A polished, immersive trek through a world so alluring it’s a shame it doesn’t actually exist, Eastshade is a must-play for anyone with the heart and mind to devote to this art- and craft-themed adventure.

An ethereal, innovative, emotional cooperative experience, thatgamecompany’s Journey is one that any PlayStation 3 owner should take.

Chicory: A Colorful Tale is like a warm hug from a wise old aunt, simultaneously bursting with creativity and offering an unblinking but hopeful look at humanity.

My Friendly Neighborhood is an old-school survival horror throwback with a delightfully refreshing premise and plenty of fun to be had.

With a great cast of characters, Unavowed is a stylish urban supernatural fantasy that is touching, funny, endearing, replayable and above all, fun.

It’s hard to find much fault with Spirit of Justice. Dramatically improving upon its predecessors’ storytelling and varying the familiar gameplay elements, this game gives the trilogy – and series, for now – a more-than-polished conclusion that engages the brain as well as the heart.

Insane, mutant tentacles. A frozen hamster. Three distinct playable characters. Time travel. Fake barf. Truly, this game has it all. One other thing Day of the Tentacle has in no short supply is charm. It's got that in spades. Everything about this game just comes together beautifully.

In Grim Fandango Remastered, one of the best games of all time has been resurrected for modern audiences. It’s still a classic, and it absolutely belongs on every gamer’s (digital) shelf.

A murder mystery set in a rich, fictional setting, Disco Elysium is told with sweeping profundity and hilarious absurdity. With no combat to impede story progression, this is a choice-driven role-playing adventure that deftly raises the bar of quality for the medium.

Goetia is a beautifully crafted and intricately complex game set in a fantastically spooky world. It’s a must-play for horror and supernatural mystery enthusiasts, though not for those afraid of a little challenge.

Jusant is a thoughtful climbing puzzler with exceptional storytelling that makes for an understated triumph in a year full of high-profile game releases.

The Great Ace Attorney Chronicles is two deduction-based adventure games in one, set over a hundred years prior to the original Phoenix Wright trilogy. With improved graphics, fun new characters and enthralling cases to solve, it more than lives up to the legacy of its classic predecessors.

Uniformly excellent writing, acting, and audio-visual presentation of an ancient Roman city and its imminently doomed citizens make The Forgotten City a mystery well worth solving—and the clever time-looping mechanics make your investigation a lot of fun.

Rosewater is a modern classic, a story of how one may find and form a family through road trip exploits. Great graphics and sound design, multiple-solution puzzles, and creative accessibility options make this adventure an experience that players will remember long after the game is over.

Minute of Islands is a beautiful, unflinching game about the power to save what you hold dear and the responsibility that comes with it. Its breathtaking visual style, moving story and intensely affecting presentation add up to a one-of-a-kind puzzle-platforming experience.

Paradigm is a uniquely creative blend of art, music and consistently humorous gameplay. It’s an absurdist adventure like no other, and one that’s earned its place among the classics.

Like its predecessor, Portal 2 is not an adventure game in the traditional sense, but genre fans will find plenty to appreciate in this story-driven obstacle course, because puzzle games don't get any better than this.

American Arcadia features a refreshing tale that shows how to “subvert expectations,” making the plot a standout hit when compared to more mainstream narratives. On top of that, the variance in gameplay and the exceptional presentation act as extensions and support for an already excellent narrative.

Who would expect a previously unknown Norwegian developer to create such an absorbing and compelling adventure game? The Longest Journey is, quite simply, one of the best adventures ever made.

The gripping science-fiction narrative in Three Minutes To Eight features an ingenious use of random elements that, combined with well-executed pixel art graphics and accomplished voice acting, ensure that each experience is unique.

A masterly remastering of the LucasArts classic. If you haven’t yet contended with Earth’s vilest extremity, it’s time to finally embrace the Day of the Tentacle.

Chariots of the Dogs sucked me in and completely immersed me with the joy that comes from playing a special adventure game.

There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension takes the rulebook for what a game can and should do and sets it on fire, practically reinventing the entire medium in the process. Unceasingly hilarious, ludicrously entertaining, and utterly unique, it will remind you why you play games while forcing you to reconsider every aspect of what that means.

