Tipping Point is an odd game with a handful of frustrations, but there are enough positive aspects to justify its almost negligible price of iPad admission.

A combination of the eponymous Inquisitor’s acerbic charisma, a compelling story and ambitious production quality overcome a plague of minor gameplay issues to keep you interested in the first episode of this four-part series.

Although an endearing tribute to classic first-person horror adventures, The Curse of Shadow House collapses under the weight of too many concepts that lack strong implementation, creating an uneven experience.

Alone in the Park offers a different approach to treasure hunting, though it’s anything but a pleasant, annoyance-free afternoon stroll.

Sassy journalist Sam Peters makes the most of her moment in the sun in this neat little Secret Files spin-off, reclaiming some of the series’ former glory by demystifying an ancient African legend.

Dream Chamber feels like a game born out of good ideas that lost their way and were abandoned halfway through, leaving a curious collection of ill-fitting pieces in the opening installment.

An awkward translation and poorly-clued puzzles let it down somewhat, but Helga Deep in Trouble looks good, tries hard and has some genuinely hilarious moments.

With a captivating backstory and engaging, challenging puzzles, ASA: A Space Adventure is a welcome addition to the pantheon of Myst-style puzzle-adventure games.

Detective Case and Clown Bot’s fun plot and interesting characters get obscured by uneven and potentially offensive jokes, one-trick gameplay, and poor audio quality.

It’s hard to tell if it’s the protagonist of Guise of the Wolf that’s cursed or the game itself. Stay away from this clunky mess of a game.

Conspirocracy offers some meaty puzzles and more than a few chuckles that make it well worth playing, but it runs out of steam somewhat and lacks the ambition for true greatness.

Tales from the Dragon Mountain 2 improves on the puzzles of the first game, but the other limitations remain and its ending proves unsatisfying.

Simply the second part of a game that should have shipped as one entity, Dracula 5 is a brief and unsatisfying adventure that won’t score the good vampire any new fans.

Mount Olympus is a repetitive, lackluster, and simplistic experience barely masquerading as an original adventure.

CastleAbra is a whimsical romp through old-fashioned fantasy environments that will amuse gamers who can embrace its retro sensibility, zany scenarios, and tough inventory puzzles.

The shadows on the Vatican are darkening as the series gathers major momentum with the efficiently designed, tightly scripted, very enjoyable Act II: Wrath.

The thought-provoking Ossuary is a game that exercises your brain in more ways than one, with a multitude of diversions to find.

realMyst’s Masterpiece Edition offers spectacular enhancements to an already iconic adventure game – even the Myst naysayers should be pleasantly surprised by the new visuals and interface revisions.

With a threadbare story and very low challenge threshold, Black Rainbow is a game that won’t appeal to any but the most novice of casual gamers.

Whilst a pleasant diversion, the lack of story and immersion-breaking gameplay will likely make the memory of Sea of Giants sink without trace after finishing.

With little more to offer than superficial weirdness and pretty polygons in this series debut, it’s best to wait and see where Catmouth Island goes before investing any time in this underwhelming adventure.

Evil Pumpkin’s tricks and treats are about evenly doled out in this quirky casual entry in a wonderfully imaginative Halloween world.

Episode two is a definite improvement over its predecessor, but the AR-K series still has a ways to go to fulfill its potential.

Full of promise but little enjoyment, Enola is a unique and disturbing story wrapped in a bad game.

Andrew Plotkin’s Hadean Lands is an ambitious, text adventure puzzlefest that does nearly everything right.

If you’re a hardcore fan of the Gold Rush! original, there might be some value in picking up Anniversary on sale. If you’re not, don’t waste your hard-earned riches.

Putt-Putt Joins the Parade is a decent first outing for the cheerful purple car that will make its younger audience smile, but a number of limitations reflect its status as Humongous’ first junior adventure.

Charming, beautiful and often satisfying, Amphora’s vague goals and finicky physics can be frustrating at times, but if you have the patience you’re in for a unique experience.

Whilst a lack of gameplay variety and a slightly lacklustre ending limit its appeal, Contradiction manages to provide solid FMV production values and an interesting mystery to solve.

Belladonna is a very short but engaging diversion for people more interested in reading than actual adventuring.

More quirky than funny, A Dreadly Business is by no means spectacular, but nor does it do anything wrong, settling for being a solid, well-made debut episode.

