Like a David Lynch-inspired fever dream, Who’s Lila? refuses to be fit into a box, its bold graphics, creepy story, and peculiar facial expression mechanic making it one of the most unusual adventure games in recent history.

Lake Ridden‘s spookiness is slightly undone by its attempts to appeal to horror, puzzle, and drama fans alike, but the end result is still worth the trip.

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.

If you've got the machine to run it, and the patience to endure some of its quirks, then this is definitely a game to check out.

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.

A solid addition to the puzzle box/escape room subgenre, Machinika Museum may lack the sleek polish of its more acclaimed inspirations, but it more than makes up for its modest production values with satisfying puzzles and an engaging sci-fi story.

A challenging but fair science fiction adventure, Tardy’s unique look, direct inventory manipulation mechanics, and interesting story and characters easily overshadow a few interface and localization issues.

Appropriately, Bunker feels like a time capsule from the ‘90s. Even if the humour doesn’t always hit home, the puzzles may entice you back in(to) the USSR.

Though its short play time is almost devoid of challenge and occasionally suffers from pacing issues, Voyage is an enjoyable one- or two-player cinematic side-scrolling experience with an intriguingly cryptic story told through its lovely animated visuals.

Beautiful and bittersweet, When the Past Was Around is a brief but touching point-and-click adventure with simple puzzles that tells a tale of loss and love through gorgeous hand-drawn graphics and elegant, memorable music.

Mosaic will be a worthwhile experience for that certain type of gamer who can appreciate style over substance in the service of an artistic statement. Without much in the way of gameplay, it’s more of an experimental atmospheric experience than a traditional piece of interactive entertainment.

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.

Stonewall Penitentiary offers an interactive thriller of murder and paranoia in an atmospheric setting filled with the tortured ghosts of its past. It looks fairly dated and certainly doesn’t tread any revolutionary new ground, but it succeeds at what it sets out to do: to be a satisfyingly entertaining experience from beginning to end.

Though its gameplay strains a bit under the weight of some cumbersome design decisions, Spike Chunsoft’s AI: The Somnium Files nonetheless succeeds in crafting a worthy spiritual successor to the Nonary Games, putting its own compelling spin on the visual novel-styled mystery thriller.

With its 2D cartoon aesthetic, simple point-and-click interface, and challenging puzzles, Deponia is classic old-school adventuring in many ways, making it worth playing even when the storytelling falters.

Not perfect, but still gorgeous and very enjoyable.

The emphasis on physics adds a unique dimension to Penumbra: Overture. If you're willing to sacrifice story for atmosphere, it's a decent catch for horror fans, but those looking for point-and-click fare may be turned off by unavoidable action elements.

If you have the patience to fully explore the narrative of Where Wind Becomes Quiet, you can’t help but feel emotionally invested in the life of a tormented writer who is trying desperately to remember his past. Just be sure to have a box of tissues handy, as you will certainly need them.

Though it doesn’t explore its heavy themes as deeply as it could, and the needlessly small environments are overly restrictive, The Almost Gone is an enjoyable isometric puzzle game with an engaging, sensitively explored narrative.

There isn’t much in the way of actual gameplay or player agency, but anyone who enjoys a highly interactive story will certainly want to add Last Stop to their gaming library.

It’s a bit too relaxed at times, but Carto is full of heart and almost impossibly cute, sending players on a warm, fuzzy journey into the not-so-wild blue yonder to discover what it means to be far from home.

Summer Daze at Hero-U: Tilly’s Tale is an enjoyable game that boasts expert voice-overs, colorfully stylized visuals, and rollicking background melodies, all complemented by a humorous, pun-filled narrative. Fans of Lori and Corey Cole will surely be delighted, but it may be a tougher sell for those new to their previous work.

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.

It won’t deliver enough puzzle challenge or story depth to fully satisfy adventure game purists, but for fans of 3D platformers, the beautifully surreal Onirike serves up a pleasant helping of running, jumping, and exploring through dreamlike, Burton-esque worlds.

It's a funhouse mirror, providing a totally new perspective on a familiar place, but gaze into it once and you won't want to look away.

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.

‘Tis the season to be seriously creeped out and yet equally enthralled by the religious themes and beautiful, imaginative world in Gray Dawn.

Last Christmas boasts well-crafted graphics, music, and voice acting that enhance its bite-sized story. Casual players will have fun, but hardcore players may not feel completely fulfilled.