Chariots of the Dogs sucked me in and completely immersed me with the joy that comes from playing a special adventure game.

This isn’t a situation where one forces oneself to slog through Moby Dick because it’s a “classic”; The Secret of Monkey Island is still as fun as any other game you’ll play this year, and probably significantly more so, and everyone who loves adventure games should experience it at least once.

Insane, mutant tentacles. A frozen hamster. Three distinct playable characters. Time travel. Fake barf. Truly, this game has it all. One other thing Day of the Tentacle has in no short supply is charm. It's got that in spades. Everything about this game just comes together beautifully.

Like its predecessor, Portal 2 is not an adventure game in the traditional sense, but genre fans will find plenty to appreciate in this story-driven obstacle course, because puzzle games don't get any better than this.

Whatever you call it, L.A. Noire is a monumental achievement that every console-owning adventure fan needs to experience.

Whatever you call it, L.A. Noire is a monumental achievement that every console-owning adventure fan needs to experience.

It's extraordinarily rare for a game to possess scenes of such powerful emotion, but Telltale have managed something special with The Walking Dead finale, and it'd be a tragedy to miss it.

An ethereal, innovative, emotional cooperative experience, thatgamecompany’s Journey is one that any PlayStation 3 owner should take.

This is the kind of game that will have you showing up a bit bleary-eyed at work, because you couldn’t quite bring yourself to stop playing late into the night.

An extremely succesful and balanced adventure, and a worthy sequel in a venerable franchise.

There's no way around it: Runaway is an instant classic, and an absolute must-own for all adventure game fans.

If you have been looking for a great game that combines humour, a great story, appealing graphics, and long game play with a reasonable price, then Grim Fandango is what you seek. Quality has never been so much fun.

Beautiful? Stunning? Breathtaking? All words that can safely be used when describing Syberia's graphics. The level of detail is simply immense.

If you loved the first one or thought that it would be excellent if only the puzzles were more challenging, this is a game you will not want to be without.

With a long playing time, and loads of intrigue, this game is a sure bet for history buffs and casual fans...A must have, but clear your schedule as it takes between 50 and 60 hours to complete.

A fateful return of a venerable series proves it still has legs even 10 odd years on.

This game is so good that if I taught a class on interactive fiction I would use it as my example of how to create a great quality game.

Tells a story that is a masterful blend of challenge, characters and story. It is a definite game of the year candidate, and will likely earn a spot on many gamers' list of favorites.

Revives a true classic, and optimizes it for performance. An absolute must-play for any adventure fan with even a passing tolerance of insects. If you can't beat 'em... join 'em!

With its charming gameplay, excellent use of the Nintendo DS features, truly funny dialogue, intricate plot, and personable cast of characters, this "soon to be a classic" title offers plenty of gaming enjoyment.

One of the best adventure games currently available.

Here is the Sam & Max episode you've been waiting for. Absolute, complete fun, and an effort that Telltale should be very proud of.

It's remarkable that Telltale can still, at this point in the series, reinvent the entire concept and create such an original and delightful adventure experience. The best episode yet.

This is by far the deepest, darkest game in the series, yet the superb writing means that it will also be the funniest you'll encounter.

While I'm prepared to recommend Professor Layton and the Curious Village wholeheartedly, it does come with a serious caution about expectations. If you're looking for a well-rounded adventure with plenty of exploration and a fully-integrated storyline, you simply won't find it here.

For anyone with even a modicum of action gaming ability, then, deciding to pick the game up should be a no-brainer.

If you haven’t jumped onto the bandwagon yet, you are doing yourself a disservice by missing the best comic adventure games in the modern era.

Not quite perfect, this Broken Sword: Director’s Cut is still the best port of an adventure game on the DS to date.

Either way, for puzzle fans it’s a brilliant way to spend your time, and so long as you’re playing, that’s really all that matters.

I used the phrase "very good game-but like its predecessor, not quite great" to describe the previous episode. Lair of the Leviathan not only clears "great", but sails way into the depths of "historically fantastic."

That aside, this is the best time I've had with an adventure game – 2D or 3D, big or small budget – this year. With an original charm all its own, Machinarium is a real winner and an instant classic.

So whether you're a newcomer or a LeChuck's Revenge veteran, it's definitely worth taking the trip back to the world of Monkey Island.

If you're the kind of person who enjoys the rush of simulated terror, follow the developer's advice: wait until sundown, put on some headphones, and start up Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Having come up with an intriguing premise, it would have been all too easy for Capcom to cut corners beyond that, relying on the gimmick alone to garner sales. Thankfully, that is definitely not the case with Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective, which is a quality piece of work at every level.