Hugo Pratt’s title character is nicely represented through collectible memorabilia and original artwork, but Corto Maltese: Secrets of Venice fails to deliver an engaging story or gameplay experience worthy of its source material.

A cast of interesting characters provides the focal point for Quasar, a simple sci-fi adventure that is over all too soon.

The Inquisitor loses its way through The Village with a poorly designed, technically weak sequel that fails to capitalise on the strengths of its brazen story and brutal, brilliant title character.

Sea of Darkness is a fine entry in the Nancy Drew pantheon, relying on the series’ strengths of character development, exploration, and writing.

It raises some interesting questions, but short of whiling away an hour in a doctor’s waiting room somewhere, I see little reason to recommend Rituals for any actual fun.

It’s a bummer that a game that looks as good, and is as well-designed and polished as Alum, misses the boat on story so badly.

MechaNika is a unique concoction of childlike presentation and mature content that doesn’t seem to know which audience it’s trying to please, and never quite manages to fulfill its own evident potential.

Why Am I Dead at Sea is a solid and complex supernatural whodunit, recommended for those who don’t mind plenty of reading and old-school production values.

Damn Virgins is more of an uneven frat house comedy than apocalyptic blockbuster, but its heart is in the right place and its puzzle foundations are sound.

City Quest offers a pixelated trip down nostalgia lane but its uninspired sense of humor and lack of challenge make for a somewhat disappointing homage to golden era classics.

The haunting nautical adventure from Deck13 hasn’t benefited at all from its long-delayed localization, but it’s worth a whirl for spooky game enthusiasts.

Nevermind represents a worthy concept and provides an unsettling atmosphere that fans of thrillers will love, but by the time you’re starting to wonder where the story is going, you’ll realize you actually completed the game twenty minutes earlier.

If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, The Black Watchmen is an excellent introduction to alternate reality games, successfully merging an engaging fictional world with real-world activities and challenging puzzles that are best solved collaboratively with other players.

PataNoir is an amusing wordplay game that doesn’t live up to the uniqueness of its premise.

Thanks to Prominence’s flair for deft narrative and savvy interactivity, this is a mission with which science fiction buffs and fans of first-person exploratory adventures will want to engage.

It’s based on a fun idea and setting, but Jerry McPartlin isn’t nearly ambitious enough or committed enough to its humor to leave any lasting impact. What a drag.

With its lighter tone and smaller scale, The Last Crown: Midnight Horror is a nice little snack for fans of the first game before the next main course.

A journey down The Rivers of Alice brings winsome sights, innovative music, and intricate puzzles, but the philosophical waters are deceptively shallow without much story cohesiveness or character development.

Message Quest is great for a lite adventure breather in between heavier games, offering an hour or two of fun without too much thinking involved.

Adventurezator‘s heart is in the right place, but for all its charm and potential, neither the game itself nor its built-in user creation system is quite there yet.

Perhaps better suited as a jumping-off point for newcomers than existing fans, Dog Mendonça and Pizza Boy is a perfectly serviceable game in its own right but falls just short of the mark set by the graphic novels.

The Land of Lamia is a quiet yet intriguing little project featuring a fantastical world and satisfying puzzles, but it doesn’t feel like a full game and will ultimately leave you wanting more.

With myriad design and localization flaws, it’s best to let Undercover Missions: Operation Kursk-141 rest at the bottom of the ocean.

Although it wastes most of its narrative potential, for anyone who just wants to play a game chock-full of fun and unusual puzzles while exploring a charming and nostalgia-inducing environment, A Short Tale provides plenty of entertainment for a few hours.

Although it might be worth checking out Red Comrades Save the Galaxy for the sake of novelty alone, don’t expect too much from either the plot or the puzzles. You’ll just end up confused anyway.

A love letter to gamers who prefer first-person, devilishly difficult, puzzle-heavy adventures, Catyph offers tasty dollops of sci-fi and a hint of Myst.

If you’ve got a few hours to spare, the colorfully casual Royal Trouble sequel is a breezy way to spend them, though there’s no escaping some disappointment at its slight puzzling and story.

A charming game about two robots surviving the apocalypse, Wanda has a surprising amount of humanity packed into its fairly short playtime.

Remade as a modern text adventure, Lifestream is a clever supernatural mystery that is not without its flaws but manages to be better than the sum of its parts.

A lighthearted distraction that may be more appreciated by the younger crowd, Tick’s Tales has a degree of charm but never really delves into anything more substantial or interesting.

