The FMV mystery Jessika supplies a thought-provoking if uncomfortable story, though a number of flaws in the interface and to a lesser extent the English translation take focus away from the tale it’s trying to tell.

Though it’s over far too soon, Repressed offers a satisfying series of challenging yet fair puzzles throughout a unique visual journey that tells a heartbreaking but surprisingly hopeful story of a wounded soul.

Unfortunately, the game's confusing plot, lack of human contact, static scenes and frustrating gameplay had simply worn thin.

The puzzle structure, iffy dialogue, and subject matter make this a hard recommendation to a general audience. As the score indicates, unless you’re a hardcore horror/adventure fan, it might be wise to first play the demo, or await a price-drop.

A philosophically ambitious game that distinguishes itself from the crowd. A rewarding experience, but expect plenty of confusion along the way.

The very brief Adam’s Venture has a nice, shiny exterior, and actually feels adventurous in its physicality, but everything else is the very definition of “just okay”.

This game has a clever premise with gameplay to support it, and even though the story falls way short of its promise, players who go into it with the right expectations will find a lot to like here.

Jack Keane 2 is a fun action-packed journey at times, made far more frustrating than it needed to be due to its clumsy interface and obtuse, pace-killing puzzles.

Kate Walker’s latest expedition to save the hapless Youkols is fraught with development missteps on multiple fronts, making Syberia 3 a mammoth disappointment.

Overall, Dead Reefs offers plenty of atmosphere that teases with its potential, but really suffers from its make-shift story and weak gameplay, made worse still with poor controls.

There are clearly some areas that needed more polish in this first effort, but it’s a solid debut that the developers can surely build on.

Wales Interactive has its fans (rightfully so), and they will know what they’re in for here. But for the uninitiated or those looking for a cheesy, goofy adventure story that satisfies, Mia and the Dragon Princess ultimately fails to deliver the goods.

It has an interesting, thought-provoking story and takes an innovative approach in combining different gaming genres, but Headspun’s implementation is uneven and results in equal measures of fun and frustration.

Too unremarkable to share in its predecessor’s cult status and too clunky to rival its modern competition, Yume Nikki – Dream Diary is a reverential yet surprisingly unfaithful reimagining of its 2004 namesake.

Apart from a few pulse-pounding moments in an otherwise generic haunted house story, the weakest link in Silver Chains is that it’s just not very scary or engaging enough to survive as an adventure game otherwise.

When it sticks with its legendary Arthurian title characters, Dance of Death: Du Lac & Fey has some charming moments, but the rest of this Victorian England hunt for Jack the Ripper is a tedious, barely interactive slog.

It’s short and easy without much variation, but there’s just enough charm and humour in Gomo to make it a worthwhile experience for fans of Machinarium clones.

A muddled adventure game with little inspiration, even though it pretends to be Hitchcock-inspired. Lacking any depth or real intelligence, The Final Cut deserves to be left on the cutting room floor.

Although it delivers an abundance of horrifying imagery, the indiscriminately gratuitous Lust for Darkness falls short of delivering a truly engaging Lovecraft-meets-sex-cult experience throughout its brief three-hour play time.

With three chapters down and one to go, the Doorways series still lacks the kind of compelling story or gameplay needed for a successful horror game.

Although the game rarely excels at any particular aspect, and the loose characterisation lets it down, the presentation and story are solid enough to atone for any rough edges, and will keep you guessing until the end.

Eleusis starts off promisingly enough, but well-appointed graphics can’t make up for the lackluster story and generally poor gameplay.

Try MOTD only if you are willing to put up with rude character dialogue and idiotic puzzle solutions. If not, wait for House of Tales to release "The Moment of Silence."

Even so, while the tragic backstory is worth seeing through and the cell phone concept is novel for a while, all that’s left beyond that is a poorly-paced exploration in the dark, punctuated by a series of startling yet repetitive ghost encounters. So unless that’s your idea of a good time, this is one number that’s probably not worth picking up.

It's certainly not a bad game, just a decidedly mediocre one, so unless you're in the mood for a fairly lightweight puzzle-adventure, a purchase is not so elementary this time.

