игра

Really great and very short point and click. Humor, graphics, writing and voice acting are all very solid. It is quite easy. There aren't many interactable objects in each area, so it winds up being pretty obvious what you need to click on or use. It took me 1.5 hours, it would have been nice to be a little bit longer. The ending is good. There is no conclusion and you continue on the same adventure in the next game. I am surprised this isn't more popular and it feels like a bit of a hidden gem.

This is a fun game with a good sense of humor. [b]Positive[/b] - Fitting music for the timeperiod - Funny artwork in a unique style - Great voiceacting - The game isn't too difficult as you're usually contained in a smaller area of things. Most often it's a "try everything on one item" approach to get by. - You can fast travel by double clicking the door icon [b]Neutral[/b] - The game feels a bit short as it ends without [spoiler]finding the murderer[/spoiler]. It concludes with a "To be continued."