The new directions the game goes in dilute the qualities that made the first Dark Fall so great, and it ends up being much less immediate, real and frightening than its predecessor.

Close to the Sun is a decent enough exploratory mystery, but it misses the boat on substantial gameplay or any real horror by settling for cheap thrills over suspense.

Even a lowered difficulty wouldn't be that big of a deal — sometimes I want a game so hard that my head hurts, and sometimes it's nice to relax with something simpler. But when challenge is replaced by backtracking busywork, it becomes very tedious very quickly, especially considering the game's 8 to 10 hour length.

Reveling in its own eccentricity, Trüberbrook’s quirky characters, stunningly vivid backdrops and engaging dialogue for the most part make up for some flaws in its ambitious but rushed narrative.

It may be a little dense and awkward on occasion, but Warp Frontier boldly flies into some deep, dark places, mostly managing to balance challenging puzzles with personal choices and big ideas.

With its five episodes now complete, Song of Horror’s obtuse puzzles, meandering story and frustratingly unintuitive gameplay result in an experience that’s rarely scary but often exasperating.

If you are looking for a brain-teasing experience full of complex puzzles to blow your mind, Memento Mori has little to offer along those lines. But if you are fan of story-driven adventures, you'll find a promising new adventure to fill your needs in this gripping psychological drama (albeit disguised as a conspiracy thriller) with one of the most shocking and memorable endings the genre has seen in a long time.

To those who don't find timed sequences a game killer, the original story, unique locale, and ever-charming Alan Parker Cameron help make the game a memorable, though slightly tarnished, experience.

Delightfully creepy and packed with content, Someday You’ll Return will keep you on the edge of your seat with its exploration of a dark forest and darker forces and leave you pondering what it all means when it’s finally over.

The Magnificent Trufflepigs offers a gorgeous stroll through the English countryside which sadly gets muddied by some weak story choices and repetitive gameplay.

Fans of the original will no doubt persevere and get to experience the worthwhile moments of the second half, but others may find its slow development too boring, its story a little too lost for its own good.

A series of small issues prevent it from shining as brightly as it could have, but its fun puzzles in a cool setting make Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island an entertaining adventure.

Sleekly packaged and eminently playable, Yesterday conceals the darkness of the human mind within a beautiful artistic canvas; drawing you in with glimpses of dreadful secrets and leaving you shocked, yet satisfied, with its twisted narrative.

There are certainly some positive elements in Insecticide that make it worth a look, mainly in the classic "adventure" half of its action-adventure gameplay. The trouble is, that’s only half of what is only half a game to begin with.

A Murder of Ravens ends the story on a cheap note and doesn’t quite live up to the promise laid out in the opening, but it’s certainly more fun than the preceding chapter.

A passable game in a fascinating, unique sci-fi world, Cradle is fine to explore but constantly reminds you how much more it could be.

A very humours game. With luminous graphics, dozens of different locations to explore, and a zany set of characters to interact with it is a value at the retail price of $30 US. Oh and it has toilets… lots of them.

The Hardy Boys are reliable protagonists, the slightly but steadily increasing challenge of the puzzles will be an excellent primer for more difficult adventures, and who knows, they might even learn something in the process.

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 is absolutely comical the depths that the game stoops to in order to hold your hand.

Twin Mirror is DONTNOD’s attempt to do something outside of their usual wheelhouse, but its poorly executed story, tedious investigation process and excruciatingly uninteresting main character prevent the game from meeting the standard of quality audiences have come to expect from the studio.

Maize cobbles together a solid adventure from its surreal premise, passive storytelling and labyrinthine environments, but those who enjoy offbeat humour will reap most of the rewards.

Despite a few narrative stumbles en route, Stairs is a short but effective scarer wrapped in some very pretty packaging.

This game has a suprising charm and beauty, with enough depth to keep you playing until the end. A solid pick that will surely satisfy.