Stacking mixes inventive gameplay with a charming visual style to produce an outstanding puzzle-adventure.

Stacking mixes inventive gameplay with a charming visual style to produce an outstanding puzzle-adventure.

At nearly 4GB, The Book of Unwritten Tales isn't small in size or scope, and provides a huge amount of entertainment from start to end.

A creation of obvious love and care, Botanicula is a must-play for those seeking a truly imaginative and entertaining adventure game

The Walking Dead may have more gore than puzzles, but by striking out in a new direction that focuses on atmospheric storytelling, Telltale delivers one their most compelling and enjoyable titles to date.

Resonance took a long time to arrive, but this meaty, challenging sci-fi thriller has unquestionably been worth the wait.

Starved for Help more than fulfills the high expectations set for it, maintaining the tense immersion and bold story development of its predecessor.

Arguably the great detective's finest hour, The Testament of Sherlock Holmes makes for a thoroughly enjoyable adventure through the murkier side of Sherlock's psyche.

As much a poem as it is a game, Kentucky Route Zero: Act I is the bizarre, lovely first leg of a road trip into the sad, strange heart of America.

A philosophically ambitious game that distinguishes itself from the crowd. A rewarding experience, but expect plenty of confusion along the way.

A very humours game. With luminous graphics, dozens of different locations to explore, and a zany set of characters to interact with it is a value at the retail price of $30 US. Oh and it has toilets… lots of them.

With a unique premise, a true understanding of Egyptian history and a love for mysterious revelations, the Toblers have created a monster of a game.

An unparalleled sucess at storytelling, and even the most stupefying crate puzzle can't overcome the ability to tell a great story.

It may be a conventional, paint-by-numbers murder mystery, but the resulting portrait is a rather generous one that provides two unique perspectives, a complex story, and hours of fun.

A true one-of-a-kind experience; unless you absolutely can’t handle the gritty material, you owe it to yourself to hunt down this quirky game.

A quality adventure game even though the restyling of the old locations on Mêlée Island and Monkey Island is a bit of a mixed bag. The ending is long, satisfying and almost as disturbingly weird.

This game has a suprising charm and beauty, with enough depth to keep you playing until the end. A solid pick that will surely satisfy.

An incredible, audacious attempt that doesn't quite live up to its goals. Easily one of the most complex stories ever told in a computer game. Highly recommended as both the continuation of a great series and on the strength of its high points.

Dreamfall is a triumph of (unfinished) storytelling that deserves to be in every gamer's collection, despite sacrificing a little too much gameplay for its own good.

The X-Files Game will delight fans of the series by placing them wholly inside a world of lies and conspiracy, complete with a torrent of in-jokes and interaction with their favourite series regulars. Even non-fans will enjoy this spooky sci-fi romp, due to its slick interface, gripping plot-line and highly immersive quality.

Tailor-made for inventory lovers, but plenty here for every adventure gamer to enjoy. It's simple and modest, but offers great value for your gaming dollar.

Puzzle lovers will delight; TLJ fans will be bored silly; still, this may well be the future of adventure games.

Though the inclusion of repetitive mini-games is anything but evolutionary, this game is well worth a look for those who can handle some reflex action in their adventures.

Though the inclusion of repetitive mini-games is anything but evolutionary, this game is well worth a look for those who can handle some reflex action in their adventures.

A futuristic digital age has fully bloomed in The Moment of Silence with a relatable lead character, more comfortable dialogue, clear and original puzzles, striking graphical presentation and a full-package sci-fi adventure. One of the most entertaining adventures in years.

Solid addition to the series and likely the best Nancy Drew game of them all. For those who crave a few evenings of gaming where charm, good looks and diversion come first, this is a definite buy.

Fans of the classic cartoon adventures will find their fix with this brilliantly traditional adventure.

A worthy ending for a long-standing series that doesn't quite reach greatness, but will likely please more than disappoint.

A lot of the gameplay borrows from old conventions, but is presented in new ways that work well with the setting and plot.

Spunky teenager Nancy Drew, though celebrating her 75th birthday, once again proves why she is still relevant in the 21st century.

Scratches is a great adventure game that shouldn't be missed by anyone who enjoys a story well told within a scary, gothic presentation.

An excellent step forward from Telltale, and a game that everyone should be playing.

A must-have for puzzle fans and definitely worth a look for anyone who values an intellectual challenge.

While not as good as the original, Phoenix Wright and his comrades still manage to entertain and deliver with a fantastic script and engaging courtroom drama.

Don't let the word "independent" concern you; this game is an excellent adventure that everyone should give a chance, especially those who like their horror mixed seamlessly with science and history.

