While Slay the Princess comes in a deceptively simple package, it contains what feels like a whole universe of horror, humor and humanity; it takes the visual novel format and pushes it as far as it will go, with a story that changes and adapts to every decision you make without ever forsaking its central themes of identity, eternity, and the nature of life and death.

Foolish Mortals is an absolute triumph. The love and respect for what makes an adventure game great is on full display in every expertly crafted scene, puzzle, piece of dialogue and quality-of-life user option throughout. If you consider yourself a fan of the genre, this is one ghostly journey that cannot be missed.

Cranking up the difficulty and empathy in equal doses, Road to Elysium threads a needle that most DLC expansions can only hope for. While a few of the challenges edge a bit into overly difficult territory, it’s an extraordinarily well-crafted and generous helping of brilliant puzzles and lovely emotional payoffs. One of the best puzzle games ever just got one of the best expansions around.

Thank Goodness You're Here! is an absolute triumph of comedy. It’s not a classic point-and-click adventure game, but every single aspect of this self-described “slapformer” combines to make it a genuinely funny game that will have you in stiches with its absurdity and cartoon-like atmosphere.

Draped in darkness and gothic Irish trappings, The Séance of Blake Manor makes the most of its eerie atmosphere and mysterious cast of characters in this detective's race against the clock with satisfyingly smart gameplay.

Cabernet is a captivating character-driven narrative RPG that sinks in its fangs and doesn’t let go. The best story veins are reserved for the individuals you meet rather than the world at large, but with characters as well-written as these, you’ll want to drink in every last drop.

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

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

Move aside, Laura Bow. Nancy Maple is the reigning queen of retro-styled murder mysteries in The Crimson Diamond, a clever, engaging, and satisfying tale that is sure to entertain fans of Sierra’s text-driven EGA classics while being accessible to adventurers new to this style of game.

A rare sequel that fully capitalizes on the potential of where its predecessor left off, The Talos Principle 2 elegantly makes space for genius puzzle design and captivating characterization to tell an extraordinarily unique, gripping, moving, and surprisingly funny story. A masterpiece for the ages.

Mouthwashing is an incredibly visceral sci-fi horror experience that delves into the dark abyss of the human condition, and the few short hours you spend with its stranded space crew will chill you to your core.

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.

With its loveable cast of characters, just-right level of challenge, and compelling plot, Lucy Dreaming is a complete win for Tall Story Games and adventure game players alike. The puzzle difficulty ramps up beautifully, just as the plot becomes progressively more compelling until it reaches its incredibly satisfying payoff. I would encourage seeing this one through to the end, but I don’t think I have to: you’ll be hooked from the moment you press Play until the moment the credits roll.

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.

More of a cinematic, highly polished visual novel than a full-fledged adventure game or even a strategic superhero simulator, Dispatch makes being the proverbial “guy in the chair” a delightful experience well worth hopping into.

Station to Station is as worthy a follow-up to the brilliant original Perfect Tides as anyone could have hoped, continuing Mara’s story with the same insight, compassion and immersive writing while deepening and expanding its narrative through interesting new mechanics.

The Holy Gosh Darn is the biblical time-travel comedy adventure game you never knew you needed in your life. This thoroughly charming journey through Heaven and Hell is a genuine treat that excels as much in its hilarious writing as it does with its unique brain teasers.

1000xRESIST is a brilliantly conceived and written piece of dystopian fiction that delves into difficult topics with layers of nuance and introspection. What it lacks in gameplay is more than made up for by the storytelling, the visuals, the soundtrack, the characters, the music… just, everything. Play this game.

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.

Riven is not a game, it is an experience. It’s a demanding, puzzle-intensive experience that isn’t for everyone, but with its gorgeous setting and a web of interconnectedness never seen before in free-roaming 3D, be prepared to make this remastered edition your world for a long time before you come out the other side, even if you’ve played the original.

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.

It might feel bewildering at first, but deciphering glyphs to discover more about the vibrant and mysterious tower with its culturally divided people makes Chants of Sennaar a highly engaging and ultimately rewarding framing for the inventive language-based puzzles.

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.

Torn Away is a beautifully produced narrative adventure with various gameplay elements that hits you hard in the feels as you guide a ten-year-old child back home to her family across a continent ravaged by war.

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.

Full of intriguing setups and wickedly good payoffs, The Rise of the Golden Idol is more of the same winning deduction formula but with a fresh spin that shakes up the foundation enough to feel strikingly original once again.

Viewfinder’s shining achievement is its brilliantly executed set of reality-bending mechanics that are such fun to play with that its tenuous story and relatively simple puzzles are easy to overlook.

