Call of the Elder Gods is an arguably even better follow-up to Call of the Sea, continuing the saga with plenty more puzzles and a tighter story that fleshes out its Lovecraftian tale of eldritch horror and destiny.

Immersive, trippy, and nicely varied in its gameplay, Mindcop is a well-paced non-linear whodunit that strikes just the right balance between emotional and hilarious in its gritty murder mystery.

A worthy detective game in the vein of Sherlock Holmes or Hercule Poirot (but with animals), Last Train to Clawville is a compelling murder mystery visual novel that is easy to grasp and will keep you wanting to know more.

With only a little interference to enjoyment, Radiolight‘s one-man production offers a supernatural 1980s mystery well worth exploring in a gorgeously detailed yet solidly creepy woodland setting.

No frustrating time-loop antics in the wonderfully designed The Posthumous Investigation, just a deep but fast-paced unraveling of who might have killed Rio de Janeiro’s most influential resident.

With an engaging array of suspects, fun trial mechanics, and some surprisingly emotional moments, The Real Face of a VTuber is worthy of that other famous visual novel courtroom series that inspired it.

Once Upon a Puppet is an often delightful, sometimes frustrating, digital puzzle-platforming puppet show that engages with its premise in smart ways. The world built here is truly something to behold, and with just a little more rehearsal, this would have been a must-see performance.

Its puzzles may leave something to be desired, but Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss legitimately feels like one of Lovecraft’s dark stories experienced first-hand.

D3AD HAND gives a satirical twist to the Cold War, presenting players with the chance to save the world from nuclear annihilation through a fun mix of point-and-click puzzling and crafty feline wiles.

The Lightkeeper’s great visuals and sound design are the strongest points of this short, tightly paced experience, making up in eerie atmosphere what it lacks in actual gameplay.

Life Is Strange: Reunion is a fitting capstone to the story of Max and Chloe started years ago, providing a welcome feeling of closure and satisfaction that this tale was worth the wait.

Out of Sight is a brilliant, and at times touching, take on classic survival horror, mixing stealth, environmental puzzling, and even the occasional chase sequence into its thrilling escape mission. It’s short and maybe a bit on the easy side, but the excellent pacing and terrific storytelling will keep players gripping their teddy bears with delight.

Shuten Order breaks up the traditional visual novel experience with a gameplay conceit or two you’ll love, plus a few you’ll likely just need to deal with, to tell a compelling sci-fi mystery with a unique take on the genre.

Its emphasis on mini-games over traditional puzzles may not appeal to everyone, but Apopia: Sugar Coated Tale is a delightful and surprisingly poignant journey of self-discovery that isn’t always as sweet as it looks.

Escape Simulator 2 is another winning set of fun rooms with a promising future for much, much more, bolstered by major improvements. It’s a great time experienced solo, but especially some of the best multiplayer puzzling around.

The Berlin Apartment feels less like a traditional game and more like an interactive story, but it’s the everyday personal moments that make experiencing its shared place and the lives shaped by history more powerful.

The equally stunning sequel to Planet of Lana takes the series a few steps forward, a few steps back, finishing largely where it started.

Labyrinth of the Forsaken is a highly successful blend of classic point-and-click adventure and survival horror, expanding on the Deep Sleep freeware trilogy with interesting new mechanics, immersive environments, and a compelling mystery at the heart of it all.

With the look of a Pixar film and the wit of Monkey Island, SOPA: Tale of the Stolen Potato is a creative combination of heart, charm, and genuine laughs that is sure to satisfy the whole family.

Run TavernQuest smartly turns the text adventure conceit on its head with its choice-based selections and removal of players from the starring role to explore free will and existentialism with a comedic backdrop, leaving one contemplating what it means to be alive.

You’ll certainly speed through the experience with no real gameplay slowing you down, but it's more than just a compelling survival tale. The live-action presentation is highly immersive and the game’s killers provide a tense creep factor without going full-on slasher flick frightening. While the instant do-or-die decisions could provide more clues as to what the right option is, it’s in the choices about who Zanna is as a person that the game finds its most meaningful moments, culminating in a heartfelt outcome that is both surprising and satisfying. It’s not much of a gaming workout, but The Run is at times poignant, at times metaphorical, and at times an experience sure to get the blood pumping.

Among the Whispers: Provocation took the issues of its predecessor and improved on all of them to deliver a lengthy, scary and highly realistic ghost-hunting simulator with more active gameplay in solving puzzles and figuring out the spirits’ identities.

If you can get on its distinctively weird, oppressive wavelength and stay there, you’ll find Mateusz Skutnik’s Daymare Town second to none in terms of atmosphere, aesthetics, and ability to keep you clicking just to find out what the impossibly imaginative setting will show you next.

The Curse of the Last Reaper is a triumphant finale to the acclaimed Golden Idol saga as we know it. Beyond being the best expansion chapter of the series, this is one of the best pieces of DLC out there, period.

Wednesdays is a short, beautifully designed, thoughtful treatment of a heart-wrenching subject that is anything but a simple walk in the park.

The Jester and the Madman is a wonderful homage to 1990s-era slideshow adventure games. The script can be a little stilted and the plot a bit too convenient, but the overarching story and breadth of clever puzzles and challenges make it engaging from start to finish.

Tarsier’s REANIMAL isn’t just Little Nightmares reskinned, with a new start, a new name, and a few welcome surprises added to an already winning horror adventure formula.

In every sense of the word, Shadows of the Afterland is a spirited point-and-click adventure that weaves together a gripping post-mortem mystery into an ironically lively setting with a lot of heart.