Some slick visuals and good intentions can’t make up for the fact that The Grandfather is simply too short and under-developed to deliver on its intriguing premise and experimental aspirations.

Dishing up triumphs and frustrations in equal measure, The Eyes of Ara is a game no puzzle lover should miss, while story-driven adventurers should consider themselves sufficiently warned.

If you have a strong masochistic urge to inflict a few hours of excruciating, pretentious sociopolitical ramblings interspersed with bouts of petty cruelty and vulgarity upon yourself, Désiré is the game for you.

While the story is anything but deep, underneath Pan-Pan’s pretty face beats the heart of a solid puzzle-adventure that provides a couple hours of light-hearted entertainment.

A revival of a classic adventure series, the episodic King’s Quest is itself an instant classic, giving each new installment its own unique focus. Wise, brave, and compassionate adventurers alike should definitely consider having a crack at it.

Barrow Hill: The Dark Path is a competent throwback to old-school horror-themed point-and-click games. It doesn’t break any new ground, but it does its forebears proud.

A little mechanical clunkiness can’t hide the heart beneath Tales, which shines with a love of stories, puzzles and humanity.

The superficial use of Asian motifs and a playable dog protagonist aren’t enough to flesh out the universal themes of life and death in the stylish but extremely short Don’t Disturb.

If you enjoy retro sounds and graphics, Paul Pixel may be worth the amusement it provides in its very brief play time, but you’ll need to accept a lack of any depth in both story and gameplay.

With an art style as beautiful as the princess you’re aiming to save, Little Briar Rose is a fun but familiar jaunt through a comfortable, old fairy tale.

This haven for my eyes and ears was also an unrelenting obstacle course for my brain. Though it often left me frustrated, I know there are puzzle-patient adventure gamers who will relish this unusual combination and just might find themselves elatedly over the moon.

Midvinter is actually a decent little game, though for something that touts itself as a cross between Monkey Island and Over the Garden Wall, it is neither funny, deep, nor imaginative enough to really warrant such a comparison. While it is impressive that the game was created by just one person (and a composer), its flat characters, sub-par voice acting, and lack of story and gameplay depth left me feeling like it might have been improved by collaboration to expand its scope. Still, if you have an interest in the unique setting and culture of Scandinavian mythology and want a relatively challenge-free game to finish in a single sitting, Midvinter would certainly fit the bill.

Escape from Pleasure Planet is one of the few games attempting to hone in on an underrepresented thematic niche, which is very laudable. However, while it incorporates its homosexual elements very tastefully, it isn’t nearly as successful at being an enjoyable game. Hindered somewhat by technical shortcomings and a lackluster story, what really sinks the deal are the inconsistent, sometimes unfair, often frustrating or joyless changes in gameplay that force players to participate in filler tasks that are poorly explained, if at all. What results is an experiment that has a praiseworthy premise but falls short of providing any actual fun. I’d like to see Captain Tycho Minogue return for more galactic exploits, but this isn’t the game to cause his star to rise.

While Among the Innocent has a solid foundation for a tense psychological thriller, this exceptionally short game as a whole never really comes together and is neither intriguing or scary.

Mr. Shadow is a joy to behold with a high degree of challenge, though it stumbles more than once due to some obtuse puzzles and the decision to focus on style over substance.

The Last Time is a fantastic little point-and-click adventure game that puts story and character first. As a tale about growing old within the framework of a murder mystery, it is skillfully told and hits many emotional points on its way to the finale. Though it's a bit too short for its own good, it's definitely worth a few playthroughs to experience the different actions you can take and, most of all, to be fully sucked into the story and appreciate the quality of such relatable characters that inhabit this melancholy, dreary but darkly humorous world. A stellar effort and highly recommended.

Beyond its strong story it doesn’t excel at any particular elements, but The Beard in the Mirror is a pleasant little retro adventure, which a fan of such things will certainly enjoy playing.

Outside of the story failings, which are really inexcusable after three/four complete games, there’s some solid adventuring to be found in this hellish town. The problem is that the game takes one misstep backward for every step forward. Excellent puzzle ideas are hindered by flawed implementation, while the dramatic shifts in gameplay are likely to alienate many players. Were hour-long, fright-free puzzles the missing link for survival horror fans? Were adventure gamers clamouring for punishing platforming sequences and boss fights? There’s a market in the middle, to be sure, but even for them, Doorways: Holy Mountains of Flesh is too uneven to fully embrace. There are things here to enjoy, but be prepared for an uphill climb.