Return to Monkey Island is a fantastic addition to the series and a great game in its own right. If you’re a Guybrush Threepwood fan or want to revisit the high point of adventures past and present, you owe it to yourself to come back to Monkey Island.

This isn’t a situation where one forces oneself to slog through Moby Dick because it’s a “classic”; The Secret of Monkey Island is still as fun as any other game you’ll play this year, and probably significantly more so, and everyone who loves adventure games should experience it at least once.

An incredible game that takes all the best parts of how classic adventures used to be made and then adds so much more to ensure it stands up to today’s standards. Thimbleweed Park is a gem that will be remembered for at least another 30 years.

Syberia: The World Before is a wonderful return to form for Benoît Sokal’s venerable series. Beautiful, engaging, and moving, it’s the strongest chapter in Kate Walker’s journey yet.

Chants of Sennaar meets the highest standards due to its finely crafted, original and addictive language-learning gameplay, and also its beautifully honed graphics and sonics. It’s a distinctively French feast for the eyes, ears and brain.

Presented as a mockumentary, The Mind of Marlo delivers a short, hilariously down-the-earth story despite the wildly absurd nature of its premise.

Whatever you call it, L.A. Noire is a monumental achievement that every console-owning adventure fan needs to experience.

Whatever you call it, L.A. Noire is a monumental achievement that every console-owning adventure fan needs to experience.

The Will of Arthur Flabbington features vivid pixel-art graphics, skillful voice acting, and a witty tale that players will love.

It's extraordinarily rare for a game to possess scenes of such powerful emotion, but Telltale have managed something special with The Walking Dead finale, and it'd be a tragedy to miss it.

Fast paced, fabulous looking and full of opportunities to wreak havoc, Overboard!’s endlessly entertaining choice-driven story of murder and deceit aboard a 1930s ship will have you falling hook, line and sinker.

Gerda: A Flame in Winter is an unforgettable adventure. Its compelling graphics and evocative music provide a backdrop for a powerful World War II narrative, which builds to an unusually suspenseful finale.

For a story told out of order, Universe for Sale is easy to follow and even easier to love.

A fantastic, classic-style adventure, The Phantom Fellows’ striking and eerily lit pixel art vivifies a world full of paranormal mystery and challenge.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Heart of the Forest is an impeccably written story that dynamically reacts to player input and choice. Though it presents no real challenge, fans of both visual novels and the World of Darkness tabletop game will find it a captivating and highly replayable role-playing experience.

Elroy and the Aliens is a charismatic game, filled with hope, love and camaraderie. Serious and comedic themes combine in a fascinating narrative complemented by colorful, whimsical graphics. I recommend Elroy and the Aliens to all adventurers.

Perfect Tides is a triumph of good writing, combining raw teenage emotions with humor and simple but abundant puzzles, only slightly spoiled at times by some minor narrative vagaries.

A brilliantly executed horror/job simulator that knows how to build atmosphere, These Darker Tides is constantly surprising, and leads to outstanding game endings. The timing puzzles can be obtuse but do not spoil the experience.

Life Is Strange 2 explores a touching, special relationship between two brothers that will make your heart hurt in the best possible way.

IMMORTALITY is a complex and fascinating story that draws inspiration from many different film genres. It’s a fantastic game with a lot to offer, even if the limited influence over the story and the random order in which the game’s events are experienced could reduce the story’s impact.

Dreams in the Witch House is an engrossing experience. It uses well-executed visuals, music, and writing to seamlessly place the player in the center of H.P. Lovecraft’s story. The role-playing elements work seamlessly with the narrative to heighten empathy for the protagonist.

Nine Noir Lives is a splendid game. It showcases lovely graphics, music, sound design, and voice acting. It tells a story worthy of the Noir genre while retaining a great sense of humor.

Stacking mixes inventive gameplay with a charming visual style to produce an outstanding puzzle-adventure.

Revives a true classic, and optimizes it for performance. An absolute must-play for any adventure fan with even a passing tolerance of insects. If you can't beat 'em... join 'em!

Stacking mixes inventive gameplay with a charming visual style to produce an outstanding puzzle-adventure.

Balanced firmly between satisfying puzzles, survival horror gameplay, and an amusing story that satirizes the grind of corporate life, the odd but thoroughly engaging Yuppie Psycho has all the makings of a cult classic.

