Point and click adventure games

DoctorEdgeWild

Hello all,

Did a search on this topic and latest thread I found was three years ago, apologies to mods and regulars if I've missed something.

My favourite type of game has always been point and click adventure games. I think the first one I ever came across was Full Throttle, which seemed so incredible compared to the text based games I had been playing up to that point. (turn left, open door etc.)

It led me to find games like Grim Fandango, Blade Runner and Myst as well as my all time favourite game, the absolutely incredible The Dark Eye.

Would anyone have any more recommendations for other games along these lines? PC based, old or new.

Thanks.

Syberia is reasonable. Machinarium (shortist but cheap on steam usually) is good. Indiana jones and the fate of atlantis old but good. Broken sword 1 another old one but good one.

calex71

Not strictly point and click but close and current is the Walking Dead series. Worth a look if you've seen the tv show / comics.... actually would likely be better if you had no knowledge of either hence no expectations.

gizmo

Outside of the utter classic that is Grim Fandango, my other faves are...

Sam & Max: Hit The Road
Sam & Max: Season One
Monkey Island 1 & 2
Day of the Tentacle (no link: ****ing LucasArts and their unwillingness to release their classic games on downloadable services :mad:)
The Neverhood (no link: this is going to be pretty hard to find although there was talks recently of the original devs trying to get it re-released on mobile devices)

Retr0gamer

You can get Beneath a Steel Sky and Lure of the Temptress free from GoG.com. There's other great point and click games on their site.

I also heard very good things about the Blackwell series of games. All are available on Steam.

Monotype

There's also the new monkey island series. Tales of monkey island.
http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland

You can usually find them on discount if you wait a while and keep you eyes open. I think I paid a fiver for the lot. I've only played the first chapter (i.e., the demo) but it was good fun.

crybaby

I would love to play Blade Runner & Grim Fandago especially Grim Fandango as I never finished that one

Must try out some of your suggestions Retrogamer

DoctorEdgeWild

Thanks for the suggestions. Going to go looking for some of them now.

Grim Fandango is a fantastic game. So much personality and imagination.

The Dark Eye is based on the works of Edgar Allan Poe and I've never played a game with such atmosphere. Hard to find but worth tracking down in my opinion.

Have never played any of the Monkey Island games which is something I think it's time to rectify by the sounds of things.

Kinski

I really miss this genre. But Telltale Games attempts to revive it have been lame. Their episodic Sam & Max series was rubbish.

I think Ron Gilbert (of Monkey Island fame) got funding for a new graphic adventure through Kickstarter, so that's something to look out for.

gizmo

Kinski wrote: »

I really miss this genre. But Telltale Games attempts to revive it have been lame. Their episodic Sam & Max series was rubbish.

I think Ron Gilbert (of Monkey Island fame) got funding for a new graphic adventure through Kickstarter, so that's something to look out for.

Totally disagree with the Sam & Max comment, while they certainly haven't been as strong as the original, they've still been pretty damn good throughout the three seasons.

Oh and Gilbert is currently working for Double Fine on the rather neat looking downloadable title, The Cave.

ShiverinEskimo

The Dig was my all-time favourite. Story line was brilliant and although it had no humour in the script it was pure Sci-Fi.

Odaise Gaelach

The Longest Journey (and, to a lesser extent, Dreamfall).

Monotype

ShiverinEskimo wrote: »

The Dig was my all-time favourite. Story line was brilliant and although it had no humour in the script it was pure Sci-Fi.

I'm sure it did. I'm not sure if it was meant to be now that I think about it

but the whole part with yer man going mad and the alternative ending was funny

.

The dig is a good one alright. A little slow to start with but very entertaining in all.

Creamy Goodness

machinarium is quite the little belter.

johnny_ultimate

I'm playing through Superbrothers Swords & Sorcery EP, after getting it with the humble bundle. It's a brilliantly subversive and witty point and click adventure. It may have one of the best soundtracks of recent times. A real joy, and one that's both loyal to its inspirations and very clever in its own right.

For me, nothing will ever beat Grim Fandango; it was beautiful, the storyline was absolutely incredible, the voice acting was topnotch and the characters were brilliant - you genuinely fell in love with them.

I grew up playing the Monkey Islands - played #2 first, before moving on to #1. #3 is probably the best in the series, I personally think, as it was the most visually impressive. We'll just forget #4 ever happened.

