The Top 25 Adventure Games of All Time [Archive]

View Full Version : The Top 25 Adventure Games of All Time

blissfulnoise

05-22-2006, 07:18 PM

All these new top X genres/system games of all times posts got me looking for a best adventure games of all time thread. I was shocked to see there wasn't one.

Note: I checked the classic gaming board searching for adventure, Sierra, and LucasArts. Nada on topic. If I missed an existing thread, feel free to shut 'er down.

The adventure genre is near and dear to my heart and it's time these forgotten gems get recognized.

But, before you post with stuff like Zelda and, yes, even Adventure on the VCS, please take a refresher course on what an adventure game is:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adventure_games

Please limit your nominations to 25 games maximum. It's going to take 4 votes to get on the list for this one. If a game gets more votes, the higher up in the chain it goes. That should keep it fair.

Series are out. Please cite specific games in a series (e.g. Space Quest IV or Zork III).

This doesn't have to be bound to PC only, games like Snatcher and Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit make the cut.

Also, make sure you specify which game in the series you're voting for. If you put down Leisure Suit Larry, Gabrial Knight or King's Quest, I'm going to assume you're voting for the original games in said series. If you could, please put a "I", "1", or the full name of the original (e.g. King's Quest: Quest for the Crown or Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards)

Without further ado, bring on the games...

With 8 votes...

Grim Fandango

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/GFF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/GFB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/GFSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/GFSC2.jpg

With 5 votes...

Full Throttle

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/FTF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/FTB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/FTSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/FTSC2.jpg

Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MI2F.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MI2B.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MI2SC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MI2SC2.jpg

With 4 votes...

Curse of Monkey Island, The

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/CoMIF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/CoMIB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/CoMISC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/CoMISC2.jpg

Day of the Tentacle

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/DotTF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/DotTB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/DotTSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/DotTSC2.jpg

Longest Journey, The

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LJF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LJB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LJSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LJSC2.jpg

Sam and Max Hit the Road

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SaMF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SaMB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SaMSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SaMSC2.jpg

Secret of Monkey Island, The

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SoMIF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SoMIB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SoMISC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SoMISC2.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SoMISC3.jpg

Snatcher

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SNF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SNB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SNSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/SNSC2.jpg

Personal take by Blissfulnoise: The Sega CD was no slouch in the adventure department sporting games like Willy Beamish, The Secret of Monkey Island, and Rise of the Dragon, but Snatcher came out of nowhere to surpise and validate this ill-remembered system. An original adventure game by Hideo Kojima, Snatcher stopped me cold with it's gritty, Blade Runner inspired plot. The graphics are just as visceral as the story telling leaving little to the imagination and a mark on your gaming experience. This is one of those "rare" games that has a justified price.

With 3 votes...

Indigo Prophecy

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/IPF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/IPSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/IPSC2.jpg

Last Express, The

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LEF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LESC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LESC2.jpg

Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LSL1F.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LSL1B.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LSL1SC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/LSL1SC2.jpg

Personal take from Blissfulnoise: This was a sought after game in my youth. The possibility of an "adult" adventure game was too much for many kids to resist. While it didn't exactly live up to our expectations in the "adult" department, what we did find was one of the funniest and dopiest adventure games we'd ever played. We were first weened on the original release but the VGA remake made everything fresh when we played it again. It also features one of the finest endings ever put in an adventure game (three way with Ken Williams? You bet!)

Historical Footnote: Many PC games of this era featured copy protection which forced the player to check a manual or a wheel to proceed in the game. This game actually had an age test forcing the player to answer questions about Richard Nixon, Johnny Carson, and Frank Sinatra in order to play the game.

Maniac Mansion

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MMF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MMB.jpg
http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MMSC-Deluxe.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MMSC1-NES.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/MMSC1-C64.jpg

Personal take from Blissfulnoise: I first experienced Maniac Mansion on the NES and enjoyed it throughly. However, after reading an article in Computer Games and Entertainment I learned that the NES version was missing some of the more contriversial elements found in the PC version. I promptly sought it out and admired the statuary. Regardless, Microwaving Ed's hamster equals good times.

Historical Footnote: This was the first LucasArts game to use the famous SCUMM engine which went on to power many an adventure classic.