Transient deserves recognition for seamlessly concocting a stunning blend of sci-fi and Lovecraftian horror, but it deserves more space to fully come to fruition than what it’s afforded here.

As the first commercial installment in on ongoing series, Rusty Lake Hotel comes with both story and gameplay reservations for newcomers, and only escape-the-room fans should bother checking it out.

While the Freelance Police are just as funny and sound as good as ever, a reliance on VR gimmicks and underwhelming gameplay prevent This Time It’s Virtual! from being a notable entry in the beloved Sam & Max franchise.

Chasing Static offers a brief and intriguing foray through a foreboding retro-horror landscape, but its barebones story and under-explored ideas make it feel like a warm-up instead of a main event.

Insomnis on the PlayStation 5 isn’t quite a next-generation experience but is nonetheless a thrilling haunted house adventure worth playing should you have missed out on the original release.

Although marred by some technical issues at launch, as well as some poorly-implemented action sequences, the charm of this world and pull of its story are enough to make Blacksad: Under The Skin an engaging adaptation of the popular graphic novel series.

Orwell’s Animal Farm is a very good reimagining of the famous novel, staying true to the spirit of the dystopic Republic of the Animals. Though it lacks the kind of puzzles and gameplay to make it a full-fledged adventure, it’s a must-play for those who would enjoy a well-executed exploration of a classic novel.

With a fun off-screen companion and an interesting story to delve into based on real-world concerns, The Bradwell Conspiracy is a fairly enjoyable experience even if a weak ending and an assortment of glitches hold it back from its full potential.

It ends way too soon and could really use a better backstory, but Alt-Frequencies is a simple and fun game that is totally worth playing for a unique new experience, and even more so if you have affection for FM radio.

The setting is inviting and the puzzles are solid, but unless you're a devoted series diehard, desperately seeking something new for your Wii, or have friends to join you in multiplayer, I suggest you consider leaving Mystery Case Files: The Malgrave Incident to gather dust on the store shelf.

A reasonably enjoyable game that aims to appeal to adventure and RPG fans, but one which never fully capitalises on its potential.

It’s rather short in length and lacks much story substance, but Journey of a Roach is a charming, original adventure that genre fans and newcomers alike will enjoy.

Ghost of the Dusk is likely not going to help much putting Jake Hunter on the map in the West. For every step forward its main story takes, the side cases negate with dull and drawn-out sessions of tap-the-screen, making them feel more like padding that will try the patience of even devoted visual novel fans.

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.

While the uneven Devil’s Daughter doesn’t reach the heights of previous games in the series, there is enough here to warrant a playthrough and fans can safely add this to their expanding collection of the super sleuth’s adventures.

Secret Files 2 is a highly-polished, enjoyable sequel that’s better than its Tunguskan predecessor in several key ways.

Overall, there is much to recommend in this handheld conversion, but if you’ve played the PC version already, bear in mind that it’s only a port.

Whatever the root cause, the story is solid on the whole, and these few foggy moments didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

The Tree of Life is a game that may appeal to hardcore adventure gamers, but be prepared to overlook a lot of very fundamental faults.

Perhaps best left locked in the past, The Silver Case is not worth looking into unless you REALLY like visual novels and Suda51 and have a lot of patience.

The Franz Kafka Videogame offers a highly surreal taste of the renowned author’s works in a linear puzzle-oriented experience, but lacks enough depth to truly do them justice.

Vertical Reach’s foray into horror is a successful merging of PS1-era classics and its own unique DNA, with engaging puzzles and a lovely cast of characters.

Though it lacks much in the way of interesting gameplay, An Airport for Aliens Currently Run by Dogs boasts hilarious dialogue and dark mysteries to uncover from its wonderfully diverse canine cast, and its ambiguous undertones are proof that not all dogs see things in black and white.

The many Nancy Drew fans and DS adventure gamers may be interested in this title, but I can’t really recommend it to any audience. Even for a younger gamer, the repetitive gameplay will likely get boring before the end, and the tedium will quickly be felt by a more seasoned adventure gamer.