With its beautiful scenery, heartfelt characters, and the weirdest wolves you’ve ever seen, The Night Is Grey is as close to a psychological thriller as an adventure game can get, worthy to be called an interactive cinematic experience.

George and Nico are back and looking better than ever in Broken Sword: Shadow of the Templars – Reforged, the excellent remastering of their classic first adventure.

Belying its leisurely point-and-click gameplay, The Drifter is an incredible action-packed thrill ride with a riveting storyline that unfolds hard and fast.

Focusing more on the story than the spooks (though the spooks are good when they materialize!), An English Haunting is a solid, user-friendly paranormal tale with strong production values, even if it lacks the compelling characters and dialogue of the best horror fiction.

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.

It may have a few minor malfunctions, but Between Horizons launches players on an exciting and branching interstellar detective journey, looking for clues, questioning suspects, and maybe saving the remnants of humanity in the process.

Though it doesn’t quite reach the heights it aspires to, Jusant is a lovely mountaineering adventure that makes for a refreshing change from the norm in both axis and pace.

Gameplay and player agency may be limited, but as an interactive storybook, Beacon Pines is a charming, intriguing mystery with a great cast, gorgeous art, and a fun branching path mechanic.

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.

A Highland Song is a beautifully frustrating journey into the Highlands, Scottish history, and the life of a troubled teenager. Showcasing both the marvels and the menace of that rugged land, it offers a powerful sense of place, memorable tales, and a big heart.

Roadwarden is a highly compelling, vividly realized text-based expedition into a dynamic fantasy setting, with a deep and layered story that allows players to experience as much or as little as they choose while deciding what kind of role they want to play in its deceptively vast world.

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.

Killer Frequency is a compelling choice-driven, non-action-oriented survival horror game that demands you keep your wits about you. If you really want to become the hero, you’ll enjoy every tense minute of it. Fail or consciously turn to the dark side, however, and you’re awarded with funny deaths and dark humor. Either way, it’s well worth giving it a spin.

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.

Its obstacles may not put up much of a fight, but Rosewater’s sharpshooting lies with its wonderful production value and freedom of choice in this character-driven Western, earning itself a big “Yeehaw!” for fun and replayability.

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 a new storyline and new tweaks to the series’ co-op gameplay, We Were Here Expeditions: The FriendShip is an excellent start to this multi-part franchise installment.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Our hopes for a wonderful sequel have come true, as Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer balances a great dialogue-based serial killer mystery with entertaining puzzles in another sublime point-and-click pixel art adventure game.

Lil’ Guardsman is a silly, high-fantasy take on Papers, Please that mixes deductive gameplay with goblins and wizards – what more could you want? Well, a tighter story with more consistent quality would have been great, but the end result is still very much worth playing for comedy fans.

Even with a bit of open exploration, Saltsea Chronicles is essentially a visual novel – a character-driven, story you read on screens of charmingly beautiful backgrounds. It’s a stress-free piece of interactive media that invites players to help write the unfolding tale, but those looking for deeper gameplay won’t find any swashbuckling, seafaring action in these calm seas.

Don’t let its delightfully cartoonish appearance fool you: Elroy and the Aliens is a wonderfully heartfelt point-and-click journey across time and space, about family connections and the lengths we’ll go to reunite with our loved ones.

Bold, beautiful, brilliant. Lee Petty and Double Fine have done it again. It’s a keeper, all right.

If you are an animal lover who doesn’t mind a little jumping, climbing and lighthearted cat fighting, you will surely fall in love with the Disney-esque short but beautiful Stars in the Trash.

As the final installment of the Immortal John Triptych, Death of the Reprobate provides more of the same fun Monty Python-esque humor, signature Renaissance-era aesthetic, and enjoyable puzzles that Joe Richardson fans have come to expect, even if some aspects are starting to wear thin the third time around.

Full to bursting with cover-ups, conspiracies, pranks, and wisecracks, 3 Minutes to Midnight is set in a gorgeous cartoon world packed with childishly entertaining puzzles. Like its heroine, it’s a little unfocused and easily distracted at times, but it’s still a rocking good time.

Take our word for it: Great God Grove takes a fresh dialogue-based puzzle concept and places it in an imaginative world filled with unforgettable characters. It may not be particularly challenging, but the strong writing and gorgeous presentation make this a heavenly game of Telephone well worth picking up.

PRIM delves into the underworld and brings back the soul of classic point-and-click adventure games with an endearing creepy-cute story, loveable characters, fantastic production values and plenty of fun puzzling.