Phantasmagoria

http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/PHF.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/PHSC1.jpg http://www.blissfulnoise.com/images/Adventure/PHSC2.jpg

keiblerfan69

05-22-2006, 07:41 PM

I am gonna say a name and you will known all the games I am talking about:

Tim Schafer

Daltone

05-22-2006, 08:08 PM

Under A Killing Moon
The Pandora Directive
Space Quest V: The Next Mutation
Grim Fandango
King's Quest 6: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow
The Curse Of Monkey Island
Blade Runner
Broken Sword 2
Monkey Island 2
Tex Murphy: Overseer
Full Throttle
Sam & Max Hit The Road
Indiana Jones and The Fate Of Atlantis
Discworld
THHGTTG

None of this Myst crap.

blissfulnoise

05-22-2006, 08:18 PM

I am gonna say a name and you will known all the games I am talking about:

Tim Schafer

I'll put you down for

The Secret of Monkey Island
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
Day of the Tentacle
Full Throttle
Grim Fandango

8-)

keiblerfan69

05-22-2006, 08:20 PM

blissfulnoise

05-22-2006, 08:29 PM

In no particular order...

Space Quest III: The Pirates of Pestulon (Best. Ending. Ever.)
Space Quest IV: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers
Quest for Glory 1: So You Want to Be A Hero?
Quest for Glory 2: Trial by Fire
Police Quest I: In Pursuit of the Death Angel
King's Quest IV: The Perils of Rosella
King's Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow
Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards
Laura Bow II: The Dagger of Amon Ra
Conquests of the Longbow
Secret of Monkey Island
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
Maniac Mansion
Day of the Tenticle
Grim Fandango
Full Throttle
Loom
Sam and Max Hit the Road
Les Manley in Search for the King
Snatcher
The Last Express
Zork I
Leather Goddesses of Phobos
Alone in the Dark
Eric the Unready

Daltone

05-22-2006, 08:34 PM

Dude the original Myst was great.

Can't stand it, or indeed any other slide show puzzle-centric adventure games.

Julio III

05-22-2006, 09:13 PM

I'll cast my votes for:

Day Of The Tentacle
The Last Express
Discworld II
Broken Sword

This doesn't have to be bound to PC only, games like Snatcher and Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit make the cut.

Hmm, I'm not going to nominate Fahrenheit for the cut, enjoyed it immensely though, but how about Shenmue? Does that count as the right kind of game?

Poofta!

05-22-2006, 10:26 PM

Simon the Sorcerer II (not well known, but the funniest, most lucasarts adventure game that wasnt by lucasarts ever.)

Sam and Max hit the road

Monkey island 1 (secret?)

Monkey island 2 (lechuk's revenge?)

Monkey island 3 (Curse?)

Grim Fandango

blissfulnoise

05-22-2006, 10:34 PM

scorch56

05-23-2006, 01:22 AM

Indigo Prophecy
Omikron
The Longest Journey
Outcast
Dark Earth
Phantasmagoria

.. I don't think there are any good Adventure games on consoles.

Daltone

05-23-2006, 01:56 AM

Ah if we're thinking Omikron is an Adventure game then yeah, I'll second that. Ah I love that game :D

NeoZeedeater

05-23-2006, 02:01 AM

I have been going back and playing a lot of adventure games over the past year and my opinions keep changing. I really need to replay a lot of Sierra stuff especially so I'm hesitant to make a list but I'm pretty sure these would all be in my top 25:

Shenmue
Shenmue II
Sam & Max Hit the Road
Under a Killing Moon
Snatcher
Dreamweb
Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit
A Mind Forever Voyaging
Grim Fandango
The Last Express
The Longest Journey
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Full Throttle
Rise of the Dragon

Griking

05-23-2006, 10:09 AM

Here's a buch off of the top of my head. Many of the games on my list may not be the most advanced adventures out there, in fact a few are downright primitive. I'm sure that a few here may not of even heard of a few of these. But they're the ones that stand out in my mind as being the most fun when I discovered and played them.

And now, in no particular order because it would take me weeks at the expense of much of my hair...

Planetfall
Sorcerer
The Longest Journey
Legend of Kyrandia
Spellcasting 101
Leisure Suit Larry
Phantasmagoria
Amazon
Gabriel Knight
King's Quest
The Fool's Errand
Transylvania
Ring Quest
Alter-Ego
Eamon
Below the Root
Borrowed Time

By the way, if anyone wants to play any of these games pick up a copy of AppleWin (http://applewin.berlios.de/) and have a ball. It's a very good and easy to use Apple II emulator. I have dsk files of most of these as well if anyone would like them. (We're allowed to talk roms for a computer system that has been obsolete for 20 years now aren't we?)

