Thrilling, darkly funny, and full to the brim with brainteasing goodness, The Sins of New Wells DLC gives players more of the same outstanding gameplay loop that made the Golden Idol series so addictive in the first place... and sets the stage for a promising future with the three upcoming chapters.

Pentiment is a captivating Renaissance adventure that challenges players to unravel both a murder mystery and the many enigmas of history.

Leila is not a conventional graphic adventure but is quite polished in its narrative approach, as well as in its diverse puzzles, fostering real emotion and connection to its character.

It’s fun to exercise one’s brain cells in Scene Investigators’ assorted collection of engaging mysteries that pull no punches when it comes to challenge and are immensely rewarding as a result.

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.

This expansion to our 2022 Game of the Year proves that The Case of the Golden Idol was no fluke, making an undeniable argument for even further explorations into its addicting, vocabulary-themed approach to detective gameplay.

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.

The otherwise moving narrative of Under the Waves misses out on some lost opportunities, but if you have an affinity for collecting, exploration and ocean preservation, you’ll effortlessly immerse yourself for hours in this enchanting, beautiful underwater adventure.

Move over, Phoenix Wright! Murders on the Yangtze River takes us on a compelling trip to late-nineteenth-century China, where tradition and progress clash in almost every facet of life and an embattled detective chases down the ghosts of his brother’s enigmatic murder in this satisfying courtroom drama.

If you can withstand a slow and meandering beginning, A Space for the Unbound will reward you with one of the more emotionally earnest and moving stories to be found in an adventure game.

Herald is light on gameplay but tells a complex, well-written adventure story that takes players on a journey both literal and emotional, through themes which, though based on historical events, are still incredibly resonant today.

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.

It’s not always the smoothest ride, but at its best, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a cracking good time that arguably ranks as the second best game in franchise history.

Aspyr has done an excellent job preserving three of the most important, and timeless, examples of early 3D gaming. Tomb Raider I-III Remastered may largely be a greatest hits set for existing fans, but it’s a comprehensive bundle whose new visuals and updated control schemes are nice options to introduce the original series to the uninitiated.

Packed with many hours’ worth of puzzles to solve, secrets to uncover, and plenty of jokes, Bilkins' Folly finds the sweet spot that combines a light and humorous presentation with a compelling gameplay loop of tricky treasure hunting that has deeper layers than you might expect.

It’s a shame there isn’t more opportunity to explore the world at large, but Gamedec is a rewarding and immersive role-playing adventure that offers a satisfying amount of player agency in the direction of this cyberpunk detective mystery.

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.

Afterdream is a chilling side-scrolling adventure that combines a variety of rather easy, engaging puzzles with a creepy yet surprisingly poignant story about loss, all wrapped up in the developer’s distinctive art style.

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.

Murder on Space Station 52 combines a fun but fairly traditional detective noir story with an intriguing sci-fi setting that’s totally out of this world.

The expanded world of Agatha Christie – Death on the Nile might feel a bit TOO big at times, but the new playable character does add to the story and nothing gives a greater sense of accomplishment than solving a mystery as Hercule Poirot.

Loretta is a pleasingly chaotic and entertaining romp through the best tropes of film noir – but it’s the player who decides just how dark things get.

With a whole new setting and loaded to the gills with royal subterfuge, The Lemurian Phoenix is a fun prequel that gives us something very different from The Rise of the Golden Idol while still delivering what returning players are after. Slightly outshone by the base games and prior series DLC, it’s unlikely to be remembered as a high point in this stellar franchise, but series fans would be seriously missing out if they skip it.

Based on the 1964 hard sci-fi novel of the same name, The Invincible tells a mature, thought-provoking story about a research team’s discoveries on a distant planet. While the gameplay isn’t much to write home about, the smartly presented experience is nevertheless out of this world.

This Bed We Made sacrifices some snooping freedom and player challenge for a more linear narrative, but there are plenty of thrilling discoveries to unpack in this compelling Hitchcockian mystery.

Time loop mysteries require a delicate balance of challenge while rewarding players for both their successes and mistakes. In Orten Was the Case, the play control and action elements can upset that balance at times, but the twelve-minute puzzle itself hits all the right beats and proves to be quite satisfying.

