Monorail Stories’ striking graphics and professional voice-overs unite to tell an endearing story that builds to a suspenseful finale.

Alone in the Dark is a fascinating dive into the sick psyche of a gallery of characters worthy of the most vibrant Call of Cthulhu campaigns while offering a universe rich enough to initiate a new, original and exciting franchise.

Golem is fun little puzzle-platformer with a top-notch presentation both in sound and art direction. It’s not particularly challenging, but it’s an extremely well-made side-scrolling adventure about an unlikely but delightful friendship.

Baker Street Breakouts: A Sherlockian Escape Adventure is logically invigorating, where every escape room provides unique challenges and subtly tells the game’s story alongside the text boxes. There could have been more focus on characters outside of Holmes and Moriarty, and the visual presentation is somewhat standard, yet each room is strikingly varied. The developer’s creative energies are readily apparent, and any Sherlock Holmes fan or puzzle gamer will enthusiastically savor this title.

Not quite perfect, this Broken Sword: Director’s Cut is still the best port of an adventure game on the DS to date.

Slice of Sea sets you loose in a gorgeously illustrated dreamscape and trusts you to figure out what needs doing along the way. Its lack of direction won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you long to get lost in beautiful otherworldly surroundings, you won’t want to miss it.

I fell from Grace needs to be played more than once to get the most out of a shifting story driven by your choices. If you enjoy tales with darker tones or gritty urban dramas, you definitely cannot miss this.

Based on true events and inspired by actual refugees, Bury me, my Love is not just one outstandingly written story of hope and tears, it is many.

Hollow Cocoon takes inspiration from other horror stealth games in all the right ways, with an effectively scary monster and beautiful environments that encourage roaming and lingering.

Truly frightening – yet not overwhelming so – Cosmic Void’s Devil’s Hideout encapsulates a memorable horror adventure through eerie pixel art, creative storytelling, outstanding voice work, and creepy soundscapes.

A masterfully crafted adventure, Murder Is Game Over: Streaming Death offers a rich narrative and engaging gameplay that immerses players in a suspenseful, ghostly mystery without the gore.

Sam & Max: The Devil’s Playhouse – Remastered keeps the overall game the same while polishing the presentation. Yet, one or two missing elements from the remastered predecessors and the confusing narrative of the last two episodes hold it back from true greatness. If you are a Sam & Max fan or someone new to the Sam & Max universe, this game and its predecessors are both the best reminiscent journey and gateway imaginable.

Fans of the classic cartoon adventures will find their fix with this brilliantly traditional adventure.

Still, with its clever, elegant puzzles and a light-hearted plot loaded with twists, it is definitely the most enjoyable game I have played in a long time.

The Fall is a short but excellent first chapter of a planned trilogy. Even as it neatly wraps up its own story, it leaves enough questions unanswered (and raises some new ones) to create anticipation for the follow-up.

Aside from some of the underwhelming additions, Professor Layton and the Last Specter is yet another extremely competent puzzle-adventure game.

Vlad Circus: Descend Into Madness is a nostalgic journey into the 1920s circus life full of hallucinations, paranoia, humor, horror, and found-family themes.

This reimagining significantly alters the Silent Hill formula, but for those willing to put up with the occasional frustrating chase sequence, Shattered Memories is a masterpiece of atmosphere and storytelling that demands your attention.

Don't let the word "independent" concern you; this game is an excellent adventure that everyone should give a chance, especially those who like their horror mixed seamlessly with science and history.

It doesn’t last long and its humour certainly won’t be for everyone, but Leisure Suit Larry: Reloaded is an almost perfect remake that is short, sweet and loads of fun.

Dreamfall is a triumph of (unfinished) storytelling that deserves to be in every gamer's collection, despite sacrificing a little too much gameplay for its own good.

The Cave may not turn out to be the genre trailblazer that Maniac Mansion was, but this modern day classic puts a new spin on many of the adventure conventions that have been around since Colossal Cave.

Neon Hearts City blends colorful pixel-art graphics, intriguing challenges, excellent voice-overs, and mood-enhancing music to draw adventurers into its darkly exhilarating tale.

An epic tale that reunites some much-loved characters and recreates the magic of good, old-fashioned point-and-click adventuring in a hyper-attractive world, the Book of Unwritten Tales 2 is a must-play for fans of the genre.