While Atlantis isn't exactly a new premise for adventure gamers, the lovely depiction of seldom-used 1930s settings and the game's rich storyline saves The Secrets of Atlantis from being just another first-person adventure clone.

As a first-person platformer, Unknown Fate has some interesting ideas; as an adventure game it is ultimately a frustrating experience.

Despite an innovative approach to an escape room-style adventure, with actions in one realm affecting another, the extensive hard-to-follow dialog, finicky controls and “to be continued” ending makes it difficult to recommend Flow Weaver as a worthwhile standalone VR experience.

With a retail price of $19.99, this game is being billed as a budget title, but it's still the shortest DS adventure game out there, and it's not worth the price.

The Fabled Woods delivers an intriguing trio of interconnected tales with a nice coat of production polish, but the game’s brevity and lack of interaction result in a power hike through the heart of the wilderness instead of a more compelling, slow-paced stroll.

There is very little about CSI: Fatal Conspiracy that would appeal to non-fans of the series.

It's enjoyable to play, but feels, at least at times, like playing basketball with a bum knee might. You have fun, yet the pain prevents you from playing at your full potential. Similarly, this game has lost some of its potential within the framework of its annoyances.

She Sees Red is a highly atmospheric, well-acted (but poorly dubbed) interactive movie that will keep you engaged for about the same length as a film before faltering a bit under its limited choice format.

Like its heroine, The Rockin' Dead may be pretty, but beauty is only skin deep, and to find any substance below the surface here, you're definitely going to need glasses.

NightCry is confusing mess of a game that nevertheless manages to provide a bit of schlocky B movie horror fun, particularly for those with fond memories of Clock Tower.

While The Sacred Rings has plenty of familiar gameplay to offer puzzle lovers, the absence of original ideas and creative spark means the game will have a limited appeal.

While the story and entertaining characters will keep you engaged until the end of The Uncertain: Light at the End, you will still need to wait for the next episode to (hopefully) discover who wins the battle between humans and robots.

More often than not, though, it ends up being the most painful, soul-destroying, stressful, rather-stick-a-rusty-nail-in-my-eye excuse for an adventure game I have ever played.

Of Bird and Cage is an experimental music album that pairs interactive elements with the songs to create a unique experience. However, the game is plagued by bad mechanics and a story that is uninteresting and devoid of nuance.

All told, it took me a little under eight hours to finish Undercover: Dual Motives, which would have been an acceptable length in a better game. As it is, the meagre storyline, uninspired puzzles, and limited exploration already seem stretched at such a modest play time, and even fans of Operation Wintersun will find this handheld successor a shallow and unrewarding experience.

While it remains an innovative and highly laudable idea which I hope will one day be put to better use, in Jazz and Faust it fails to be more than a misguided gimmick. The ‘two adventures in one’ angle fails because even with this feature, the game is extremely short.

Beyond KURSK‘s virtual tour of the ill-fated titular submarine, this self-proclaimed “adventure documentary” works as neither a compelling adventure game nor a fact-based documentary of the mysterious disaster.

Oh, the story. It promises so much, yet delivers so little.

Monumental feels like an homage to the heyday of bad Myst clones that no one should be particularly nostalgic for.

9 Elefants effortlessly copies what should have been a successful formula on paper, but a lack of puzzle variety and story relevance causes most redeeming qualities to get lost in translation.

The debut installment of Montague’s Mount is very pretty and atmospheric, but the lack of plot, puzzles or scares so far should have you waiting until the next episode before you decide whether to climb on.

House of Caravan successfully builds an eerie atmosphere of darkness, but the bare-bones story and lack of character empathy largely squander the opportunity.

Not only is there a huge amount of territory to cover and explore — a real surprise in an indie game like this — there are a lot of puzzles to solve. None of which I would call easy.

For everyone else, there’s some mild point-and-click fun to be had, but this is one adventure that’s simply too paper thin.

Possibly the worst adventure game of 2003, guaranteed to piss off both adventurers and twitchers.

