(12-29-2025, 08:11 PM)srnickolas Wrote: Maybe in the end of the next year (2026) that will be the anniversary of 50 years from the first adventure a top 100 list could be assembled (just a thought).
Our Top 100 all-time is coming! But 2025 was a good opportunity to focus on the more recent stuff first.
Co-founder, Editor-in-Chief, Adventure Game Hotspot (perhaps you've heard of it?)
Okee dokee, here's my list. Not going to etch this in stone, but I think these are 25 *of the* best adventure games of the last 25 years. I am definitely missing some obvious ones here, as these games were mostly culled from my Steam and GOG 'Owned Games' list, and I've played a few really good ones that were not on those formats.
In absolutely no particular order, I numbered them so I'd know when I got to 25 and needed to start culling.
1. Thimbleweed Park - The sublimation of the Lucas Arts style of adventure gaming. As perfect an adventure game as I've played this side of Day of the Tentacle, from start to *FINISH*.
2. Paradigm - Thought I'd hate it based on the first five minutes. Turns out it's one of the funniest games I've ever played, and it's a great adventure game, too!
3. Book of Unwritten Tales 2 - The first was good, this one is much more polished and superior in every way. Except it leaves the door open for BOUT 3, which doesn't appear to be forthcoming.
4. Lucy Dreaming - The sublimation of Lucas Arts style adventure gaming. Funny, clever, cute, smart, with great characters, a good story, a fun world to romp around in, and just-right puzzles. I love everything about this game.
5. Syberia 1+2 (c'mon, gimme this, please) - If you suspend your disbelief at some of the nonsense propelling the plot, few games will sweep you away into *sigh* a world of imagination like Syberia.
6. Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon - There are box puzzles and there are stealth segments. There's also by far the best story and villains in the Broken Sword series.
7. Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark - Just a little better than the first DD. The whole ghost thing in adventure games is getting overdone since Blackwell basically made a genre of it, but I'd play a new Darkside Detective game on a monthly basis!
8. Excavation of Hob's Barrow - Phenomenal atmosphere and writing. Genuinely creepy, perhaps even scary...all in simple beautiful 2d pixel art.
9. Foolish Mortals - Remember how great The Golden Age of Adventure Gaming was? Hint: Those games mostly aren't as great as you remember them being, but Foolish Mortals *is*.
10. Hector: Badge of Carnage. "That hole is holier than Jesus." If a game makes me laugh and also doesn't totally stink, it's got a good shot at becoming a favorite. Hector himself probably stinks pretty bad, but his game is great.
11. There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension - I wish there were less games, this one isn't so good. Or something.
12. Shardlight - I love Francisco Gonzalez's storytelling, and I think this is not only his best story, but also his best game --and the most challenging. Likewise the Ben Chandler backgrounds are the artist at the top of his game.
13. The Legend of Skye - An understated masterpiece. It's super hard by modern adventure game standards for games of this style, but the puzzles are so well layered that it's a pleasure to pick at the knot until it starts to give. And...it made me laugh. Does a great job of telling a meaningful story while not taking anything seriously.
14. Lost In Play - A pure joy from start to finish.
15. Machinarium - It's sometimes hard for me to get into games that prioritize puzzles over plot to this extent, but every screen in Machinarium is so compelling in terms of game design and artistic realization, I latched onto it right away and couldn't let go 'til the very end.
16. Norco - Unparalleled atmosphere and storytelling, without forgetting to also be a game. Could've been a really cool Neal Stephenson or Neil Gaiman book, but works better as a game, I reckon.
17. The Phantom Fellows - Despite looking like so many other point 'n clickers, this is very much a singular work, thanks to the insanely detailed, sometimes insightful, usually hilarious, and always entertaining dialogue. Most dialogue heavy games shouldn't be, but this one I never get tired of listening to. Or reading, as it were.
18. Primordia - Some of the best puzzle design in point n click history, perfectly integrated into the game's fascinating world and storyline. Like Legend of Skye, it's can be pretty challenging but is also always fair enough that the player is encouraged to persevere.
19. Resonance - The idea of capturing ideas as inventory items should have been done a long time ago, and it should still be done today. Alas, it isn't. Resonance uses the mechanic to excellent effect, and the game around it is pretty good too.