Lost in Play is an appealing, even mesmerizing adventure game with one of the best settings ever conceived and some very amusing puzzles. There are certain plot threads that are lacking, and the challenges can be arduous, even with the hint system. Still, this is an adventure game that is well worth experiencing.

The Last Door is a great retro atmospheric horror game that will make you want to keep opening up its mysteries until you reach the end.

A lot of the gameplay borrows from old conventions, but is presented in new ways that work well with the setting and plot.

While Chapter One can be a little too cumbersome and lacking in logic at times, young Sherlock’s investigation into the many mysteries on Cordona Island provides more than ample breadth and depth for any armchair detective.

Full Throttle is another cherished page from the annals of genre history restored for a brand new audience. Though the remake will have limited appeal to those familiar with the highly polished original, the game belongs in the library of every adventure gamer, and it’s as enjoyable now as it was two decades ago.

Hampered only by some clumsy storytelling and awkward mechanical problems, Maskmaker is an immersive VR experience and an inventive adventure game with enough fun gimmicks to feel like a fresh take on the genre.

Full of charm, beauty and challenge, Snufkin: Melody of Moominvalley is a magnificent embodiment of the famous books series that provided its inspiration.

Waiting for a minute to pass has never been such whimsical fun as in the gorgeously serene Until 9:15 a.m..

Moai Better Blues is a gorgeous game to look at and listen to and a unique, enjoyable experience as a whole.

While light on the gameplay side, the first episode of Back to the Future absolutely nails the charm, humor, and sense of adventure that made the films so much fun.

Crowns and Pawns: Kingdom of Deceit is an excellent game with an engrossing story brought to life by well-executed graphics, music, interface, and voice acting.

Gemini Rue is an imperfect adventure game, but a triumph of DIY adventure development and a marvelous feat of interactive storytelling.

Kentucky Route Zero’s short, elegiac coda sweetly and sadly puts a pin on this drawn-out but richly rewarding magical realist episodic series.

There were moments early on when I began to feel a sense of missed opportunity from VirtuaVerse, but as with any good slow burn sci-fi, the stakes ramp up with the action in a much more satisfying second half to complete a beautiful, challenging point-and-click adventure.

Plot of the Druid boasts impressive graphics, music, voice acting, and puzzles that combine to enhance its intriguing story.

Stellar Mess: The Princess Conundrum (Chapter 1) is a delightful and nostalgic adventure game that successfully blends an exciting story with visually appealing graphics, captivating music, a user-friendly interface, and mostly well-constructed puzzles.

Fran Bow is a wonderfully dark and surreal adventure that is definitely worth the price of voluntary admission.

More a slick refinement than a radically different game, J.U.L.I.A. Among the Stars largely took what it got right in the already enjoyable original version and improved upon it, then added some welcome new content on top.

Tails: The Backbone Preludes is a riveting adventure with characters that encounter relatable, sympathetic scenarios while also presenting an intriguing and unique world. The choice system and well-written dialogue serve to elevate these elements, as does the overall presentation. With no voice-overs, however, reading lengthy text may eventually become tedious to some, with the game taking over seven hours to complete. Nevertheless, this is an adventure worth playing, especially for those who have enjoyed choice-driven games in the past.

The Safe Place is a compelling, expressive interactive tragedy. It contains an engrossing story brought to life by well-executed writing, graphics, music, and puzzles that will arouse the emotions of its players.

House of Ashes proves that even an annual anthology release that’s so iterative in its gameplay mechanics can still evolve in significant ways. The changes evident here, and perhaps the developer’s maturation in storytelling, result in what may be the series’ strongest entry yet.

Like No Other: The Legend Of The Twin Books delights players with its stunning hand-drawn art and engaging puzzles, showcasing a world full of untapped narrative potential. Further exploration of its story and characters could make it an even more memorable gaming experience for fans of point-and-click adventures.

Dordogne has a heartwarming story and stunning visuals. However, the mini-games may pose a challenge for players with tardy reflexes.

It's a traditional, puzzle-packed adventure with a modern graphical twist that manages to do justice to one of the most revered literary protagonists of all time.

Clifftop Games and Faravid Interactive show no sign of a sophomore slump with Whispers of a Machine. This futuristic murder mystery with some innovative gameplay, flexible puzzles, and built-in replayability should be enough to pique any adventure gamer’s interest.

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.

