When I was a child my Dad got a PC for the house, a few unused parts from his work’s computers, stacked precariously, one on top of the other, to make one functioning machine. It had its own room, too and it lived in the dining room, sat upon a table in the corner. It is strange to think of it now – as I type on my slim, sleek laptop – the bulky hard drive with the monitor perched on top. The first hard drive we had was so ancient that it took actual floppy disks, from which they gained their name, not the unyielding compact ones that came after. Naturally, I wanted to try playing some games on this new-to-me machine and I discovered point and click games without really trying. One of my Dad’s work colleagues gave me a copy of a game called Lure of the Temptress, the first game from Revolution Games (whom I will mention again). I loved playing that game, curled up on our old chair in front of a glowing monitor, lost in another world, trying to figure out what to do next. It was a new experience, an interactive adventure, and I still get a nostalgic buzz just thinking about it. From then on, I was hooked, and actively searched for games like these; full of adventure, great stories, challenging puzzles and eye-catching background art.
Although Lure of the Temptress, was one of the first games I played I haven’t included it on this list, simply because the path finding can be frustrating (here is a game that really deserves a remake), I have to mention it because it started my lifelong love of point and click adventure games. It does have lovely graphics and it is free on GOG
If you want to experience these games without playing them, there are always Let’s Plays, and I can recommend LateBlt, Hercrabbiness and Dilandau3000.
Point and Click Games
‘No, you operate the python!’
Gabriel Knight
Note: I have played all of these games on either GOG or on iOS. They are possibly available on Steam, Google Play and Android.
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
This game is my all-time favourite. The best thing about this game is the story, which could easily be made into a TV series today. It has gorgeous graphics for its time, which makes it very atmospheric and there are many puzzles to keep you busy. New Orleans, 1993 and we join Gabriel Knight, the owner of St Georges’, an independent bookshop in the French Quarter. Gabriel is a writer who has decided to use the recent spate of ‘Voodoo murders’ in the city as inspiration for his next novel, with some help from his cop buddy, Mosely, and his sarcastic assistant, Grace. If you are tempted by this game, I beg you, please play the original. Phoenix Online Studio did a fantastic job with the remake, but the original has a charm that cannot be replicated. You can also have fun spotting the famous voices, and yes, you should know at least two of them. If you haven’t played a Sierra game before, they were notorious for two things: making their games unwinnable if you missed something and danger of death. If that doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then try Monkey Island instead (see further down). I find that it just increases the challenge. I grew up with Sierra, so I didn’t know any other way to play. Besides the deaths are numerous and funny. To my mind, it is the most immersive game on this list.
Gabriel Knight 2: The Beast Within
The second game in this series is also very good, but without the graphics. At the time, the big bosses wanted to move with the times and pressured the game makers to go with full motion video, which was popular at the time. I personally prefer the graphics of the first game but it’s not awful, and it does lead to some unintentionally hilarious moments of bad acting. However, the game itself is fantastic, and once again, it is the storyline that really makes this game stand out. This time, Gabriel is in Germany, in pursuit of a killer. I won’t say too much, as I do not want to spoil the first game, but along the way we encounter mythology, castles, German hunters and spend time researching King Ludwig II. I first played this game as a teenager and I still hold a fascination for the Fairy Tale King. Jane Jensen’s brilliant imagination convincingly bridges gaps between history and the world of the game to create another absorbing story to immerse yourself in, with a few puzzles along the way.
Gabriel Knight 3: Blood of the Sacred, Blood of the Damned
This time Gabriel and Grace are in France searching for a missing child. At least in this game, the characters finally change their clothes on a daily basis. In addition, an original voice actor returns. I’ll be honest, the 3D isn’t great in this game. Again, they were forced to make it so to comply with what was popular at the time, and it failed quite miserably. Furthermore, this game is known for the infamous ‘cat-moustache’ puzzle. Yes, cat-moustache. This game has also been accused of causing the death of adventure games although I have discovered through researching this post that Myst is getting most of the blame. All that said, please don’t let this dissuade you because – no surprises here – the story is great, predating a notorious book about the same subject and, in my opinion, doing it far better. And although this game does contain one, admittedly silly puzzle, it makes up for it with other ones; specifically, one called Le Serpent Rogue, of which I have heard several people name as one of their favourite adventure game puzzles of all-time.