TurboGenesis

05-23-2006, 10:55 AM

Don't have much exposure to many of the types of games mentioned but I'll mention a few I have enjoyed:

Snatcher
Rise of the Dragon
Lunacy

AMG

05-23-2006, 11:21 AM

Metroid
Super Metroid
Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
King's Quest

googlefest1

05-23-2006, 12:26 PM

based on that wilkpedia definition i will vote for

Zac McKraken
maniac mansion
deadalus encounter
phantasmagoria
leisure suit lary
leisure suit lary 2
syberia (pc xbox)
blade runner
the xfiles (pc ps1)
Loom
shenmue
galarians (ps1)
star trek: judgement rights
Omikron

ill have to comback and add to this list when i remeber the names to a few other games

98PaceCar

05-23-2006, 12:36 PM

Never mind, didn't bother to read the wikipedia definition...

What about the original SSI gold box games? Pool of Radiance and the others.

blissfulnoise

05-23-2006, 12:46 PM

Those gold box games are Western RPGs in the definitive sense. Same would go for series like Ultima, Might and Magic, Elder Scrolls, and Wizardry.

Metroid is definately Action/Adventure as would Zelda, StarTropics, LandStalker, Neotopia, and such.

Also, make sure you specify which game in the series you're voting for. If you put down Leisure Suit Larry, Gabrial Knight or King's Quest, I'm going to assume you're voting for the original games in said series. If you could, please put a "I", "1", or the full name of the original (e.g. King's Quest: Quest for the Crown or Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards)

I'll do more totals later tonight.

MachineGex

05-23-2006, 01:09 PM

Out of this World ...
...should be on there...
as well as Hearts of Darkness(it that counts)

shoes23

05-23-2006, 01:27 PM

In no particular order:

1) Grim Fandango (PC)
2) Indigo Prophecy (PS2)
3) Maniac Mansion (NES)
4) Nightshade (NES)
5) Return to Monkey Island (PC)
6) The Dig (PC)
7) Broken Sword: Smoking Mirror (PSX)
8) Full Throttle (PC)
9) Day of the Tenticle
10) Police Quest (VGA Remake PC)
11) 5 Days a Stranger (PC)
12) Zelda A Link to the Past (SNES)
13) Kings Quest IV (PC)
14) Dark Earth (PC)
15) The Curse of Monkey Island (PS2)
16) Clock Tower (PSX)
17) Resident Evil 4 (NGC/PS2)

That is all that I can think of right now for good adventure games.

blissfulnoise

05-23-2006, 02:03 PM

Out of this World ...
...should be on there...
as well as Hearts of Darkness(it that counts)

Out of this World is more along the lines of a Prince of Persia than it is a traditional adventure game. Again, the action/adventure genre or even platforming.

Same can be said of Flashback, Blackthorne, and similar "action" dependant games.

Heart of Darkness would also be excluded under the action category as well.

Resident Evil, Clock Tower, and similar games fall under that ubiquitous "Survival Horror" category. Additionally, they're too action orientated to be considered classic adventure games.

The original Alone in the Dark is an anomaly as it came along before said genre even existed. And though it did feature some gratuitous action segments, there was no other way to really classify it. Most "Adventure Game" lists do include it, thus I accept it as a member of the genre.

Griking

05-25-2006, 06:08 PM

Never mind, didn't bother to read the wikipedia definition...

What about the original SSI gold box games? Pool of Radiance and the others.

They're all great game but they're RPGs

JSN

05-25-2006, 08:33 PM

I�ve always called them �point and click adventure� games myself. I�ve got a soft spot for the humorous ones from Lucas Arts , and Curse of Monkey Island is one of my all time favorite games!

Grim Fandango
Secret of Monkey Island
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck�s Revenge
Curse of Monkey Island
Escape From Monkey Island
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
The Longest Journey
Blazing Dragons
Snatcher

I�m hoping to add Dreamfall to the list at some point, but I�m waiting on the price to drop to $20.00 before picking it up.

cyberfluxor

05-25-2006, 08:40 PM

Most any Sierra adventure quest titles. Sorry if it sounds bland but hell, most of their adventure games are the only ones I like to play the most. Myst carries an alright play and I'll put a vote for those as well.

Haven't been much of an adventurer so not enough exposure to name a lot.

