To be or not to be

Abstract

The choose-your-own-adventure game To Be or Not To Be (see Figure) reimagines and remediates William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”. The digital game was released in 2015 by the developer Tin Man Games, based on the gamebook by Ryan North (2013). It offers players the option to play as Hamlet, Ophelia, or King Hamlet, and manipulate events, thereby altering the narrative. The main objective is for players to experience alternative storylines through their decisions as the game progresses. The game caters to a diverse audience by appealing to those interested in literature, comedy, and interactive storytelling. Thematic elements include fate versus free will, while the formal aspects encompass satire, parody, and the reinterpretation of classic literature through a modern, humorous lens (Bushnell, 2021; Novitz, 2020). Though not strictly designed as a serious game, “To Be or Not To Be” may be seen as combining educational content with entertainment, engaging users in active decision-making while also offering insights into the play’s structure and themes. The player reads text and selects options that influence the story’s direction.