ShiverinEskimo

Playing The Dig on my android phone using scummvm app now. Couldn't resist.

Stompbox

Where can one get Grim Fandango? Been meaning to check it out for ages.

gizmo

Stompbox wrote: »

Where can one get Grim Fandango? Been meaning to check it out for ages.

eBay is probably your best bet. While it's still well worth the £34.99 some Amazon marketplace sellers are charging for it, it's still not something I can really recommend.

Gbear

The Discworld game, with the main protagonist Rincewind voiced by Eric Idle, was ridiculously hard but also absolute genius.

Gbear

Gbear wrote: »

The Discworld game, with the main protagonist Rincewind voiced by Eric Idle, was ridiculously hard but also absolute genius.

Completely agree. Never got to play Discworld 2, but Discworld Noir was a massive let down.

With regards to something being ridiculously hard, I'm reminded of the ridiculous moment from Broken Sword 2, where they're in Ireland and that damned goat.

Kinski

gizmo wrote: »

Totally disagree with the Sam & Max comment, while they certainly haven't been as strong as the original, they've still been pretty damn good throughout the three seasons.

A lot of people enjoyed them alright, but just didn't get into them at all myself. I didn't like the puzzles, and felt the limited locations and episodic structure inhibited the exploration and discovery aspect which was key to my enjoyment of Monkey Island et al. I like graphic adventures to have a more "epic" sweep than episodic content allows.

gizmo

Kinski wrote: »

A lot of people enjoyed them alright, but just didn't get into them at all myself. I didn't like the puzzles, and felt the limited locations and episodic structure inhibited the exploration and discovery aspect which was key to my enjoyment of Monkey Island et al. I like graphic adventures to have a more "epic" sweep than episodic content allows.

Ah, totally agree there but since the fall of LucasArts I guess it's the best we can hope for.

balkieb2002

Deleted User wrote: »

With regards to something being ridiculously hard, I'm reminded of the ridiculous moment from Broken Sword 2, where they're in Ireland and that damned goat.

That goat nearly made me put my keyboard through my screen... don't know how many times I had that repeat that section. Really enjoyed the broken sword series until they decided to go and move away from point and click.

I recently found a link to forum that has a list of loads of free(ware) games with quite a few classic point and click games (manic mansion, beneath a steel sky etc)

Check under the Adventure Spoiler and 2D for most of them.

funky penguin

boneyarsebogman wrote: »

The Discworld game, with the main protagonist Rincewind voiced by Eric Idle, was ridiculously hard but also absolute genius

Completely agree. Never got to play Discworld 2, but Discworld Noir was a massive let down.

Honestly, I think I'm the only person alive who enjoyed Discworld Noir. :0

Discworld 2 was easier than the first, but both games were ridiculously difficult, even if you'd read the series. Love them. If you ever get a chance, try 2!

Stompbox

Deleted User wrote: »

For me, nothing will ever beat Grim Fandango; it was beautiful, the storyline was absolutely incredible, the voice acting was topnotch and the characters were brilliant - you genuinely fell in love with them.

I grew up playing the Monkey Islands - played #2 first, before moving on to #1. #3 is probably the best in the series, I personally think, as it was the most visually impressive. We'll just forget #4 ever happened.

By #4 I presume you mean Escape From Monkey Island? That's one of my all-time favourites!

Reekwind

For a recent indie game, Gemini Rue is very good. Only half-way through it but enjoying myself so far

Stompbox

Stompbox wrote: »

By #4 I presume you mean Escape From Monkey Island? That's one of my all-time favourites!

Really? Clunky graphics and that God-awful Monkey Kombat system. Give me #3 any time!

Sledgejammer

Gbear wrote: »

The Discworld game, with the main protagonist Rincewind voiced by Eric Idle, was ridiculously hard but also absolute genius.

God yeah, brilliant game but one of the most counter intuitive puzzle solvers of all time, the only way to beat it without using hints is to just click everything in every order you can think of and hope for the best. So so difficult, but brilliant if you're a fan of the series and Eric Idle is obviously going to be a great voice too.

SirLemonhead

Monkey Island 4 is awful stuff alright. I haven't even finished it. Monkey 2 is easily the best of the lot, with 1 behind it, then 3. You really can't go wrong getting hold of the first 3 games.

The Dig is generally regarded as being pretty awful from what I can remember.

Gotta second the recommendation for Beneath a Steel sky. It's a classic. Also day of the tentacle of course. Sam n Max never did anything for me but it's generally highly regarded.