J.U.L.I.A. is a unique and thoroughly enjoyable mission of remote planetary exploration and puzzle-solving.

Whispering Willows has an engaging story and superlative production quality, but fails to build on its strengths, eventually becoming an exercise in drudgery due to its insipid quests and irritating game design.

Fire fits perfectly into Daedalic’s stable of fantastical worlds inhabited by colorful protagonists, but as a fairly casual puzzler it likely won’t entice the hardboiled adventurer with its extreme linearity and low challenge.

P.O.L.L.E.N is a slick, atmospheric and unnerving experience that is let down by its short length, confused plot and tired storytelling devices.

Murder in the Abbey is ultimately one of those games that is fairly enjoyable to play through yet leaves you with the feeling that something is missing.

Lost At Sea takes on a bold concept, and does a serviceable job of telling its story through well-designed puzzles. That said, many other parts of the game feel underdeveloped, and while still a memorable experience, a bit more expansion could have made it unforgettable.

Mysterious Cities of Gold faithfully recreates the look of the television show, but its shallow, repetitive, and unimaginative gameplay should have you prospecting somewhere else.

Though its gameplay isn’t very deep, Sea of Solitude is a beautiful, at times poignant adventure that will linger with you long after you’ve left it in your wake.

Chronique des Silencieux features striking story beats, characters, visuals, and music. However, the gameplay frustrations and technical issues become tremendously irritating, so players may question whether they want to push through to the end.

Despite its interesting philosophical concept, Pneuma ultimately doesn’t do anything to elevate itself above being an average first-person puzzle-based adventure.

It's an auspicious debut that should appeal to sci-fi adventure fans, even if you’re not familiar with the American astronaut and his “Perryverse”.

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.

All in all, Everlight is a generally pleasing experience, though it could have been much better with a bit more spit and polish.

An incredible success in virtual tourism — truly brings the island of Capri to life, allowing the user to wander a real-life location at will. Far less successful as a coherent, playable game.

On paper, The Suicide of Rachel Foster promises a spooky ghost tale grounded in the drama of a family driven apart. While some of that potential is eventually made good on, the road there is a bit too bland and unengaging to make the whole experience shine as brightly as it should.

Unfortunately, there are too many translation problems and story gaps that leave players guessing why things are happening or have come to be. Along with the poor sound quality and invisible gameplay triggers that hinder your progress unnecessarily, the end result is a promising game that never manages to rise above its modest station.

The CSI games have become better in recent outings, but ultimately this title feels a lot like treading water, and in some respects, a small regression from the last game.

Puzzle-hungry adventurers look no further: Aura provides an endless number of puzzles, pretty static backgrounds, well-crafted cutscenes and mood music, at the expense of developing any real storyline.

A short, easy game that unfortunately lacks the characterisation and depth that could have made it more interesting to a wider audience.

Investigating a murder mystery tinged with political corruption from a balcony makes for a compelling concept, but the passive gameplay, slow pace and poor animation prevents The Flower Collectors from ever fully blooming.

The story of The Raven continues to entertain, but the second chapter fails to reach the heights of the first, with a much shorter run time and a detour from what made the opening chapter so good.

This is the kind of game that will have you showing up a bit bleary-eyed at work, because you couldn’t quite bring yourself to stop playing late into the night.

Releasing for a budget price doesn't excuse mediocre puzzle design, heavy repetition and a story with so little coherence.

If you like mysteries with just a bit of conspiracy in a thoroughly detailed historical setting, Mata Hari is the right adventure for you.

The gameplay concept is a good one and the license a natural fit, but rather than successfully complementing each other, the end result is a shallow, watered down version of each, neither fully game nor fully show.

All in all, with such an intriguing premise and strong production values, the developers had the foundation to make a great game, but the corny plot, pretentious writing, uninteresting characters, and some questionable design issues prevent it from achieving its full potential.