Even without this small wish list of things I would have preferred to see implemented, Botany Manor packs a powerful punch as an exploration of its protagonist’s life, coupled with some engaging and well-designed puzzles along the way that even the most gardening-averse in real life can master. Best of all, it manages to deliver all of this with a gentle, light touch, with beautiful sights and sounds you can relax to even as you solve its conundrums. It’s not the most aggressively difficult puzzler out there, nor is it the longest, but it certainly makes a great case for quality over quantity. It seems like a true passion project that reminds us that, sometimes, it’s important to slow down in our busy lives to stop and smell the roses.

Filling in a family tree may not sound all that compelling, but digging up the sordid secrets of a prominent family of celebs is such voyeuristic fun that it’s hard to tear yourself away from The Roottrees Are Dead until not one but two sets of mysteries are solved in this polished and expanded commercial remake.

Scott Whiskers: The Search for the Golden Cat takes you on an entertaining point-and-click jungle adventure that improves significantly on its predecessor in a number of important ways.

Cosmic Void succeeds in delivering another compelling mystery, as the frights in Devil’s Hideout challenge your courage and puzzle-solving skills in this short but spooky point-and-click occult adventure.

Expelled! excels at transferring its spiritual predecessor Overboard!’s charm, replayability and depth of choice to a boarding school setting, though its report card says it must try harder at putting its new morality mechanic into practice.

With a gorgeous setting full of incredible architecture and nicely varied puzzles, Firmament is another confident and cerebral showcase from the legendary artists at Cyan.

Bramble's action elements might prove challenging for those used to relaxed adventuring gameplay, but with its main focus on platforming, stealth and boss battles, this stunning and terrifying survival horror game artfully weaves Scandinavian folklore into its dark but gripping narrative.

OU deserves enormous credit for its superb art and its distinct, ambitious style of storytelling, providing a memorable high-concept experience only slightly hampered by questionable design choices.

It’s not about seeing the story through to the end or solving complicated puzzles—version 2.0 of Colossal Cave in VR faithfully retains the flaws of the original groundbreaking game but is otherwise a delightful interactive experience that feels like an actual genuine adventure.

Those who fondly remember cracking conundrums in The 7th Guest’s Stauf Mansion or feel nostalgic for the early 3D graphics of Resident Evil’s Spencer Mansion will feel right at home in The Tartarus Key, with its plethora of engaging puzzles and well-written cast that’ll welcome you in and make your stay a memorable one.

Snowman Story isn’t your typical Christmas tale and the singular puzzle type does it no favours, but it tells a gripping and emotional tale, in a delightfully vivid pixel art style, of a snowman trying to escape his inevitable springtime thaw.

For better or worse, depending on your perspective, Vlad Circus: Curse of Asmodeus trades in the survival horror gameplay for more straightforward adventure game puzzling. But even toned down, it’s another creepy-fun installment in the lives of these twisted, tragic carnies.

You can’t help but feel like a true conspiracy theorist exploring the beautifully eerie pixel art world of Mythargia with all its mysterious supernatural elements. As a journalist in search of clues about secret human experiments, a bit more control over how to compile the evidence into your article would’ve been welcome, but collecting it all feels very rewarding along the way.

While not as deep as it could be, Return to Grace’s discussion of the role of AI in people’s lives – with those very AIs themselves – is a pleasant accompaniment to the wonderful sites discovered aboard an abandoned space base of the future.

Backfirewall_ is a unique and interesting look at the anthropomorphized inner workings of a phone, with fun gameplay, humorous dialogue and bright, colorful environments.

With its eerie tone, abstract logic, and distinctive aesthetic, Discolored 2 is another atmospherically rich puzzle game that builds meaningfully on the foundation of its predecessor.

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.

Full of gorgeous art, delightful jazz, and a very light amount of challenge, The Forest Quartet turns a story about death and grief into a fun, lively, cathartic memorial romp.

One of the best free games you’re ever likely to play, Poco is a short but beautiful adventure that will pull you in with its undeniable charm while keeping you guessing with its surprisingly deep mysteries.

The Biggleboss Incident swerves past snark and satire and charges headlong into farce, tackling everything from office supply shortages to Big Brother. Light on plot and puzzles, it's a breath of fresh air in these cynical times.

SEASON is a beautiful and thoughtful art piece of a game whose only challenge may stem from being overly ponderous at times, but it shines with its gorgeous landscapes, interesting characters, and imaginative worldbuilding and will reward those who come into it ready for some creative introspection.

Wavetale’s forgiving platforming and trivial combat arguably make the game a bit too easy, but its thoughtful narrative and gorgeous world will keep you happily glued to the screen throughout the entirety of its brief duration.