As much as I wanted to enjoy this title, I couldn't get past Agatha Knife's many irksome issues, which quickly added up over the eight hours I spent with it. Although it charmed me with its adorable artwork and solid writing, the inexcusable amount of backtracking, (largely) simplistic puzzles and practically non-existent sound design derailed most of the fun I'd squeezed out of the game. I applaud Mango Protocol for tackling subjects that you don't usually encounter in point-and-click adventures, and I genuinely laughed out loud at some of Agatha's musings on religion, animal rights, and consumerism. Sadly, these moments of amusement lack strong gameplay elements to support them. It may still be worth a playthrough if you're into irreverent humor, smart-mouthed seven-year-olds and meat, but it's doubtful that you'll want to revisit the experience once you've introduced your flock to the Great Bleeding Pig in the sky.

The Frostrune is an enjoyable adventure game for both experienced and inexperienced players, with challenging puzzles and an atmospheric setting from a rarely-explored culture.

Ultimately, Sandra and Woo in the Cursed Adventure is a game of heart and rough edges. It brings the web comic to life with some style, and tries to fill the protagonists’ world with chewy puzzles and meaty minigames, but manages to try a little too hard and winds up falling over the line from fun but tricky to hair-tearing and occasionally obtuse. The appeal is all about character, and sending the heroes to a fantasy world really helps to bring that out; just don't hope for too much of a tight storyline. If you're already a fan of the comic, it's easy to recommend this game. And even if you’re not, so long as you're patient (or like to think outside the box), you'll likely find Sandra and Woo to be entertaining companions for an unexpected journey.

Loaded with quirky humor and challenging yet satisfying puzzles, Chronicle of Innsmouth works as both a retro adventure game and a loving tribute to H.P. Lovecraft.

Although the story is ultimately a disappointment, Ahnayro’s highly-polished puzzle mechanics, dreamlike atmosphere, and budget-friendly pricing make this a very worthwhile buy for gamers who yearn for something a little different.

Breathtakingly beautiful and fiendishly logical, XING: The Land Beyond will spark your ingenuity and kindle a keen delight as you trek its entrancing pathways.

The surreal presentation may draw a lot of the attention, but Maggie’s Apartment proves equal parts strange, artistic, and entertaining as you slowly peel back the quirky layers of a mystery that proves deceptively deep.

A solid but unremarkable casual experience, The Mystery of Haunted Hollow surrounds its creepy tale with a nice variety of easy puzzling and places to explore.

Mystery of Rivenhallows isn’t a terrible game so much as a terribly underwhelming one – a short, easy, bland adventure whose budget price is its main redeeming quality.

Once the momentum picks up, the three-part Bear With Me is a funny, well-written point-and-click adventure, with memorable characters that will stick with you for a long time.

Tales of Cosmos is an adventure in the classic mould, putting puzzles before story, having fun before making much sense, and ideas before polish. Whether that’s refreshing or just old-fashioned is up to you.

Even though it doesn’t offer much story or puzzle depth, Tiny Echo is nevertheless a treat for the eyes and an enchanting journey worth every minute of its two-hour playtime.

Trackless feels like it’s trying to offer some kind of social commentary, but any deeper meaning remains unclear, and nothing of any substance is ever revealed. In the end, that leaves us with a cool blend of puzzle styles that is perhaps worth a single cursory playthrough for those looking for something a little different.

An adventure out of time, Thaumistry‘s a lighthearted text romp that casts its entertaining puzzle magic on the modern era.

With enough updates finally addressing the most serious technical problems at launch (though some still remain), the clever second entry is a funny and much more substantial cartoon romp through Victorian London.

Misao’s potential for an engrossing, topical storyline is unfortunately shoved aside in favor of aimless exploration, but with the right expectations and a budget price, horror fans might find it worth a look.

Other than the mildly non-linear, Her Story-style keyword investigation, How to shoot a criminal’s dull story and boring videos don’t leave much else to see in this FMV mystery game.

An intriguing first attempt at a gumshoe adventure modeled on the Carol Reed footprint. First-person mystery fans and Carol devotees should definitely give Silent Footsteps a go.

Little Kite tackles themes of abuse, drug addiction, and childhood trauma in a manner that few others dare, though its content might be a little too bleak for some players.