Ultimately, Jekyll & Hyde is a bit like its dual protagonists: a very mixed bag.

DARKSTAR: The Interactive Movie is a game that takes a lot of patience to truly enjoy. It's not a game for everyone, as some are sure to be turned off by the rarity and simplicity of its puzzles, while others may not relish a return to the infamous days of live actors as their game characters, particularly when some of the acting reminds us why this isn't always a good idea.

Like a vampire out in the midday sun, Dracula 4 is a short-lived and painfully weak episodic prelude that should be consigned back to its coffin until the series develops some real bite.

Instead of a labor of love, Forever Worlds plays more like a last-minute, pieced-together disaster. A waste of time and money guaranteed to disappoint adventure gamers with its complete lack of depth, user-friendliness, and sincerity.

Various puzzles of seemingly frustrating insignificance litter the entire experience.

Hoodwink establishes an interesting premise in a unique setting, but its ease and occasional frustrations spoil some of the fun in this (undisclosed) episodic debut.

Artematica’s video game adaptation of Morbus Gravis is underdeveloped, unbalanced, and borderline unplayable. Only the most dedicated of Druuna fans need subject themselves to the game’s insurmountable frustrations.

Go home, watch the show for free, and save your money for much, much better games.

A good, very well-written, snack-sized adventure for fans of Laura Bow games and Jane Jensen's writing—but only those who can tolerate a heap of casual game elements in their adventures. Don't bother otherwise.

If you want to spend 15 or so hours exploring a creepy New Orleans manor inside and out, engage in some fun puzzling and giggle nervously like a little kid every time something leaps out from the dark, then get hold of Last Half of Darkness: Shadows of the Servants.

Full Pipe's initial charm and intriguing concept soon give way to a tedious and frustrating gameplay experience. It has its moments, but if the complete lack of story doesn't alienate most adventure fans, the poor quality of puzzles mostly likely will.

Diamonds in the Rough is based on an interesting premise, but its generally dull implementation prevents it from realizing its potential. Indie fans may find it worth a look, but others may want to think twice.

You may not want to live there, but the return trip to Ravenhearst offers a little something for casual gamers, puzzle lovers, and adventurers alike.

If you are a fan of story-driven games, dark mysteries and psychological tales (and don’t mind a more casual style of gameplay), you won’t need a Tarot card to know that 3 Cards to Midnight is the right game for you.

In summary, CSI: Deadly Intent is an entirely lacklustre game. The return to traditional form will please those put off by the casual surprise of last year, but even that enthusiasm won’t last for long.

3 Cards to Dead Time is a (very) lite word-based adventure that offers a gripping ghost story full of interesting characters. However, its casual nature means it isn't for everyone, and the sequel doesn't quite measure up to the standards of its predecessor.

Treasure Island isn’t as good as the source material that inspired it, but offers enough pleasant discoveries that pirate fans should find worth the journey.

Heaven may be a beautiful place to visit, but there's not nearly enough to do here to fill its few hours, let alone an eternity.

I thought the idea of working with a storm chasing team was a great premise, but not enough was really done with it to hold my interest throughout the game.

The DS is capable of better, and even diehard fans of the show won't miss much by passing on this game.

Despite the convoluted story, Midnight Mysteries: Salem Witch Trials is an entertaining game from start to finish, offering about 3 to 4 hours of gameplay in story mode.

While the storyline never really delivers on its suspenseful potential and we are still waiting for a new game engine that allows for expanded exploration, Nancy Drew: Shadow at the Water's Edge does have a lot of good things going for it.

In all, it took less than an hour to complete this episode. Hardly anything has happened so far in this king's tale, and it's hard to tell if the series is going somewhere or not.

Overall, Mystery Case Files: 13th Skull is an impressive mélange of solid storytelling, interesting gameplay and superlative production quality, and strives proactively to blur the line even more between casual and traditional adventure games.

Baron Wittard may have failed in his bid to create a real Utopia, but he did manage to leave behind a haunting legacy that many will find worth exploring in its own right.

