Authentically Japanese, Last Time I Saw You has the feeling – if not the visuals – of a Studio Ghibli title, and it does carry an emotional impact. Light platforming challenges accompany this narrative-driven experience, which is admirably well-written and entertaining.

In Sammy Jukes: Twin Lakes, an unusually intriguing story is marred by instances of uninspired design, average voice acting and repetitive puzzles.

Whilst Broken Sword – Shadow of the Templars: Reforged is a great visual improvement on the original, an unequivocal recommendation for what is essentially a graphical update doesn’t really fit our rating system – especially not when certain other areas of the game could have been improved upon.

Though certainly not a conventional adventure game, Caravan SandWitch is fortified by interesting characters and an overarching, quest-driven tale. Puzzles involving navigation may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no combat, no death, and no timed challenges; frustrating at moments, but pretty chill. You will find it intriguing if you’re up for exploring and navigating landscapes with chunks of story on the side.

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

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.

Été features an unconventional and innovative approach to painting, offering a unique and engaging gameplay experience. However, it eventually falls short in delivering a compelling narrative, which could have further enhanced the overall experience.

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.

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.

3 Minutes to Midnight’s high production values and vibrant, idiosyncratic world recall the best of classic adventures, but it often goes overboard and requires a steep level of commitment from players to get the most from it, dampening the fun factor.

An outstanding simulation game with a remarkably strong narrative spine. Wylde Flowers is not hugely emotionally impactful, but is good fun – though given its genre, expect a bit of grind.

Ramas’ Call: Twisted timing features stylized environments with vivid, colorful details, energetic sound design, and clever inventory and fetch quests. Players will enjoy its entertaining story and quirky, memorable characters.

Fans of the “conversation and food/drink making” genre – if it is even a genre, since we have only three examples – will appreciate Midnight Ramen. It’s a pleasant way to while away a few hours at a reasonable price, and it does pack an emotional punch.

The Crimson Diamond is a gem of a 2024 release – a convincingly vintage, but also refreshingly modern take on the text parser game. The overall package is a modest but fulfilling mystery that doesn’t overstay its welcome and leaves a fantastic impression of what adventure gaming was like in its golden era.

The Talos Principle 2: Road to Elysium successfully expands upon its puzzle elements and provides some of the most challenging puzzles that, for better or worse, push the definition of unorthodox. While the philosophical elements and player agency that made the main game great are mostly missing, the plots and characters make up for the absence of these components. So, if you enjoyed The Talos Principle 2 on launch, you will definitely admire this expansion.

A Space for the Unbound is an example of an adventure story that will have the surprising and far-reaching power to move most people, whether or not they enjoy the ride the gameplay presents. It will particularly appeal to those players who have a fondness for the 16-bit console era, and those who like cats!

Magret & FaceDeBouc “The buddy-buddy case” is an absurdly appealing and engaging adventure. Its mystery is solvable through the partnership of two maverick protagonists. The winsome mood is enhanced and inspired by the jaunty sound design and cartoon-style graphics. This game should increase Adipson Studio’s reputation as a developer of high-quality adventure games.

Puzzle mavens, avid gardeners and admirers of sumptuous scenery will find much that is entertaining in Botany Manor’s unusual horticultural tableaus.

Asleep – Ato 1 presents a lively horror-based narrative, intriguing pixel art and a creepy soundscape. A few puzzles are somewhat obtuse. Players need quick reflexes and a sharp mind to succeed, not only to solve the puzzles, but to survive the terror.

Riven is a remake that stays true to the original. While the breathtaking world and visuals adeptly draw you in, the initial obscurity of the story and puzzle complexity may eventually push you away from full engagement. Still, for those who have played and enjoyed the original, this is an excellent dive back into a spectacular world, and an opportunity to see how Cyan Worlds has enriched the original vision.

44 The Jail is a gripping point-and-click adventure game with minimalist art and captivating background music. Patience and sharp observation skills are essential to conquering the logical puzzles. The game is not suitable for children due to depictions of violence and sexual situations, but adults will find it worth playing.

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.

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.

Tales from Candleforth is a solid, although brief, Room Escape-like adventure, with a few nightmarish scenes you may never forget.

This game explores a fun premise brought to life by colorful pixel art and quirky characters. The puzzles suit the game’s overall humorous tone and are complemented by a surprisingly accessible, turn-based combat system. Adventurers can look forward to happy times in It’s Grim Up North.

Season: A Letter to the Future stands as a relatively successful combination of exploration, documentation and philosophical meditation. Its surface beauty is matched by its depth of reflection, only marred by some repetitive gameplay elements and strange character design choices.

Hauntii is an impressive debut from Moonloop Games, and it’s challenging to find any major flaws with it. I’m eagerly anticipating the future plans from this talented indie studio.

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