Jorpho

05-25-2006, 09:47 PM

I would argue that most of the adventure games that are well-known today are well-known for a good reason.

I'll throw in

Grim Fandango
-A work of art!

Death Gate
-Not so great, but truly impressive production values.

Beneath a Steel Sky (freeware)
-Some cool ideas in this one.

Flight of the Amazon Queen (freeware)
-Surprisingly amusing and good atmosphere overall.

Teen Agent (freeware too!)
-Straightforward interface and truly amazing writing... but the pixel hunts really suck.

Dji

05-25-2006, 11:27 PM

This genre is one of my favorites. Aside from the usual suspects, allow me to vote for:

The Legend of Kyrandia II: The Hand of Fate

It's part of a trilogy, but it is, in my opinion, much better than and quite different from both parts one and three. It has excellent humor, fun puzzles, memorable characters... just an awesome game all around and my favorite in the genre. For one thing, you cannot ever get stuck, so no need to save every five seconds. Possibly the only adventure game I ever finished without looking at a walkthrough, yet it was fun and challenging. I also liked King's Quest VI a lot, even though I sadly never did get that far in.

Jorpho

05-27-2006, 03:56 PM

Oh, no mention of Sanitarium yet, either.

Fantastic game, Sanitarium. I suppose I didn't think of it at first since it's one of those things that seems more like an experience than a game.

blissfulnoise

06-01-2006, 10:46 AM

I've been out and unable to get to DP for awhile. I'll get the master list updated tonight. I'll also include those games that have gotten three votes to fill out the roster. But, please, keep them coming!

Aswald

06-01-2006, 04:43 PM

Lord of the Dungeon for the CV...of course!

2600 Adventure. The square. The White Castle. The Magnet. The three "ducky" Dragons. Skill Level 3.

2600 Haunted House.

Wizardry.

blissfulnoise

06-02-2006, 12:42 PM

List updated, pictures added.

Please feel free to send me any personal takes you have about any of the games to make the list. We still have a lot of nominees to go and the list is suprisingly Sierra-light right now.

Keep 'em coming.

blissfulnoise

08-11-2006, 01:37 PM

> RESTORE
Succeeded.

You are standing at the bottom of a long stack of posts. It is pitch black down here. You are likely to be eaten by a grue.

> Search surroundings

Fumbling around you find a button.

> Press the button

Instantly you're sent back to the top of the board. It's chilly up here, but at least it's not dark.

> Look around

It appears that you still do not have 25 games to compose your "Best 25 Adventure Games of All Time" list. Perhaps good people will be willing to contribute?

> Shift post to the Classic Computing forum

That's up to the mods to decide.
You hear a songbird approaching.

TheRedEye

08-11-2006, 03:09 PM

the list is suprisingly Sierra-light right now.

This is because LucasArts' design approach of not fucking you in the ass and punishing you for experimenting was ultimately the correct one, and as a result, Sierra adventures haven't withstood the test of time. They simply aren't as fun to play anymore, unless you already know what you're doing, whereas a Lucas game even as early as The Secret of Monkey Island works as an entry level adventure for just about anybody.

My votes. Ashamedly, they're all Lucas:

Grim Fandango
The Secret of Monkey Island
Monkey Island 2
Full Throttle

blissfulnoise

08-11-2006, 05:43 PM

This is because LucasArts' design approach of not fucking you in the ass and punishing you for experimenting was ultimately the correct one, and as a result, Sierra adventures haven't withstood the test of time.

Wow. I couldn't disagree more.

While some games like Police Quest and most of the King's Quest games were fairly linear in how they're approached, I doubt there's an adventure game out there as open ended as the Quest for Glory series is. And the Space Quest series strongly encouraged experimentation, mostly through elaborately cool death sequences from abusing Roger Wilco.

I would like to hear you elaborate on what "fucking you in the ass" actually translates to in terms of gameplay. Are you talking about a lack of multiple solutions to unqiue puzzle elements?

NeoZeedeater

08-11-2006, 06:18 PM

Since I made my original post I haved played through Dreamfall, Loom and Phantasmagoria. If it's not too late I would like to add those to my list. Phantasmagoria only borderline makes it; it was cheesy as hell but enjoyable.

TheRedEye

08-11-2006, 07:53 PM

shoes23

08-12-2006, 12:28 AM

I would like to hear you elaborate on what "fucking you in the ass" actually translates to in terms of gameplay. Are you talking about a lack of multiple solutions to unqiue puzzle elements?