The laid-back nature of the simple but fun exploratory gameplay coupled with the soothing music and lush scenery make A Short Hike a relaxing adventure filled with not only humor but the tenderness of personal connections.

From simple magnetism and gravity mechanics springs the fiendishly challenging Relicta, a highly polished environmental puzzler through a lunar space station with your every move being watched.

A loving homage to the Myst series, Myha: Return to the Lost Island has everything that characterized its iconic inspiration: lovely locales, a world of depth and complexity, and puzzles that will tax the little grey cells.

Hilarious, intricate, and touching, Hypnospace Outlaw is a surreal, loving tribute to a younger, more innocent Internet as well as a compelling detective game.

An English Haunting is a memorable experience, revealing an intricate, gripping story, elaborate and varied locations, plus stimulating puzzles that are not mind-bogglingly difficult.

DigiTales Interactive has created a sci-fi whodunit hit with Between Horizons. Not only are the players tasked with solving an intricate investigation, but they are also thrown into a narrative that they shape through difficult choices that, once made, must be seen through to the end. It is a must-have game for anyone who loves mysteries and science fiction.

Afterlove EP is a unique, genre-bending adventure that tackles its serious themes with care, its willingness to portray real emotion resulting in a story that feels meaningful whatever paths you take. The care extends beyond writing to its superb, distinctive sound and visuals, making for a labour of love that is consistently rewarding.

An emotionally powerful and unconventional tale for the history books, Attentat 1942 weaves a satisfying, intimate mystery with its compelling cast of live actors.

Having come up with an intriguing premise, it would have been all too easy for Capcom to cut corners beyond that, relying on the gimmick alone to garner sales. Thankfully, that is definitely not the case with Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, which is a quality piece of work at every level.

Half Past Fate is a bundle of joy not only for fans of rom-coms, but for those who enjoy character-driven adventures and are looking to immerse themselves in a slow-paced, feel-good collection of human stories.

With its sheer volume of ever-evolving challenges, it’d be easy to credit Filament with being just an excellent puzzle game, but its equally impressive ability to build an emotional connection to the cast and central mystery is a feat that few puzzle games are able to achieve.

Starved for Help more than fulfills the high expectations set for it, maintaining the tense immersion and bold story development of its predecessor.

Lil’ Guardsman is a superb game that excels in just about every area, held back only by a couple of notable flaws that prevent it from earning full marks.

With Broken Age’s release the Double Fine Adventure comes to an end, and the result is a standout game that delivers on its promises. Play it.

The Longing uses isolation, open space and freedom of choice to send players on a year-long exploration of loneliness, identity and meaning in real time. It won’t be to everybody’s taste, but those who commit to seeing it through will find a surprising, poignant and rewarding experience unlike anything else out there.

Nupixo’s debut offering Detective Di: The Silk Rose Murders is a brilliant introduction to one of ancient China’s most famous investigators that does just about everything right.

While not the most interactive of adventures, Aviary Attorney takes a successful visual novel formula and builds on it in significant ways, all while managing to be sincerely funny and charming.

The Walking Dead may have more gore than puzzles, but by striking out in a new direction that focuses on atmospheric storytelling, Telltale delivers one their most compelling and enjoyable titles to date.

Enhanced by expressively stylized graphics, unusual and intricate challenges, and professional voice-overs, Slender Threads tells a scary tale spiced with well-tempered humor.

So whether you're a newcomer or a LeChuck's Revenge veteran, it's definitely worth taking the trip back to the world of Monkey Island.

Detention is a marvel of sight, sound, gameplay and storytelling; a highly atmospheric horror adventure that manages to accomplish more in its short playtime than some games twice its length.

SOMA is both great horror and great science fiction that stands above the competition in a crowded genre.

For Rusty Lake fans, Underground Blossom hits all the right notes, and it can easily serve as a good introduction for those who are new to the series.

The Painscreek Killings is an engrossing, complex, challenging murder mystery that makes you feel like a real investigator. Dig out your notepad; it’s time to uncover the secrets this sleepy, abandoned town is hiding.

Kentucky Route Zero’s excellent third act is no less weird than its predecessors, but hints at something unexpected: a coherent narrative.

