A steampunk voyage on the HMS Fearful
39 Days to Mars is a co-operative puzzle-adventure set in a 19th century vision of space travel. You play as Sir Albert Wickes and The Right Honourable Clarence Baxter, two explorers piloting the HMS Fearful on its maiden voyage to Mars. The ship is a masterpiece of unreliable engineering: the steam engine runs out of coal, the ship's cat shreds the navigation chart, and the tea goes cold. The problems keep coming, and the game mixes quick action with puzzles that need some thought. The whole adventure is built to fit into a short sitting, so a session can last an evening or just a long tea break.
Playing together
The game is designed for two players on one screen. Both players have important roles, and nothing gets done unless both of them put in the effort. Each problem that arises calls on the two of you working side by side, so you are constantly handing tasks back and forth rather than watching one person play. The illustrated artwork, the soundscape and the piano score hold the whole thing together, with the music broken only by the occasional disaster.
Going it alone
If you are playing solo, the ship's computer-controlled cat keeps you company and lends a hand. Without a second pair of hands, Albert needs an extra dose of dexterity to get through the challenges of Victorian space flight. Remote Play Together is available, so a friend can join in over a distance as well.
Before you start
Expect a 2D puzzle-adventure with physics-based problems rather than a long campaign. It is a local co-op game first, so plan to share a screen or use Remote Play Together. The tone is atmospheric and family friendly, with hand-drawn visuals and a strong soundtrack, and the difficulty comes from coordinating two roles under pressure rather than from combat.