The Secret of Monkey Island
An absolute classic. First of all, there are pirates and secondly, they are funny pirates. And watch out for three headed monkeys. In these games, you are Guybrush Threepwood, who desperately wants to be a pirate. Inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, it is no secret that these games were also made in reaction to the Sierra games, and other games of that nature, in which dead ends and death are rife. Ron Gilbert, the creator of the Monkey Island series, wanted to make a game which couldn’t become unwinnable or that your character couldn’t die. In other words, a safety net. As a young person playing Sierra games, I always considered this part of the puzzle and not something that worked against you, but as I said before, I grew up with Sierra; it was just what I became used to. I love the Sierra games, but I suppose sometimes it is nice to not worry about death and destruction (of gameplay). Most modern games follow this structure now, anyway. And I must concede that Mr Gilbert, the Grumpy Gamer (his blogger name), does make some good points. Gilbert talks about them here and there are links to the original article about adventure games and his frustrations with them. They are great games; witty and quirky, their style emulated for years in many games which have followed. You too can learn the withering response to the insult ‘you fight like a Dairy Farmer!’
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck’s Revenge
Despite what I have said about Sierra and Lucas Arts, Monkey Island 2 remains my other favourite game. Guybrush Threepwood is back, more determined than ever to be a pirate, and a successful one at that. On the hunt for more treasure, he accidently contributes to the resurrection of his nemesis, the evil ghost pirate LeChuck. Now on the run, Guybrush travels between three islands in search of the map pieces that will give him the chance to escape LeChuck forever. An adventure involving monkeys, voodoo, spitting contests, dancing skeletons and, most importantly, some research at the local library. A brilliantly funny and captivating game that will keep you entertained for hours.
There are two more games in this series, The Curse of Monkey Island and Escape from Monkey Island but they were made without the series creator, Ron Gilbert. They are good but for me at least, they don’t have the charm of the originals. To be fair, there was a six-year gap between two and three, meaning that I didn’t play them as a child and the nostalgia isn’t as strong for me. However, I did play the third one recently and it is good. Furthermore, the third game introduces Murray, the all-powerful, demonic, talking skull, and do I really need to say anymore? He is hilarious. An example:
Guybrush Threepwood: How’d you get all the way up there?
Murray: Through sheer force of will!
Well, it makes me laugh.
Quest For Glory series
Now these are classic Sierra. I played the first one when I was a child and I have very fond memories of figuring out what to do and actually making it to the end of the game. The premise is simple – you are a wanna-be hero, new in an area that is in need of your aid. You choose to play as a fighter, a magician or a thief, and each character has their own set of specific skills. This series combines its main storyline with fighting elements, and you had to grind up your character so they can progress through the game. At the time of its original release, this game had a glitch that allowed you to have extra points to allocate at the beginning, so you could have all the skills. I always chose a fighter with thief skills because being a thief involved fun quests later. It didn’t turn me into a thief, so it’s ok to endorse now. However, since replaying these games during the lockdown, I have discovered that, due to a bug in the game, this messes up your import between QFG4 and QFG5 (somehow, my character has changed from a fighter to a wizard, even though my character has no magical ability). I think this might be partly because there is such a difference between the designs for both games. Quest for Glory 5 is the only game to be in 3D, and focuses more on the roleplay rather than adventure parts of the game. I have now played 1-4 and I enjoyed them all. As with all older games, there are the occasional glitches and minor issues with gameplay, but they are still playable, especially since you can go back and play as a different character.
King’s Quest series
Possibly the series that Sierra is known best for, these games are about the many adventures of the Royal Family of the Kingdom of Daventry. Definitely of their time, the originals are the oldest games on this list, but they are good fun. You will die or miss something without a walkthrough so save early, save often. And always, always look at everything and pick up everything. The original games use a text phaser but they have since been remade so you can use your mouse. I have only played the first three and have watched 4 and 5 on Let’s Plays. They are still very popular today and the most recent games are frequently raved about on adventure game forums.