Leisure Suit Larry 2 fucked me in the ass when a guy on an airplane toward the end of the game killed me with his bad jokes, and the only way past him was to use a pamphlet that was sitting on a nondescript table like two hours prior to that, which I had no way of going back and getting.

I'll never forgive King's Quest V for doing the same thing to me. They give you a coin immediatly at the beginnning of the game, but funny thing is you are mislead immediatly to trade the coin to an NPC for another item that you need. Turns out about 5 hours later the coin in needed in the maze.

The CD had never seen the light of day again. Although there are many memorable Sierra games, Lucasarts is king of the hill.

j_factor

08-12-2006, 04:15 PM

I'm surprised no one's mentioned The Neverhood so far. I loved that game.

I don't get why we're not counting Out of This World if we're counting Shenmue. Shenmue's QTE sequences and Virtua Fighter Lite bouts make it more action-oriented than OOTW. Plus, Shenmue took place in large, free-roaming areas, whereas OOTW took place on more individual screens, like most (non-text) adventure games. I agree that Flashback shouldn't count, but Out of This World was pretty light on actual action-based gameplay; it was mainly just "doing the right action on each screen", like any adventure game. I think it should count, or else Shenmue shouldn't count. Or maybe somebody can convince me otherwise.

On another note, should an FMV adventure game like Night Trap be included? Obviously not all FMV games would count, because some are shooters (Sewer Shark, Cobra Command), some are reflex games (Dragon's Lair, Space Ace), and some belong to other genres (Road Avenger, Make My Video, etc). But something like Double Switch is an adventure game... right? Not that I'd vote for a huge number of FMV games or anything.

NeoZeedeater

08-12-2006, 04:35 PM

I'm surprised no one's mentioned The Neverhood so far. I loved that game.

I don't get why we're not counting Out of This World if we're counting Shenmue. Shenmue's QTE sequences and Virtua Fighter Lite bouts make it more action-oriented than OOTW. Plus, Shenmue took place in large, free-roaming areas, whereas OOTW took place on more individual screens, like most (non-text) adventure games. I agree that Flashback shouldn't count, but Out of This World was pretty light on actual action-based gameplay; it was mainly just "doing the right action on each screen", like any adventure game. I think it should count, or else Shenmue shouldn't count. Or maybe somebody can convince me otherwise.

The way I look at it is like this. Games like Shenmue, Snatcher and Dreamfall are graphic adventure games with action elements. Most of the game is pure adventure and sometimes the game switches to an action segment.

With a game like Out of this World, Twinsen or Beyond Good & Evil you are never separated from the action, i.e. you can always kick or use your weapon; it never enters a separate action mode. This is why I don't lump these in with graphic adventures.

The Neverhood does look very nice. I haven't played it yet.

j_factor

08-12-2006, 05:45 PM

I'm surprised no one's mentioned The Neverhood so far. I loved that game.

I don't get why we're not counting Out of This World if we're counting Shenmue. Shenmue's QTE sequences and Virtua Fighter Lite bouts make it more action-oriented than OOTW. Plus, Shenmue took place in large, free-roaming areas, whereas OOTW took place on more individual screens, like most (non-text) adventure games. I agree that Flashback shouldn't count, but Out of This World was pretty light on actual action-based gameplay; it was mainly just "doing the right action on each screen", like any adventure game. I think it should count, or else Shenmue shouldn't count. Or maybe somebody can convince me otherwise.

The way I look at it is like this. Games like Shenmue, Snatcher and Dreamfall are graphic adventure games with action elements. Most of the game is pure adventure and sometimes the game switches to an action segment.

With a game like Out of this World, Twinsen or Beyond Good & Evil you are never separated from the action, i.e. you can always kick or use your weapon; it never enters a separate action mode. This is why I don't lump these in with graphic adventures.

I guess that makes sense, but then, by that logic isn't Pirates! an adventure game, since the swordplay segments are a separate action mode?

devils advocate

08-12-2006, 08:21 PM

blissfulnoise

08-13-2006, 11:35 AM

This is an "elitist" poll.

Only one person decides if it's in the genre. And the genre is not so cut and dry.

If we're not willing to expand the genre somewhat, why bother doing the poll? I'm sure it's been done before. No offence.

It's not, I don't decide, and it hasn't.

Adventure games are of a specific breed. I'm not excluding any valid games in the genre. Feel free to do further research to validate my scope if you'd like.