The founding family of Quest for Glory has returned with an all-new unofficial entry that proves worthy of its predecessors’ legacy yet still manages to distinguish itself entirely on its own. Existing fans will be thrilled to see all the classic design staples make a return in Hero-U, while newcomers can enjoy a witty, substantial (if somewhat bloated) adventure-RPG experience.

Lake is, like the waves that break on its rural American Northwest shore, soothing and peacefully regular in its routine, making it ideal for those seeking a break from a hectic life.

An intellectual and aesthetic delight, Return of the Obra Dinn is a morbidly fascinating logic puzzle disguised as a minimalist nautical adventure.

A VR tale that’s both wonderfully light-hearted and solemnly mature, the modest Ghost Giant may not be the type of game to dwell on the why or how behind its supernatural premise, but with a game as well-crafted as this one, that’s more than okay.

Those who enjoy a solid murder mystery with well-written humour and charming characters will find all that packed into a single room in Star Seeker, a short but sweet LGBTQ+ friendly pixel art adventure.

A Twist of Fate has restored my faith in the Runaway series, thanks to its engaging narrative and streamlined interface. This is a great game for Runaway fans and newbies alike.

The lack of puzzles and other challenges lets the gaming experience fall short, but the beautiful graphics, gripping story and wonderful music still make The Shattering a worthwhile experience, even if it’s an emotionally difficult one.

Debonair, aggressive, honest, deceiving—whatever your spy style, Over the Alps is a wonderful visual novel with a really fun mechanic. Picking this game up, with the promise of similar games still to come, is a choice no story lover will regret.

Eminently playable, cheekily characterised and delectably artistic, The Serpent’s Curse rekindles the romance of the much-loved Broken Sword series.

While it doesn’t do anything new and even scales back its pure horror atmosphere, Little Hope greatly impresses in other ways with a more intriguing narrative and incredibly tense – and fun – interactive sequences. If you’re new to Supermassive’s games, this may be the best jumping-in point so far.

Year Walk is beautiful meditation on darkness, love, time, and space that goes beyond traditional point-and-click and into a more immersive iOS interface.

Sporting improved visual and audio quality, the remastered Sam & Max Save the World lovingly updates the episodic classic, though a few tweaks and changes may leave it just shy of being the definitive version for some longtime fans of the original.

Short but very sweet, A Fold Apart is a hug in game form that’s sure to warm even the hardest of hearts.

A compelling if somewhat easy puzzler with a unique aesthetic inspired by medieval engravings, Apocalipsis has that melancholic appeal of a Grimm’s fairy tale on a rainy day.

Scott Whiskers in: the Search for Mr. Fumbleclaw is an entertaining mystery in which comedic, well-voiced dialogs, enlivening music, and alluring visuals work together to create a memorable experience. This game deserves to stand alongside the classics of the adventure genre.

The game rarely wows you in any one way, and the pace can drag at times in dry subject matter, but overall it’s both logical and accessible, and with its interesting approach to vampire lore and deftly crafted storyline, Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon is worth picking up.

Despite a few awkward moments and the scarcity of thigh-slapping comedy, Ceville is nevertheless one of the better recent comic adventures, with excellent cartoony graphics and delightful music combining with the irreverent humor to add much to the whimsical nature of the game.

A side-scrolling vehicle adventure with a platformer’s stylish detailing, FAR: Lone Sails is a simple but charming little ride that gradually builds up momentum and never loses its way.

A mystery-laced vision of Sweden during the pandemic, Quarantine Diary provides an engagingly resplendent journey for Carol Reed fans and newcomers alike to undertake.

Part noir thriller, part rumination on the human condition, and part ... something else, Backbone is stylish through and through, presenting more questions than answers but brimming with vibrantly realised characters.

Rather than treating Mary Shelley’s creation as the monster of so many horror movies, The Wanderer: Frankenstein’s Creature is true to the spirit of the original novel and is a treat for the eyes and ears.

Tangle Tower will captivate you from the start with its amusing art-themed murder and keep you hooked thanks to its likeable cast of characters, stellar production values, and clever logic puzzles.

A must-have for puzzle fans and definitely worth a look for anyone who values an intellectual challenge.

Its visual presentation is decidedly modest, but solid brain teasers, a quirky sense of humour, and engaging computer hacking elements make Alien Function a lot of fun to play even without any prior knowledge of the Sir Typhil series.

While its story relies on well-worn clichés, Call of the Sea is an otherwise compelling supernatural tale of self-discovery that will dazzle your eyes, delight your ears, and delightfully rack your brain.