Vane manages to successfully present an intriguingly surreal world, but its aimless story and execution keep players from deriving much satisfaction from visiting it.

Unless you're a glutton for punishment, avoid 15 Days. There are much better adventure games-or interactive stories, for that matter-to be played.

Quest for Infamy is an ambitious, often entertaining homage that has all the ingredients for success, but the overall experience is impaired by uneven humour and lacklustre combat.

Perhaps devoted casual game fans will have some tolerance for this type of hollow experience, but ultimately The Tiny Bang Story's pieces just don't add up to a fulfilling adventure in the end.

The idea is executed effectively, but the game is consumed too fast, leaving you wanting for more from this bowl of rice. These kind of gameplay mechanics need to be implemented on a larger scale to make a real impact.

Seeing (and hearing, and playing) is believing, so do yourself a favour and check out Illusion: A Tale of the Mind, a flawed but wonderfully immersive and inexplicably-unheralded little 3D platforming adventure.

While seasoned adventure gamers will have surely visited the lost city of Atlantis many times before, and this latest excursion does include a few missteps, if you have the VR hardware to play Ryte: The Eye of Atlantis, you’ll find it worth your time for its fresh take on this age-old story.

My Beautiful Paper Smile drops players into a dark, captivating world of masks, monsters, and malice seemingly torn straight from a mad poet’s notebook, though its many memorable shocks can’t entirely distract from its frustrating gameplay elements and deceptively simplistic narrative.

The Sundew is very nice to look at and attempts to use its cyberpunk setting to cover intriguing thematic ground, but its story, gameplay and presentation come up short in just about every other way that matters.

It is much, much easier for me to recommend the game as a free browser-based Flash game than as a commercial product.

The platforming-adventure hybrid Between Me and the Night benefits from an impressive audio-visual presentation, but falls flat when it comes to narrative and puzzle integration.

Despite some solid production values, Morningstar: Descent to Deadrock is just too short and uninspired to strongly recommend.

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.

Supposedly Wonderful Future feels a bit like a cross between a heady sci-fi visual novel and a social experiment, focused on recording players’ choices when faced with moral dilemmas. Unfortunately, none of these are implemented in a way that serves the story in a meaningful way, making the experience, while unique, ultimately flat and unfulfilling.

I should also point out that The Scorpio Ritual is a short game—six to eight hours of play spread across four main locations—and it culminates with an unusually abrupt ending.

There are promising aspects of Don’t Forget Me, like its choice-based storyline and thought-provoking gameplay concepts, but clunky writing, poor localization and flawed puzzle implementation keep it from realizing much of its potential.

The large number of puzzles and colourful range of environments make Lucid Dream a worthwhile experience for those who care more for problem-solving and exploration than narrative.

Here They Lie seems like a game made for a very specific type of player who values experience over challenge or even clarity, and thus will leave many gamers cold and nonplussed at its exotic design decisions.

A positive late-game change in design ethos and cute atmospheric graphics can’t save Tales of the Neon Sea from a lack of story coherency, tedious gameplay, and poor writing.

Once The Complex enters full-on thriller mode, this compelling choice-driven tale of a trapped scientist facing terrorists and moral decisions doesn’t let up and even provides enough prompting and interesting options to weather multiple plays.

Sadly, the largely static emotion of the narrative and the inconsequential nature of the puzzles don’t flesh out the story to great effect, turning this game into just an average game, rather than a great one.

The Little Acre is a great debut effort with impressive production values for an indie studio, but sadly it’s over far too soon.

Lust from Beyond tells a thoughtful, albeit unapologetically disturbing, story. Its puzzles won’t leave you stumped for long, its action and stealth aren’t particularly engaging, and a number of technical issues are sure to cause frustration, but if you have a strong stomach for this particular brand of erotic horror, the excellent world-building and grotesque imagery will reward those who see it through.

A very entertaining game that successfully transcends its edu-tainment leanings.