Full Throttle is one of my favourites too, if a bit short, and the combat sections are kinda annoying alright. It's nice to play the cool/tough character for once.

Wasn't too impressed by the Indiana Jones point and click games.

Loom is worth giving a go - it's another Lucasarts game and involves playing musical notes instead of the usual 'talk/push/open' verb clicking.

I've only played a VGA remake version of Maniac Mansion but it was enjoyable. I remember it was possible to make mistakes that make it impossible to finish the game? That kinda sucks. It's always one that's recommended though..one of the first Lucasarts point and clickers (either that or Zakk McKraken..not played that one yet though)

Maybe the Simon the Sorcerer games? those are meant to be good..

Definitely Broken Sword 1+2

I started playing Toonstruck which seemed interesting..has Christopher Lloyd from back to the future as a live action actor in a cartoon based world. I imagine is has some crazy puzzles.

And as said, Grim Fandango and the Discworld games.

One of my personal favourites, due to it being my first point and click adventure game, is The Case of the Serrated Scalpel. You play as Sherlock holmes on the trail of a jack the ripper style killer. The artwork in it is gorgeous.

Just off the top of my head.

danthefan

All 3 Broken Sword games for €2.50 on Steam at the moment.

Zab

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers. I was a big Sierra fan but they were on a downward spiral after they moved to point-and-click. There were other good ones like Space Quest IV but I don't know if I could really recommend them if you hadn't played the rest of the series.

Just finished Alan Wake and was musing on the fate of the adventure genre. There still seems to be some indie games but I have issue with games like Alan Wake calling themselves "action adventures". I actually enjoyed the game over all but there was no adventure element except for the story (which was well told in my opinion). There were no puzzles and no choices, just an unfolding narrated plot with some NPC interaction. More of an "action story" of sorts. Even Telltale's Walking Dead doesn't really have much in the way of puzzles, but at least it has some choices to make (although after the last episode I'm no longer convinced your choices matter too much).

I really hope the Double Fine Adventure is good, the genre needs a good kick up the ass. Perhaps even some sort of reinvention.

SpottyWetWang

Zork Grand Inquisitor.

Monotype

Somebody digging up old threads?

Anyhow, I played Machinarium recently. Great fun in the old style point and click. Some challenging enough sub puzzles too.

The only thing was the horrible save system so I lost all my saves when flash got updated. Luckily enough there's a cheat

rebol

which allows you to access any chapter. Still annoying all the same.

Zab

Monotype wrote: »

Somebody digging up old threads?

Anyhow, I played Machinarium recently. Great fun in the old style point and click. Some challenging enough sub puzzles too.

I've never understood the online hatred for digging up old threads, but anyway this one isn't even really "old".

Machinarium was great but their newer one unfortunately looks more like Samrost , which was more abstract and incoherent, not really my kind of thing.

Zab

Reekwind wrote: »

For a recent indie game, Gemini Rue is very good. Only half-way through it but enjoying myself so far

Gave this a go. Early 90s graphics, dodgy voice acting, dialogue that often seems to be written by a non-native speaker ... and it was brilliant. They really nailed the feel of this game, surprisingly so, and the aforementioned issues proved to be of no consequence. Probably a little easy (although this kept the pace up) and a little short, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. €8 on Steam.

balkieb2002

Zab wrote: »

Gave this a go. Early 90s graphics, dodgy voice acting, dialogue that often seems to be written by a non-native speaker ... and it was brilliant. They really nailed the feel of this game, surprisingly so, and the aforementioned issues proved to be of no consequence. Probably a little easy (although this kept the pace up) and a little short, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. €8 on Steam.

First Point and Click game I played for ages and I was really enjoying it till I got stuck and eventually resorted to using a online guide. Felt bad for doing this and then suddenly stopped playing the game. Not sure why I did as I was just getting into the story and I liked the dual character setting.

Point and Click games seem to be the only genre where I end up looking for a guide but this in turn usually ends up ruining the expierience for me or else it just making me feel dumb that I didn't get the fact you needed to use something ridiculous together. Example from DiscWorld: Put custard in a toilet then tie up a squid with string and put it in said toilet then feed a random character prunes so you can steal his belt for some other random task.

On the other had when you complete a game with random puzzles, the sense of achivement makes one feel all tingly inside!