20. Time Gentleman, Please! - The sequel to Ben There, Dan That is pure wacky inventory puzzle perfection, with an awesomely irreverent plot and sense of humor.
21. Wildwood Down - What it lacks in polish here 'n there, it makes up for in heart. Brilliant choice for an adventure game protagonist. PLAY THIS GAME!
22. Phoenix Wright Trilogy - "I drink 17 cups of liquid darkness a day..." Characters you'll remember forever.
23. The Zero Escape series. - The last game in the series lost me, but the first two completely captivated me. I rarely replay games to do better/perfect/see all the endings, but I did with these.
24. Return to Monkey Island - Don't believe the hype: It's a great adventure game.
25. Heroine's Quest - So what if it's free, it's an incredible iteration on the Quest for Glory formula. I need to go back and play it again...been too long.
Bonus 26. Tales from Monkey Island - It's a worthy entry into one of the worthiest adventure game franchises. If you like Monkey Island, don't skip it.
Would probably make the list but I've only played it for a couple of hours so far: Return of the Obra Dinn.
A favorite that probably doesn't cut it in terms of polish or gameplay, but I love it: Ceville.
I am in the middle of The Will of Arthur Flabbington and it has a shot at making the list.
In absolutely no particular order, I numbered them so I'd know when I got to 25 and needed to start culling.
1. Thimbleweed Park - The sublimation of the Lucas Arts style of adventure gaming. As perfect an adventure game as I've played this side of Day of the Tentacle, from start to *FINISH*.
2. Paradigm - Thought I'd hate it based on the first five minutes. Turns out it's one of the funniest games I've ever played, and it's a great adventure game, too!
3. Book of Unwritten Tales 2 - The first was good, this one is much more polished and superior in every way. Except it leaves the door open for BOUT 3, which doesn't appear to be forthcoming.
4. Lucy Dreaming - The sublimation of Lucas Arts style adventure gaming. Funny, clever, cute, smart, with great characters, a good story, a fun world to romp around in, and just-right puzzles. I love everything about this game.
5. Syberia 1+2 (c'mon, gimme this, please) - If you suspend your disbelief at some of the nonsense propelling the plot, few games will sweep you away into *sigh* a world of imagination like Syberia.
6. Broken Sword: The Sleeping Dragon - There are box puzzles and there are stealth segments. There's also by far the best story and villains in the Broken Sword series.
7. Darkside Detective: A Fumble in the Dark - Just a little better than the first DD. The whole ghost thing in adventure games is getting overdone since Blackwell basically made a genre of it, but I'd play a new Darkside Detective game on a monthly basis!
8. Excavation of Hob's Barrow - Phenomenal atmosphere and writing. Genuinely creepy, perhaps even scary...all in simple beautiful 2d pixel art.
9. Foolish Mortals - Remember how great The Golden Age of Adventure Gaming was? Hint: Those games mostly aren't as great as you remember them being, but Foolish Mortals *is*.
10. Hector: Badge of Carnage. "That hole is holier than Jesus." If a game makes me laugh and also doesn't totally stink, it's got a good shot at becoming a favorite. Hector himself probably stinks pretty bad, but his game is great.
11. There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension - I wish there were less games, this one isn't so good. Or something.
12. Shardlight - I love Francisco Gonzalez's storytelling, and I think this is not only his best story, but also his best game --and the most challenging. Likewise the Ben Chandler backgrounds are the artist at the top of his game.
13. The Legend of Skye - An understated masterpiece. It's super hard by modern adventure game standards for games of this style, but the puzzles are so well layered that it's a pleasure to pick at the knot until it starts to give. And...it made me laugh. Does a great job of telling a meaningful story while not taking anything seriously.
14. Lost In Play - A pure joy from start to finish.
15. Machinarium - It's sometimes hard for me to get into games that prioritize puzzles over plot to this extent, but every screen in Machinarium is so compelling in terms of game design and artistic realization, I latched onto it right away and couldn't let go 'til the very end.
16. Norco - Unparalleled atmosphere and storytelling, without forgetting to also be a game. Could've been a really cool Neal Stephenson or Neil Gaiman book, but works better as a game, I reckon.
17. The Phantom Fellows - Despite looking like so many other point 'n clickers, this is very much a singular work, thanks to the insanely detailed, sometimes insightful, usually hilarious, and always entertaining dialogue. Most dialogue heavy games shouldn't be, but this one I never get tired of listening to. Or reading, as it were.
