I’ve played many adventure games in my day, and while I haven’t played close to all of what’s out there, I’ve been around the block. That being said, there are very few adventure games that warrant a replay after completion. Let’s face it; you just can’t get the same effect from a subsequent replay. Fortunately, titles like Brawsome’s Jolly Rover really help to sweeten the pot.

Games such as Myst or Maniac Mansion that offer multiple endings and possibilities have really done a lot for the genre, and while Jolly Rover is fairly linear like most titles in its genre, the addition of Steam achievements and the game’s own in-house log of accomplishments left me satisfied like a good meal, debating whether or not I was too full for just one more bite.

While Jolly Rover has been compared to Monkey Island and both the humor and pirate setting make it obvious as to why, it’s very much its own experience and in no way does it feel like a “clone” of any other game. There’s no cheap imitation to be found here, as everything from the artwork to the voice acting is well presented and professional in its approach.

The puzzles themselves are clever and don’t feel like an insult to your time or intellect. While you will no doubt become stumped here and there as is to be expected with such a game, Jolly Rover does offer its own brand of hint system in the form of a parrot to whom you can offer crackers in exchange for solutions. I try to avoid seeking help if I can manage it, but the fact that the hints are a part of the game make you feel much less alone in your endeavors, and if you’re truly stumped and don’t want to feel the sting of defeat in looking up a solution, the game has your back.

One of my favorite aspects of the game, aside from its high quality and sharp wit is the log system, which shows your game progress and the various crackers, pieces of eight, and flag pieces that you’ve collected along the way. There are achievements for completing each of these collections, as well as bonus material in the form of concept art, music, and developer commentary as you reach certain milestones in your collections. This adds a degree of replayability to the game, as it’s fairly unlikely that you’ll uncover every hidden flag, coin, and cracker that Jolly Rover has to offer in your first playthrough alone.

Jolly Rover’s only real negative quality is arguably the difficulty in some of the puzzles. I was completely stuck on more than one occasion, but because I absolutely refused to receive a hint, this was my own fault more than anything. And if for some reason you’re not a dog person (in which case, what’s wrong with you?) then Jolly Rover’s colorful canine cast may lack some appeal for you, but for the rest of us (normal people), it only adds to the game’s charm.

If you’re a fan of adventure games, Jolly Rover’s outstanding pirate puppy puzzles will entertain and delight you, and there’s really no excuse not to add this title to your collection. I only hope Brawsome will continue down the path of similarities to the Monkey Island series by adding more installments in the future.

Jolly Rover is available from the developer’s website, from Steam, and a few other online distributors, all for about $20.