Beneath A Steel Sky
This is the second game I ever played. I needed a boot disc because it wouldn’t run on our machine at first, which just heightened the anticipation. The nostalgia is strong with this one but it is a great game. Set in a dystopian future, Robert Foster is kidnapped from his home, The Gap and taken by helicopter to Union City. However, when the helicopter crashes in the city, Foster makes his escape. The game begins and you are now responsible for figuring out why Foster is in the city, and how to get back home. One of the first games by Revolution Games who went on to make the Broken Sword series, this game got them off to a great start. Beyond A Steel Sky, the long awaited sequel to this game is being released on the 16th of July this year so there has never been a better time to try this one. It is free on GOG.
Broken Sword Series
Definitely one of the better-known series of point and click adventures, the Broken Sword games are popular for a reason. I have only played 1, 2 and 5 on iOS so I can’t comment on the other games but these three are really great. George Stobart arrives in Paris for a holiday but is rudely interrupted by a robber dressed as a clown, and an explosion at the cafe where he is relaxing outside. Compelled to investigate, George teams up with Nico, a local photojournalist, and their adventures begin, taking them all over Europe. If you choose the remastered version you can play as both characters. The Broken Sword series are known for their great storylines and the puzzles are good too. You may have heard of the first one recently as Jason Manford streamed the game during lockdown, and the videos are still available to watch on YouTube.
Available on GOG, Steam and iOS
Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery
As a monk with a sword, exploring another world, this game has beautiful graphics, a good story and a soundtrack by Jim Guthrie which is part of the gameplay. Unlike any of the other games on this list, pop on your headphones and enjoy.
Aralon: Sword and Shadow
This game has been referred to as Skyrim for the iOS. Choosing from either humans, elves or trolls your character has a main storyline to follow, which includes some interesting side quests, giving you opportunities to upgrade your weapons along the way. It is a good game with a large world to explore and an array of mounts for your character to collect and use to travel quickly about on come in very handy, ranging from horses to wolves and dragons.
Available on iOS
Ben Jordan: Paranormal Investigator Series
This is a fun series of freeware games by Francisco González of Grundislav Games. The title is self-explanatory; you are Ben Jordan, and you have some paranormal cases to investigate. As with many series, the games get better as they progress, in both production and design, and the storylines become richer and darker as you progress through them. And they are available for free here.
Shardlight
Grundislav Games and Wadjet Eye Games collaborate to bring us Shardlight, which might not be the best choice if you are looking for escapism at this current time. Set twenty years after World War III, a contagious disease, Green Lung, now plagues humankind. Amy, the main character whom you control, is infected with Green Lung and you must help her find the cure. This game has nice background design which manages to make this post-apocalyptic world look rather pretty, decent puzzles and a good soundtrack.
Available on GOG, Steam and iOS
Machinarium
An absolutely gorgeous game by Amanita Design with a simple premise; you are a robot whose girlfriend has been kidnapped and it’s up to you to rescue her, solving puzzles, dancing and encountering cute robots along the way.
Available on GOG, Steam and iOS
Samorost 3
This game is quite different because you collect sounds which is far more rewarding than it seems. A game of tricky puzzles and stunning graphics.
Available on GOG, Steam and iOS
Stranger Things: The Game and Stranger Things 3: The Game
These games, much like the series, are designed to provoke nostalgia in 70s and 80s born adults, such as using the overhead view seen in games like the Zelda series, of which I am not familiar. The first game follows the plot of series two and the second game deals with the plot of season three, therefore appealing directly to fans of the show. In both games, you begin with one character and collect the rest as you go. There is a large area to explore which is fun and apart from the main quest, there are additional items to collect and secrets to find.
Stranger Things 3: The Game available on GOG, Steam and iOS.