18. Primordia - Some of the best puzzle design in point n click history, perfectly integrated into the game's fascinating world and storyline. Like Legend of Skye, it's can be pretty challenging but is also always fair enough that the player is encouraged to persevere.
19. Resonance - The idea of capturing ideas as inventory items should have been done a long time ago, and it should still be done today. Alas, it isn't. Resonance uses the mechanic to excellent effect, and the game around it is pretty good too.
20. Time Gentleman, Please! - The sequel to Ben There, Dan That is pure wacky inventory puzzle perfection, with an awesomely irreverent plot and sense of humor.
21. Wildwood Down - What it lacks in polish here 'n there, it makes up for in heart. Brilliant choice for an adventure game protagonist. PLAY THIS GAME!
22. Phoenix Wright Trilogy - "I drink 17 cups of liquid darkness a day..." Characters you'll remember forever.
23. The Zero Escape series. - The last game in the series lost me, but the first two completely captivated me. I rarely replay games to do better/perfect/see all the endings, but I did with these.
24. Return to Monkey Island - Don't believe the hype: It's a great adventure game.
25. Heroine's Quest - So what if it's free, it's an incredible iteration on the Quest for Glory formula. I need to go back and play it again...been too long.
Bonus 26. Tales from Monkey Island - It's a worthy entry into one of the worthiest adventure game franchises. If you like Monkey Island, don't skip it.
Would probably make the list but I've only played it for a couple of hours so far: Return of the Obra Dinn.
A favorite that probably doesn't cut it in terms of polish or gameplay, but I love it: Ceville.
I am in the middle of The Will of Arthur Flabbington and it has a shot at making the list.
(12-29-2025, 11:26 PM)Baron Blubba Wrote: 3. Book of Unwritten Tales 2 - The first was good, this one is much more polished and superior in every way. Except it leaves the door open for BOUT 3, which doesn't appear to be forthcoming.
It’s funny, but I had completely different feelings.
For me, the first game felt fresh, fun, and unexpected. The sequel, while still a good game, lost that sense of freshness and originality - it didn’t entertain or surprise me as much, even though it definitely had its moments.
Also, the opening was far too long. It took five or even seven hours of gameplay before we got past the “where are the characters now” phase and were finally given a clear narrative thread to follow.
I think it's a fair Top 25. It inlcudes all subtypes of our beloved adventure genre, not only the classic 3rd-person ones with inventory-based puzzles and dialogue trees. I've played 18 of the 25 games. Imo hugely successful games like Blue Prince and The Drifter fully deserve to be on the list even though they were released only this year. I'm a bit surprised The Witness didn't make it but I guess it's too much of a love/hate game.
I’ve been out of PC gaming for several years, and I also have a poor memory and am not good with dates, so my faves are from my 15+ years of iOS gaming. Adventure games have a pretty robust presence in the mobile world, and I think they shouldn’t be overlooked.
Gorogoa. Not sure it’s an adventure, quite, but it’s a beautiful and unique game.
Isoland. Just plain fun.
Primordia. It gave me the feels.
Boxville. Great game design, and you are a can.
Milo and the Magpies. Cuteness overload and a good game.
The Procession to Calvary and Four Last Things, both by the same dev. Tickled my funny bone.
My Brother Rabbit. Heartwarming.
Tormentum: Dark Sorrow. For the atmosphere.
Love You to Bits. Rebuild your robot girlfriend. Unique style, fun fun fun.
Forever Lost. The first game I played by Glitch Games, my most favoritest iPad game dev.
Rusty Lake Hotel. I believe it is the first full length Rusty Lake game. Progenitor of its own subgenre, AGs based on utter weirdness.
Waking Mars. Very different from anything that had come before. Maybe not quite a masterpiece but close.
Cardboard Castle. Maybe not the best ever and maybe more of a puzzle game, but it’s very clever and I love the graphics.
Gorogoa. Not sure it’s an adventure, quite, but it’s a beautiful and unique game.
Isoland. Just plain fun.
Primordia. It gave me the feels.
Boxville. Great game design, and you are a can.
Milo and the Magpies. Cuteness overload and a good game.
The Procession to Calvary and Four Last Things, both by the same dev. Tickled my funny bone.
My Brother Rabbit. Heartwarming.