Although hampered slightly by lackluster environments and overly repetitive randomized replays to unlock the story in full, Murderous Muses is another impressively written and performed FMV mystery game by D’Avekki Studios, centered around dynamic characters and an unforgettable setting.

There’s plenty of art and craft folded into Paper Trail’s perspective-shifting gameplay. Those seeking narrative or a world to explore may find the thin story and linear level-by-level progression a bit underwhelming, but there’s more than enough satisfaction to be found in manipulating the vivid, whimsical environments and solving the intricate mazes that anyone who loves a well-tuned puzzle will likely find it a page-turner.

Story fans should probably steer clear, but if you enjoy a good challenge, pick out your favorite musical playlist and settle in to explore Island of Insight’s gorgeous puzzle-lover’s paradise. Just be sure to pack accordingly, as you could be there a long, long time.

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.

No, I’m not a Human is a masterclass in suspense that revels in the paranoia it creates. Some of the magic is lost when trying to unearth specific outcomes for this tale of cosmic horror, but for a single playthrough it’s a deeply disturbing experience where everyday traits of average people are twisted into a mine field.

Other than the odd puzzle frustration, The Will of Arthur Flabbington offers plenty of nostalgia, laughs and a gauntlet of inventory-based brainteasers that is sure to stretch your creative thinking when glued to your screen and keep you thoughtfully pondering when away from it.

The charming Mythwrecked: Ambrosia Island is a low-challenge but extremely addictive fetch quest and collectible-gathering Elysium filled with fun cartoony Greek gods to make friends with along the way.

A dreamy Italian getaway packed with charm, mystery, and minigames, On Your Tail is the cozy escape you didn’t know you needed.

Its unrelenting vagueness surely won’t be for everyone, but with TR-49 inkle expands on the growing investigative deduction subgenre with another polished and rewarding title, its added audio component providing a particularly compelling extra layer of intrigue.

Ghost on the Shore guides you on a beautiful island hike with a spectral companion while hunting for long-forgotten family secrets that continue to live on.

Not for those who seek challenge above all, but anyone who enjoys relaxing, contemplative experiences should feel over the moon about Europa.

Though cracks are visible in its impressive facade by the time the credits roll, Stasis: Bone Totem is a wildly ambitious follow-up that builds effectively on the macabre promise of its predecessors.

Based on Tove Jansson’s popular book series, Snufkin is a cozy, beautifully presented adventure that’s fairly short and light on challenge, but will surely please fans and newcomers alike who are eager to take a pleasant stroll among the natural wonders and quirky characters of Moominvalley.

Of the Devil: Episode 1 is an impressive expansion of the dark cyberpunk mystery first envisioned in its free debut installment. It’s sometimes held back by the devil in the details, but these are mostly minor annoyances when compared to the incredible characters and world that will draw you into its high-tech dystopia.

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.

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.

Other than a few minor rough cuts, THE BRiLLiANT COUP is a fun, old-school opportunity to see if you have the makings of a master burglar to steal the largest diamond in the world.

The Season’s Greetings DLC views Lake‘s world through very different eyes, offering reassuring familiarity while shaking things up just enough to make them fresh again. Retaining the same slow, puzzle-free style and relatable characters, it’s not for everyone but will surely feel like the perfect gift for fans of the original game.

Its compelling narrative and sci-fi environment make Fort Solis a welcome addition to the portfolio of thrillers that have sent us into outer space, even if this particular journey punches a little below the best in terms of emotional payoff and scare factor.

Wanderstop is a cozy game of tea-making, featuring quirky customers and a protagonist who, amusingly, would rather be sword fighting than stuck here, making tea. In general, if you enjoy farming/crafting games and admire a bit of a narrative kick, you’ll enjoy it.

While Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip could’ve given players a bit more to do, its uniquely whimsical style and wacky sensibilities make it a memorable and fun cartoon platforming adventure.

It’s come a long way since its schlocky early days, as Midnight Scenes’ fifth and best installment so far invites players to find a safe place to curl up and experience an absorbing dive into the human psyche’s darkest depths.

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.

Emio – The Smiling Man is a haunting tale that marks a welcome return of the Famicom Detective Club series. It’s the best of the three so far and steers significantly darker than previous entries, though as a visual novel with limited gameplay, it won’t change any minds if you weren’t already on board with what’s on offer.

Reveil takes you on a thrilling nightmare journey through one man’s memories of life at the circus on a quest for truth (and missing loved ones) that will keep you on the edge of your bleacher seat.