Still, with its clever, elegant puzzles and a light-hearted plot loaded with twists, it is definitely the most enjoyable game I have played in a long time.

Culture Shock in every way looks, sounds, and feels like a true Sam & Max sequel. If you can forgive the ease of the puzzles and embrace the episodic concept, it is nothing less than a complete blast of fun.

can easily recommend Overclocked, but in doing so I will reiterate that the game will not be for everyone. It is, first and foremost, a game that has a story to tell, and it's this tale that takes precedence over the whole adventure.

You can find faults without too much effort, but I can still say the same thing about this one I said about the first: it's a blast of pure fun, and provides the proper conclusion to a truly enjoyable series of adventures.

While Atlantis isn't exactly a new premise for adventure gamers, the lovely depiction of seldom-used 1930s settings and the game's rich storyline saves The Secrets of Atlantis from being just another first-person adventure clone.

It's a traditional, puzzle-packed adventure with a modern graphical twist that manages to do justice to one of the most revered literary protagonists of all time.

And by reducing the size and repetitiveness of the make-work puzzles, Her Interactive has done away with one of the biggest complaints about the games. When combined with an atmospheric and slowly unwinding storyline, these elements create an almost watertight game that even those who have grown tired of the series will enjoy.

Overall, there is much to recommend in this handheld conversion, but if you’ve played the PC version already, bear in mind that it’s only a port.

So while Overture was a promising first endeavour, Black Plague is a Penumbra brought sharply into focus.

Moai Better Blues is a gorgeous game to look at and listen to and a unique, enjoyable experience as a whole.

At least I can say something that I haven't yet said to date—the ending makes me extremely interested to know where the story is going now, and with only thirty days between episodes, it won't be a long wait to find out.

Ultimately, What's New Beelzebub? is an overwhelmingly ambitious game that never stops for a breath, and by the end of the strange journey it nearly collapses under its own comedic weight and the strain of throwing every bizarre scenario and creative re-use of supporting characters at the wall.

The simple interface, stunning graphics which are some of the best I’ve seen on the DS, and an intriguing storyline all add up to an enthralling adventure.

It's an auspicious debut that should appeal to sci-fi adventure fans, even if you’re not familiar with the American astronaut and his “Perryverse”.

Throughout that time I was both pleased and impressed, as Nostradamus: The Last Prophecy is a solid game with an intriguing story and fun, well-integrated puzzles.

Whatever the root cause, the story is solid on the whole, and these few foggy moments didn't detract from my overall enjoyment.

The game rarely wows you in any one way, and the pace can drag at times in dry subject matter, but overall it’s both logical and accessible, and with its interesting approach to vampire lore and deftly crafted storyline, Dracula 3: The Path of the Dragon is worth picking up.

Despite a few awkward moments and the scarcity of thigh-slapping comedy, Ceville is nevertheless one of the better recent comic adventures, with excellent cartoony graphics and delightful music combining with the irreverent humor to add much to the whimsical nature of the game.

There are those who will dismiss Gobliiins 4 as a mere puzzle game, but unless you play adventures only for their stories, I can safely say that this game is worth the time of any point-and-click adventurer.

If ultra-challenging puzzles are your thing, you might be disappointed, but if you’re all about the story and characters, you should book a trip on the next available cyclone to beautiful (and dangerous) Emerald City.

This reimagining significantly alters the Silent Hill formula, but for those willing to put up with the occasional frustrating chase sequence, Shattered Memories is a masterpiece of atmosphere and storytelling that demands your attention.

Secret Files 2 is a highly-polished, enjoyable sequel that’s better than its Tunguskan predecessor in several key ways.

All together, it's safe to say that Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis is a definite improvement on the original, addressing some of its faults and enhancing the best parts, and although there's no teaser of a further sequel down the line, I know I won't be alone in hoping there will be.

The revamped and expanded JakeHunter may still have a few rough edges around its decidedly streamlined gameplay, but it is a satisfying experience for any fan of Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.

If you are a fan of story-driven games, dark mysteries and psychological tales (and don’t mind a more casual style of gameplay), you won’t need a Tarot card to know that 3 Cards to Midnight is the right game for you.

While the game is nearly the same length as the first two episodes—between 2 ½ and 3 hours for me—it feels like a more fulfilling experience thanks to the stronger storyline and better integrated puzzles.

Traditional adventure fans should go in expecting a highly streamlined game style, and hidden object fans should brace themselves for a whole new kind of casual adventure.

It’s the best game in the series so far, and it will be thoroughly enjoyed by new and old players alike.

In spite of this chapter's sometimes bland early tone and uneven puzzle mechanics, Rise of the Pirate God and the series as a whole both come with my highest recommendation as a modern adventure genre must-play.