Doom Gaze

08-13-2006, 12:21 PM

Curse of Monkey Island. Yeah, it was done without Gilbert, Schaefer, and Grossman, but it was done so well. Filled with self-referential jokes, brilliant characters, great dialouge, puzzles, and LucasArts adventure charm that has since been put out to pasture in favor of generic Star Wars shit, I'll never forget the game.

yummysmokedham

08-15-2006, 11:31 PM

gotta go with:

Original Monkey Island
Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
Loom
Curse Of Monkey Island
Original Myst
Laura Bow and the Dagger Of Amon Ra (haven't seen this one on anyone elses list yet) - First game with digital audio if I remember right?
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Dig
Full Throttle

Aswald

08-16-2006, 02:35 PM

Wizardry. Without a doubt. First "true" AD&D game for computers. WERDNA!!!

Lord of the Dungeon for the CV. Very playable, and the first battery-backed game for video game consoles.

Adventure for the 2600. Game option #3...you never know what to expect; AAAARRRGHH! YORGLE!

Haunted House for the 2600. A perfect example of minimalism, and how random makes a game worth playing over and over.

Queston. Some games just have it.

dimerethiel

10-10-2006, 04:15 PM

I�ve found this download site for old The Neverhood game:
The Neverhood download (http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_m_o/neverhood_the.html)

dimerethiel

10-10-2006, 04:16 PM

I�ve found this download site for old The Neverhood game:
The Neverhood download (http://free-game-downloads.mosw.com/abandonware/pc/adventure/games_m_o/neverhood_the.html)

Jorpho

10-10-2006, 09:59 PM

Is that you again, mikesukat? Please stop spamming your illegal download site.

(Mods, I believe this is a spambot.)

blue lander

10-11-2006, 08:27 AM

In no particular order...

Space Quest I-IV. I used to love V and VI, but when I went back and played them, they're nothing but parody after parody of scifi movies. Hardly any original content. I through IV are far more original, more clever, and it seems like more effort was put into them. V is particularly dull.

The Neverhood.

Gobliiins, Gobliins 2, and Goblin's Quest 3. I love the weird European feel to these games. Some of the puzzles are nearly impossible to solve without just trying random things, but half of the fun is watching what happens when you try the wrong thing.

Rex Nebula and the Cosmic Gender Bender. I haven't played this game in ages, but I have fond memories of it from childhood. Sort of like Space Quest but not as funny but longer and more difficult as I recall.

Circuit's Edge and Mines of Titan. I remember enjoying the Cyberpunk/futuristic feel of these games, but I haven't played them since I was a kid so I don't know if they still stand up. I don't know if they're "true" adventure games since they do have RPG elements.

Codename: Iceman. After playing nothing but comedy or fantasy adventures like Space Quest or King's Quest, I liked the change of pace to something more realistic and modern.

Monkey Island I. I thought II and IV were both okay, but they seemed to be missing something the original had. I haven't tried III yet.

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Fate of Atlantis.

Sam & Max

Freddy Pharkas: Frontier Pharmacist. I don't know why this game's so forgotten. It's at least as funny as SQ or LSL and probably more interesting to play.

Hwj_Chim

10-12-2006, 06:23 PM

Wow no one has mentioned blazing dragons that game was fun and very silly. Also were is the love for the Discworld games

Parpunk

10-12-2006, 11:43 PM

Adventure Island I II and III For the NES!
Oh and NEW Adventure Island for the TG !!!

They are like my all time favorite series. :)

Jorpho

10-13-2006, 12:22 AM

backguard

10-13-2006, 01:38 AM

what --- no love for shadowgate? \^_^/

Parpunk

10-13-2006, 12:22 PM

...Not exactly familiar with the concept, are you, Mr. Parpunk?

(I will however take a moment to suggest you look at Super Adventure Island 2 and Adventure Island 4, which is playable in English with a translation patch.)

yea those are good games too. but i didnt think adventure necessarily had to be rpg. adventure islands are just fun adventure games. The concepts are no different than zelda besides zelda is longer and takes more thought. but the concept is the same. go on an adventure, save a girl etc. so i think they would definetly be considered adventure games. it is called adventure island lol :)

Jorpho

10-13-2006, 12:39 PM

Adventure Island (and its sequels) are commonly referred to as "platform" games. They are entirely different from any of the other games mentioned in this thread thus far, which by convention are referred to as "adventure" games.

Zap!

10-20-2006, 03:23 PM