Cabernet is an exceedingly creative adventure, introducing role-playing elements that suit its phantasmal themes. The lovely, stylized graphics, engaging story, choice-based gameplay, and terrific voice acting all combine to produce an experience for gamers (especially vampire enthusiasts) that shouldn’t be missed.

An extremely succesful and balanced adventure, and a worthy sequel in a venerable franchise.

The Witness is highly unconventional but will enchant players who come ready to surrender their imagination to its unusual charms and challenging puzzles.

The cat’s out the bag: with its amusing dialogue, entertaining cast of characters and engaging plot, Inspector Waffles is a delightful pixel art romp that’ll leave you “feline” very good.

Agatha Christie – Hercule Poirot: The London Case is an engrossing mystery brought to life by realistic graphics, well-executed music, and stellar voice acting.

Its bold mixture of traditional adventure with a turn-based RPG combat system means The Girl of Glass won’t be for everybody, but those who are open to its genre-bending experimentation and exploration will find it a beautiful, captivating experience.

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

Either way, for puzzle fans it’s a brilliant way to spend your time, and so long as you’re playing, that’s really all that matters.

NORCO is a one-of-a-kind adventure, expertly written with (almost) perfect artistic direction. The lack of frequent puzzles is made up for by their unusual quality and variety. A must-play for narrative adventure fans.

While its story never really soars, Unbound: Worlds Apart presents a brilliant and elegant Metroidvania type of gameplay that challenges both the mind and the reflexes. It’s perhaps a bit too twitchy for your diehard adventure gamer, but anyone who can handle a little action with their puzzles will fall in love with the beautiful art style and fun, finely tuned gameplay here.

Dexter Stardust is a gloriously over-the-top, Latin-themed homage to pulp sci-fi and classic adventures. The story takes a backseat to the puzzles for a while, but it has attitude and good vibes to spare.

Every moment of NUTS is surprising and delightful; its first-time developers have created a world you’ll want to spend even longer in to explore more deeply, full of fantastic design choices and an intriguing story that gets better and better as it goes along.

An incredibly stylish, wondrously original vision wrapped in a neon-colored synthesizer from the future, FRACT OSC offers a surreal musical landscape that is only best described as interactive art.

A Juggler’s Tale lasts only a precious few hours, but it manages to pack in an inspired, captivating puzzle-platforming experience with engaging gameplay, a smart and poignant story, and a jaw-droppingly beautiful aesthetic.

With its charming gameplay, excellent use of the Nintendo DS features, truly funny dialogue, intricate plot, and personable cast of characters, this "soon to be a classic" title offers plenty of gaming enjoyment.

Life Is Strange: Double Exposure completely delivers on the core expectations for the series, with compelling characters, excellent dialog and voice acting, and a sometimes-harrowing story.

If you're the kind of person who enjoys the rush of simulated terror, follow the developer's advice: wait until sundown, put on some headphones, and start up Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Obduction is clearly not aimed at impatient gamers with older hardware. But Myst enthusiasts and exotic-world explorers will find a whole new stupendous universe to fall in love with, and fans of mind-bending challenges will find themselves in paradise… most of the time.

Later Alligator may turn off some adventure fans with its minigame-heavy gameplay, but those willing to try something different will find a beautifully animated, wonderfully replayable and often hilarious experience.

Return of the Phantom presents an intriguing encounter with the Phantom of the Opera, and is fascinating to experience with modern sensibilities nearly thirty years after its debut.

Ghost on the Shore is a quiet exploration game that gets progressively more intense as the plot unravels. With a focus on storytelling, players who enjoy supernatural mystery and period drama will find this to be an intriguing journey.

Smile For Me combines an engaging story with fresh gameplay ideas, a relatable and quick-witted cast of characters, and an impressive sense of style in a memorable experience that is worth any adventure gamer’s time.

Tells a story that is a masterful blend of challenge, characters and story. It is a definite game of the year candidate, and will likely earn a spot on many gamers' list of favorites.

Twilight Oracle is aimed at those who cherish the point-and-click classics from adventure gaming’s past. It features vividly surreal pixel-art graphics, a fantasy-based story, challenging puzzles and surprisingly delightful writing.