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.

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.

The nightmarish journey in Slender Threads isn’t for the faint of heart, but those with a morbid sense of humor will love the fun of unraveling the delightfully quirky goings-on in the strange town of Villa Ventana.

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.

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.

Old Skies takes the well-worn concept of time travel and shoots it back through history to make it fresh again. It’s a beautiful, wonderfully written and acted tale both epic and personal, with enough time-bending conundrums to keep even the most jaded adventure gamer guessing.

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.

In celebrating a love of music, Blue Wednesday is less a full-fledged adventure than a casual version of “Piano Hero” with some dialogue, exploration and other mini-games mixed in, all wrapped in a cutesy-looking but uncomfortable story about whether it’s worthwhile chasing your dreams.

Despite a puzzling choice to include some timed dexterity-based sequences, if you enjoy moderate lateral thinking challenges and dying often in creative and gruesome ways, Is This Game Trying to Kill Me? surely fits the bill.

The Bookwalker isn’t about inventing new wheels but combining familiar concepts in intriguing ways, ably marrying point-and-click adventuring and turn-based combat to provide a dark world to explore, filled with surprises that are ultimately more intriguing than its grand finale.

Planet of Lana breaks no new ground, but it’s a beautiful and frequently captivating sci-fi puzzle-platforming experience.

INDIKA is an eclectic mix of graphic styles and gameplay about a young nineteenth-century Russian nun that will keep you glued to your seat with its challenging but mature reflection on faith and human morality.

Farewell North’s beautiful Scottish setting pulls you in with its canine star and cozy gameplay, then immerses you in a touching story about loss and letting go that’s well worth seeing through to the end.

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

It’s much the same as fans will remember, but the Brothers remake pairs an already wonderful game with a stunning graphic overhaul and co-op multiplayer option.

The updated Amerzone: The Explorer’s Legacy is a beautiful experience through a fantasized rainforest on a quest to save a dying race of birds that will leave you thinking about it long after the credits have rolled.

The Midnight Walk is a stunning achievement in visual, audio, and narrative design. It may not present much challenge in overcoming its trials and tribulations, but the touching journey of The Burnt One and Potboy through a dark, disturbing hand-sculpted world of clay will surely light a spark that warms your soul.

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is just a ton of fun. It’s a perfect replacement for a family movie night, with two funny and endearing hours of lightly challenging mystery and engaging story.

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.

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

Skunkape’s remaster of Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse completes the entire Telltale trilogy, and its technical improvements make it sparkle that much more while retaining its classic comedy content.

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.

Amusingly written and simply enjoyable to play, this isn’t just an adventure for heavy rock fans. Rock ‘n’ Roll Will Never Die! may have a few flaws, but it’s a wild ride that should appeal to any adventure game fan looking for a light and engaging story.

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.

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.

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.

Though the story of No Sleep For Kaname Date is pared down and the psync segments are still as frustrating as ever, the first Somnium Files game not written by Uchikoshi is still an enjoyable romp thanks to its added escape room gameplay and sense of humor.

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.

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.

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.”

Playing with anthropomorphic stickers on a sticker book using stickers to solve sticky situations is a can’t-miss premise. While A Tiny Sticker Tale will surely be too simple to appeal to everyone, and the story could have been more robust, younger kids should love it and it has enough charm and satisfying puzzles to ensure a joyful few hours for just about anyone.

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.

Loco Motive is the full package. Grab a ticket, put on your thinking cap, and hop on the Reuss Express, as this is one of the finest cartoon point-and-click adventures ever created.

With The Bunker, Frictional has boiled the series’ gameplay formula down to its most salient and effective horror elements while trimming any excessive fat. For fans of horror, only three words are necessary: go play it!

Like a Sherlock Holmes investigation at the bottom of the sea, there are many compelling secrets to be unveiled in the gorgeous underwater scenery of Thalassa’s titular sunken ship.

CARIMARA: Beneath the forlorn limbs is an attention-grabbing introduction to a strange and original fantasy world that features an engaging spin on the detective genre, but our time there is so brief that it’s hard to come away fully satisfied.

Gloomy Eyes is a dark but lovely fairy tale, revived from its previous VR-exclusive short film form and given new life with a welcome if fairly shallow layer of gameplay.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but for those looking something unlike anything else out there, Promise Mascot Agency offers a bizarre flavor of storytelling that feels inventive and fresh. It doesn’t have the staying power to keep its repetitive gameplay interesting throughout, but the richness of the world and unapologetic insanity more than make up for its excesses.

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.