I'll be honest: I've never read Jules Verne's literary classic Around the World in 80 Days. Nor have I seen any of the film adaptations—not the Academy Award-winning 1956 version, and certainly not the 2004 misfire starring Jackie Chan. I mention this upfront in the hopes of conveying how utterly unnecessary it is to have any affection for the original story in order for 80 Days ($5) to capture your attention.
Just released this week on Android, 80 Days builds a compelling work of interactive fiction around the novel's premise, letting you guide and shape the narrative with each and every beat. Whether it's plotting the route ahead, choosing from dialogue options that shape your character, or making decisions that can speed up or alternately halt your voyage, the journey really becomes your own. And while not quite as thrilling as actually seeing the whole world over, it is surprisingly enchanting.
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