Zab

balkieb2002 wrote: »

Point and Click games seem to be the only genre where I end up looking for a guide but this in turn usually ends up ruining the expierience for me or else it just making me feel dumb that I didn't get the fact you needed to use something ridiculous together. Example from DiscWorld: Put custard in a toilet then tie up a squid with string and put it in said toilet then feed a random character prunes so you can steal his belt for some other random task.

On the other had when you complete a game with random puzzles, the sense of achivement makes one feel all tingly inside!

It's worth going back to in my opinion, the story line is pretty good. In the past I haven't been as demoralized as you when I've resorted to a walkthrough for an answer. I remember "back in the day" such things weren't readily available and you could spend weeks or months trying to get past a certain part. That Discworld puzzle you mention wouldn't be to my taste, I hate puzzles that don't make any sense. There has to be some reasoning behind everything or else it just gets reduced to brute force mouse clicks.

I have thought about the balance between how "difficult" a story-type puzzle is and how bored you get while stuck on it. My boredom meter fills up way faster than it did when I was a kid, but as you say the rewards are all at the end of the long slog. If the puzzle is too hard, and you don't go for a walkthrough, then there's a big chance you'll quit the game in frustration. On the other hand if the puzzles are generally too easy then it isn't as satisfying when you finish the game.

I said that Gemini Rue was a little too easy. Really what I mean by the is that I didn't get stuck for any significant amount of time. Of course, if I had got stuck it would have annoyed me, so perhaps it wasn't too easy after all.

sarumite

glasso wrote: »

Syberia is reasonable. Machinarium (shortist but cheap on steam usually) is good. Indiana jones and the fate of atlantis old but good. Broken sword 1 another old one but good one.

Machinarium is currently available as a download for PS+ users. I have tried the first few minutes of it....though then I unwrapped borderlands 2 and haven't gone back. Though it has intrigued me and I do plan and revisiting it.

mhairt

The book of unwritten tales and The Dark eye: Chains of Satinav are worth checking out.

jumbobreakfast

Cool man, will take a look. I loved the classics too and in recent times enjoyed time gentleman please and ben there done that (v. funny and cheap), new monkey islands, broken sword, syberia and some of the wadjet eye games (gemini rue in particular).

Unfortunately I got burnt out when i tried my best to play through the pendulo games series but had to give up since despite the decent graphics, the humour was just really poor. That put me off the genre for about a year but I'm starting back into it as these types of games are a nice change of pace from the first person shooters I normally play.

I started a double fine adventure yesterday and it's quite good, I wanted to get it out of the way before I start the gods are watching us or whatever its called.

Lone Stone

try get disc world and broken sword the first two are great.

Zero-Cool

Not sure if already mentioned but Sanitarium was a brilliant game.

Star Lord

The Telltale Games... erm... games are point and click, with different stories and art styles etc., but lend themselves to some great games, ranging from the light hearted Samn & Max and Tales of Monkey Island games, to the darker Walking Dead and Wolf Among us. Puzzle Agent is quite excellent too, but revolves more around puzzle solving.

jumbobreakfast

Only 4 quid for two games: http://store.steampowered.com/app/37400/

super_furry

Three pages and no mention of Kentucky Route Zero? It's probably the most atmospheric game I've played this year and although it's taking longer than expected for the episodic content to come out - they're working on 4 of 5 at the moment - it's still a brilliant story well told.

Zab

I didn't get past the first location

I'll probably get back to it at some stage.

Canis Lupus

super_furry wrote: »

Three pages and no mention of Kentucky Route Zero? It's probably the most atmospheric game I've played this year and although it's taking longer than expected for the episodic content to come out - they're working on 4 of 5 at the moment - it's still a brilliant story well told.

It's a bit too weird.

jumbobreakfast

didnt really click with me either but maybe when I'm in a more patient mood I'll give it another go.

DoctorEdgeWild

Canis Lupus wrote: »

It's a bit too weird.

Point and click? Too weird?

Now I HAVE to get it!

D

Monotype wrote: »

I'm sure it did. I'm not sure if it was meant to be now that I think about it

but the whole part with yer man going mad and the alternative ending was funny

.

The dig is a good one alright. A little slow to start with but very entertaining in all.

Wait the Dig had an

Alternate ending?!

tell me more!
I played it and never realised.

Edit: Will also +1 Beneath a Steel Sky.
Also the first point and click that I played was Simon the Sorcerer, great game, the sequel had the worst ending in video game history.