Act IV is a slow, meandering episode that continues Kentucky Route Zero’s streak of quiet, introspective, blue collar beauty.

A clever game with beautiful graphics and well-animated characters, The Adventures of Bluke Bifton: Chapter One reveals a hilarious slant on the classic Hero’s Journey tale—though the arcade sequences can be aggravating for those who don’t care to twitch their thumbs.

Verne: The Shape of Fantasy is an incredible tribute to Jules Verne, crafting an enriching narrative with creative nods to the author’s work, set in a unique and visually appealing version of our world. While the gameplay can be somewhat elementary, and the story is occasionally too concise, it deftly entices you to keep going and discover how the plot will unfold.

Buoyed by the endearing performance of young Jerry Hazelnut, the beautiful, fantastical Night of the Rabbit rises above its shortcomings to celebrate camaraderie, courage and hope in the face of overwhelming odds.

A few technical failings aside, A New Beginning comes highly recommended. It's not often that I consider a game hard to put down, but I found myself getting deeply invested in the plot as it unravelled thanks to its convincing characterisation and an increasingly gripping storyline. Although there's an obvious environmental focus, there's also a strong heart to the story and it's this that powers your desire to play on. Any minor problems that arise are quickly overshadowed by the stunning artwork and the inventive, well-integrated puzzles, so whatever your view on global warming, do yourself a favour and shell out the green for A New Beginning.

Forsaking both challenging gameplay and a traditional narrative structure, The Norwood Suite is a welcome odyssey into oddity that will more than satisfy those craving strangeness or just another piece of the delightful Off-Peak universe.

Amid The Ruins really delivers in setting the stage for the series conclusion, creating both expected and unexpected challenges that strike at the heart of fragile group dynamics.

Interrogation: You will be deceived ambitiously marries adventure, RPG and strategy elements with a dark edge that will even have you asking questions of yourself.

Telltale start the new Walking Dead season with a bang, delivering a tense and gripping episode that thrusts a familiar face into new desperation and dangers.

Danganronpa 2 is a sequel adhering to the motto, Don’t change, just improve. Some of the same problem areas are still present, but much has been smoothed out or enhanced for a superior entry over what was already a good first effort.

In spite of this chapter's sometimes bland early tone and uneven puzzle mechanics, Rise of the Pirate God and the series as a whole both come with my highest recommendation as a modern adventure genre must-play.

Despite its misleading title, Layton Brothers stands on its own as an addictive, quirky and refreshing mystery adventure that can be the start of a solid new investigation series.

A Myst clone/homage through and through, Quern doesn’t break any new ground, but it’s an impressive debut adventure that would do Atrus proud.

can easily recommend Overclocked, but in doing so I will reiterate that the game will not be for everyone. It is, first and foremost, a game that has a story to tell, and it's this tale that takes precedence over the whole adventure.

Inked: A Tale of Love is an excellent adventure game. The compelling story and the concept behind it should appeal to most adventure game fans, and especially to lovers of physics-based puzzles.

While not without its flaws, Rauniot delivers an immersive, atmospheric experience with relatable characters and a vividly realized post-apocalyptic world. Its innovative fast-travel system and logical puzzles shine, even as thin storytelling and strange design choices occasionally hold it back.

Despite the odd rough story edge and puzzling design choice, The City That Dares Not Sleep is a refreshing, triumphant end to The Devil's Playhouse.

Series fans will definitely want to catch a ride on the Rufus Time Travel Express, as the countdown to disaster in Deponia Doomsday packs a grin-inducing, mind-boggling, oft-repeated wallop.

Murder Malady is tragic, amusing, oddly dreamlike, and a lot of fun in a gentle way – it’s another Carol Reed game, and yet another good one!

Though it doesn't chart new territory with its premise, Lost Chronicles of Zerzura combines all the right elements to create a thoroughly enjoyable old-school adventure.

You may wonder what all of the beautiful set pieces have to do with the story, and you may knock your head against a few stubbornly long and tedious puzzles, but you can't help but walk away moved by the wonderful world of Stonebriar.

Detective Gallo is a comic-noir point-and-click adventure starring a grumpy, sarcastic rooster as he tries to solve a case of plant destruction. What’s not to like? Except maybe that there’s not more of it.

Scratches is a great adventure game that shouldn't be missed by anyone who enjoys a story well told within a scary, gothic presentation.