Tormentum: Dark Sorrow. For the atmosphere.
Love You to Bits. Rebuild your robot girlfriend. Unique style, fun fun fun.
Forever Lost. The first game I played by Glitch Games, my most favoritest iPad game dev.
Rusty Lake Hotel. I believe it is the first full length Rusty Lake game. Progenitor of its own subgenre, AGs based on utter weirdness.
Waking Mars. Very different from anything that had come before. Maybe not quite a masterpiece but close.
Cardboard Castle. Maybe not the best ever and maybe more of a puzzle game, but it’s very clever and I love the graphics.
Great lists
AGH Co-founder, Owner, Business Management, Pop Tart lover
(12-29-2025, 09:05 PM)srnickolas Wrote: here is a top 25 of my own just for fun (not numbered random)
Portal 2
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (yeah i know 2 games I cheat)
The Dream Machine
Deponia original Trilogy (cheat again)
Dark Fall: The Journal
Gorogoa
Heroine's Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok
Lair of the Clockwork God
The Legend of Skye
Technobabylon
Papers, Please
The Cat Lady
The Stanley Parable
Memoria
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
5 Days a Stranger
Thimbleweed Park
Yuppie Psycho
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
To the Moon
Foolish Mortals
Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer
Candle
Yuppie Psycho
The Next Big Thing
You bring up a lot of good ones that might not have jumped to mind. Cat lady and lair of the clockwork god are both amazing games .
(12-30-2025, 03:31 PM)Zane Wrote:Thanks! I maintain a grouvee account so it helped a lot!(12-29-2025, 09:05 PM)srnickolas Wrote: here is a top 25 of my own just for fun (not numbered random)
Portal 2
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games (yeah i know 2 games I cheat)
The Dream Machine
Deponia original Trilogy (cheat again)
Dark Fall: The Journal
Gorogoa
Heroine's Quest: The Herald of Ragnarok
Lair of the Clockwork God
The Legend of Skye
Technobabylon
Papers, Please
The Cat Lady
The Stanley Parable
Memoria
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
5 Days a Stranger
Thimbleweed Park
Yuppie Psycho
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo
To the Moon
Foolish Mortals
Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer
Candle
Yuppie Psycho
The Next Big Thing
You bring up a lot of good ones that might not have jumped to mind. Cat lady and lair of the clockwork god are both amazing games .
(12-29-2025, 11:26 PM)Baron Blubba Wrote: Okee dokee, here's my list. Not going to etch this in stone, but I think these are 25 *of the* best adventure games of the last 25 years. I am definitely missing some obvious ones here, as these games were mostly culled from my Steam and GOG 'Owned Games' list, and I've played a few really good ones that were not on those formats.
In absolutely no particular order, I numbered them so I'd know when I got to 25 and needed to start culling.
1. Thimbleweed Park - The sublimation of the Lucas Arts style of adventure gaming. As perfect an adventure game as I've played this side of Day of the Tentacle, from start to *FINISH*.
8. Excavation of Hob's Barrow - Phenomenal atmosphere and writing. Genuinely creepy, perhaps even scary...all in simple beautiful 2d pixel art.
15. Machinarium - It's sometimes hard for me to get into games that prioritize puzzles over plot to this extent, but every screen in Machinarium is so compelling in terms of game design and artistic realization, I latched onto it right away and couldn't let go 'til the very end.
Totally agree with everything you said about these 3. Which are my fav ones.
What a great list! Just wanted to mention a few others that still stick with me.
Because of excellent taste in concept, puzzles and writing:
- Rusty Lake Paradox
- Lucy Dreaming
- Thimbleweed Park
And because the kickstarter story reawakened the genre, Tim Schaefer’s clear panick and confusion about that, his attempt at making point and click relevant by putting way too much resources into production value, but still building on a foundation of a story that surprises and is about all of us, fair, original puzzles and his signature humor:
- Broken Age
Because of excellent taste in concept, puzzles and writing:
- Rusty Lake Paradox
- Lucy Dreaming
- Thimbleweed Park
And because the kickstarter story reawakened the genre, Tim Schaefer’s clear panick and confusion about that, his attempt at making point and click relevant by putting way too much resources into production value, but still building on a foundation of a story that surprises and is about all of us, fair, original puzzles and his signature humor:
- Broken Age