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.

Beneath some technical flaws and a few design shortcuts, Brassheart contains an adventure game heart of gold, offering a globetrotting point-and-click battle between good and evil in glorious dieselpunk style.

An upgrade in some ways and a step back in others, the remastered Syberia doesn’t quite measure up to the classic work of art that was the original, but its melancholic trip through an entropic Europe filled with automatons is still splendid enough to delight new players to the franchise.

Sips and Sonnets is an engaging, melancholy visual novel about an elderly woman with an impressive past career, operating a tea shop in her dotage and providing useful advice to her customers.

Everything works effectively to build tension over the course of s.p.l.i.t’s grim hour-long campaign, though the learning curve in the role of a rogue hacker may be a bit much to ask for some gamers.

While player choice is largely illusory and the gameplay elements feel a bit underused, The Operator is a short but great cyberthriller that makes it fun to be the “person in the chair.”

Though not without its rough edges, Creepy Tale: Some Other Place is a series high point that moves beyond previous entries’ shortcomings with well-designed puzzles, a wickedly spooky atmosphere, and a more confident, less derivative art style.

Being a feline makes Cats and the Other Lives a fun and playful game for the most part, though the storyline you uncover along the way gets darker and darker, and all the more compelling because of it.

The unapologetically strange Exit: A Biodelic Adventure drops you into a hallucinatory dystopia and challenges you to find your way through. It’s a heartfelt and often hilarious journey through a living, breathing world that may overwhelm the senses but certainly never bores.

Arsene Lupin: Once a Thief doesn’t pose much challenge or risk, but the chance to play both as the criminal AND the police in this fun cat-and-mouse-style detective game makes it quite a catch.

While it teeters on the brink of succumbing to genre pitfalls at times, Riddlewood Manor is a delightful series of ghostly escape rooms tied together with a playfully macabre tale about spirits and dark magic.

Not all aspects bridge the decades-long gap seamlessly, but as a modern re-imagining, Alone in the Dark is at once a comprehensive love letter to the venerated original and hands-down one of the best forays into Lovecraftian horror yet.

With Your House, Patrones & Escondites return to their unique style of interactive storytelling with a prequel to Unmemory, offering another intriguing combination of book-style text and visuals in a thoughtful tale of drama and mystery.

Despite the occasional patience-testing puzzle, CLeM’s inventive gameplay and exploratory style make this quirky hand-drawn “Psychotic Adventure” worth a peek.

Windy Meadow uses the visual novel format to tell a moving, thoughtful story about growth, decisions and community in a gorgeously realized setting. While not a modern classic on the scale of the original Roadwarden, those who go in with the proper expectations will find it a solid, rewarding narrative adventure.

Clicking through the short, experimental visual horror story Without a Dawn is so chilling that you’ll probably be willing to overlook the complete lack of gameplay usually found in a Jesse Makkonen adventure.

It gets more repetitive with each new playthrough, but the fun presentation, delightful characters, and significant freedom of choice give Quantum Witch enough replay value to want to find everything you can in this magical fantasy universe.

Once a Tale more than compensates for some rough edges with gorgeous stop-motion animation, solid puzzle-platforming gameplay, and a strong finish.

A strong contender for champion of League of Legends spinoffs, Song of Nunu is fairly lightweight but presents a charming, beautiful 3D platforming adventure for franchise veterans and newcomers alike.

If you’re used to a simple point-and-click interface, Tachyon Dreams Anthology might take some getting used to, but its humor-filled sci-fi story is a wonderful homage to the text parser adventures of the 1980s.

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.

The steampunk-styled world of Verne: The Shape of Fantasy provides a fun way to ease lovers of written fiction into interactive storytelling. It could have been written by Jules Verne himself, and although never very challenging, it is intriguing enough to keep more experienced gamers glued to the screen as well.

With a supremely old-school gameplay format, Neyyah evokes the best aspects of Myst and Riven in a way we rarely see anymore. While it’s somewhat bound by its faithfulness to what's come before, the heart and soul behind this game shines a bright, cyan-tinged glow.

Paper Perjury doesn’t fall far from the Phoenix Wright tree, but that’s absolutely part of its appeal. Content to give a familiar formula its own distinctly breezy atmosphere, the game’s occasional nebulous solutions are ultimately made up for by a charming presentation and endearing cast of characters.

It will likely leave you praying for more, as Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence takes you on a very short and simple but intriguingly eerie mission in a mysterious abbey teeming with secrets.