Adventure Game Hotspot

Some conundrums may have you reaching for a dusty copy of “Windows 95 for Dummies,” but Desktop Explorer is a highly polished puzzle-based expedition into the depths of a computerized mystery spanning decades.

If Duck Detective: The Secret Salami left you hungry for more, then The Ghost of Glamping’s same deductive gameplay, adorable visuals, and silly storytelling should be a delicious, bite-sized follow-up.

Without uttering a single word, Koira tells a story that illuminates the beautiful friendship between a woodland spirit and its dog. With its light and cosy gameplay, movingly enigmatic soundtrack and heartfelt tale, it is surely a journey that will linger with you long after the final note fades.

Life on the farm can be a chore, but Horses is a smart but thematically grotesque horror experience that will unnerve players and leave them with a lingering unease long after the credits have rolled.

This side-scrolling adventure raises some interesting themes, but an artsy night on the town comes to an end before Solis has a chance to fully shine.

Dyer Expedition is a very short game that hints at something richer beneath the surface, but in the end feels more like an unfinished sketch than a fully realized journey.

Kejora is like Stand By Me meets Groundhog Day, Studio Ghibli style, in a delightful if slightly unpolished coming-of-age Indonesian puzzle-platformer.

The Detective Grimoire series reaches a new apex in The Mermaid Mask, which first equals and then outshines its beloved predecessors in nearly every way that matters.

With its gritty detective story, anthropomorphic animal cast and stylish film-noir presentation, Into the HIVE is a worthy addition to an already impressive visual novel/adventure game hybrid series.

Its numerous gameplay systems vary widely in depth, but even at its shallowest, Tides of Tomorrow is a fun, beautiful game with some great ideas and a unique implementation of multiplayer in an otherwise solo experience.