With its barest of storylines, over-simplified gameplay, and lack of creativity overall, this beautiful game shimmers superficially before evaporating into nothingness.

With a whole extra case, better written stories and somewhat more varied analysis tasks than the last game, CSI: Unsolved! is certainly a step in the right direction, but the repetitiveness of the activities means it still isn't a great game.

If all you're looking for is the comforting, familiar feel of a Nancy Drew game with a wide variety of engaging puzzles and an entertaining supporting cast, you'll feel right at home in The Captive Curse, but if you're looking for a truly suspenseful game with a lot of exciting exploration, you may have to look elsewhere for your happily ever after.

Bigger fans will probably get a kick out of visiting Emily's world, particularly those who haven't played games like this before. For the rest of us, there are better puzzle games out there to choose from.

While the drastically different artwork and settings of this debut make a puzzle of the ghostly theme at times, its diverse gameplay, eerie soundscape, and a wide range of imaginative imagery make Age of Enigma: The Secret Of The Sixth Ghost one conundrum you'll really want to try to solve.

This basic story unfolds in less than three hours, not including the bonus chapter, which clocks in with a little over another half hour. Despite its brevity, Drawn: Trail Of Shadows is a gorgeous game that raises casual adventures to new artistic heights, and feels quite unlike any other game available (except its own predecessors). Its world of imagination is wondrous, filled with equal parts hidden dangers and flights of fancy, and with a variety of fun puzzling to solve, you'll easily be drawn into its charms.

As much as I like NCIS, if this game were a cup of coffee Gibbs would spit it out and throw it in the bin.

As you play through a wide range of well-integrated puzzles and discover a variety of fun facets of Nancy's life and the not-so-humdrum town of River Heights, you'll have a great alibi for at least ten-plus hours of sleuthing fun.

Dead Mountaineer's Hotel is almost a case study of what an adventure game shouldn't be, which is all the more unfortunate considering its immense potential.

For those wishing to concentrate solely on a story you have some influence over, the experience may prove worthwhile during the few hours it takes to complete the first time through (with diminishing returns on each replay). For those seeking a playable challenge to go with the tale, however, there isn't a whole lot here to get your blood pumping.

Far more hardcore than most casual games, Pahelika: Revelations is enjoyable as a collection of puzzles in a fantasy setting, but the story is needlessly hard to follow and ultimately forgettable.

The Jolly Gang's Spooky Adventure focuses neither on the gang nor on the spooks, and offers at best a couple hours of lighthearted but linear, generic casual adventuring.

Mystery fans will enjoy unraveling Tomb of the Lost Queen's puzzle-filled expedition in the desert, though the lack of dynamism and interaction cause the atmosphere to noticeably atrophy.

May's Mysteries is a substantial puzzler that is sure to satisfy fans of logical and mathematical brainteasers, but offers little of interest for those seeking more.

It's not without its rough edges, but Doc Apocalypse is an intriguing, original title that's well worth your time if you're looking for a budget sci-fi indie adventure.

Though light in story, Azada: In Libro's beautiful worlds and wide variety of puzzles make for a satisfying chapter in the casual fantasy series.

If you love solving puzzles you may enjoy One Against All, particularly if this is your first Red Johnson adventure, but this sequel is overrun with flaws, and if you're in it for the story and characters, look elsewhere.

Despite its slow start and limited exploration, The Deadly Device provides a good jolt to the franchise with its compelling story and fun puzzles.

Feeling more like Layton-lite than heavy-duty Holmes, Mystery of the Frozen City is for those who enjoy casual puzzling enough to overlook a nonsensical story.

CYPHER's attempt to modernize the classic text adventure has a lot of interesting ideas, but the lack of polish on the text itself keeps the game from living up to its potential.

Reperfection is unlike anything you've played before and Volume 1 shows promise, but its highly streamlined gameplay and short length will make it too shallow for some.

The first commercial adventure in the Reversion series expands the storyline slightly but continues to feel insubstantial instead of ramping up either the action or the tension.

Astroloco is a short but hilarious sci-fi comic adventure that will strain your sides if not your brain.