Stranger Things: The Game available on iOS
Thimbleweed Park
Ron Gilbert delighted Monkey Island fans in 2017 by giving us a new game. Made in homage to the classic games, this one is best appreciated after you have played some of the games they are inspired by. FBI Agents Ray and Reyes arrive in Thimbleweed Park to investigate a murder. Controlling several characters along the way, you can enjoy the dry humour and meta references as you solve the mystery.
Available on GOG, Steam and iOS
The Witch’s Isle
A fantastic hidden gem of a game with atmospheric graphics and a time sensitive puzzle at the start making it unlike any of the other games on this list. At first, I thought I was doing something wrong but then realised that the game slowly reveals itself as you play. A town to explore and a witch’s urn to find, there are seven alternative endings to collect, making this a re-playable game. It’s free, too.
Available on iOS
Kathy Rain
A game by ‘un-publishers’ Raw Fury, I suspect that this game was inspired by Gabriel Knight, which increased the appeal for me. It also includes one of my favourite clichés: the journalist returning to their hometown to investigate a mystery. Kathy Rain, a sarcastic, chain-smoking redhead, finds out that her estranged grandfather has passed away, and attending the funeral leads her down a road of discovery. An interesting story with decent puzzles, this is one of the better recent point and click games. It achieves this by keeping some of the classic adventure staples and updating ones that were awkward, such as holding onto items no longer required by the characters.
Available here
Whispers of a Machine
Another game by Raw Fury, this game has been described as ‘Scandi-Noir sci-fi’. You play as Vera, a detective sent to the city of Nordsund to investigate a murder. Depending on the dialogue you choose, Vera will develop one of three personality traits, which, without altering the story, allows for different approaches to the puzzle solutions. Nice world building and the chance to play the game with different abilities boosts the games replay value. Lovely music too.
Available on GOG, Steam and iOS
Indiana Jones and the Holy Grail
Before LucasArts gave us Monkey Island, they let us become Indiana Jones. This is another childhood game of mine; I remember finding it to be quite tricky in places. Much like the film on which the game is based, you play as Jones, assuming his father’s role, in search of the Holy Grail, solving some decent game puzzles as you go. As the game progresses, you have the option to either talk it out or kick some butt, and you can approach some of the situations differently, ranking this game high on the replay-ability factor. You can play it for free here. Or if you have to own it, is available on GOG and Steam.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
As you can deduct from the title, Indy is off in search for the lost city of Atlantis. I haven’t actually played this one, but I have watched a Let’s Play of it, and I enjoyed it. You can play this one for free here. It’s a good game, much in the style of the previous one, with the chance to play three different paths, each varying in both the puzzles you solve and locations you visit. You can either team up with the token love interest, use your wits or, in true Indy style, use your fists to complete the game. Both the Indiana Jones games are funny, the humble beginnings of the kind of humour that made the Monkey Island games special.
Discworld
If you already like Terry Pratchett and the Discworld series, then it won’t take much to convince you to try this game. Rincewind, a wizard in training at Unseen University, must become a hero to deal with a dragon plaguing Ankh-Morpork, assisted by his loyal and scuttling luggage, and trying to avoid Death, in both person and as his fate. It’s a good game but probably one best appreciated by fans of Pratchett’s and this extra understanding of the world may come in handy because, I must warn you, it is not the most intuitive of games. Expect weird combinations, and try everything. It does have lovely graphics and an interesting game world to explore. I especially love the map used to transport Rincewind between locations, and much of the background art is just gorgeous. Even though I haven’t read any of the series myself, I hope for fans that this game is close to what they had imagined. You can play it for free here.
Quick Mentions
Yesterday, Gemini Rue, Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, The Inner World, The Inner World 2: The Last Wind Monk, Broken Age, Professor Layton series, The Colonel’s Bequest, The Dagger of Amon Ra, The Last Express and The 7th Guest.
Looking Forward to Playing…
Beyond a Steel Sky, Willy Morgan and the Curse of Bone Town, Incantatum, Luna The Shadow Dust, Lamplight City, Unavowed, Gray Matter, Technobabylon, Primordia and Cognition.
really deep thoughts 