Point and click adventure games are one of gaming’s most beloved and enduring genres — built around exploration, inventory puzzles, dialogue trees, and storytelling rather than combat reflexes. From the golden age of LucasArts and Sierra in the late 1980s and 1990s, through a near-extinction in the 2000s, to a modern indie renaissance that continues today, point and click adventure games have produced some of gaming’s most memorable experiences.
This guide covers 25 of the best point and click adventure games across classic and modern eras, organized by category, with platform availability for PC, iPad/iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, and free options.
Quick Overview: Best Point and Click Adventure Games
| Game | Year | Platform | Best For |
| The Secret of Monkey Island | 1990 | PC/iOS/Android | Best classic LucasArts; humor and puzzles |
| Grim Fandango | 1998 | PC/PS4/iOS | Best narrative; noir atmosphere |
| Myst | 1993 | PC/iOS/Switch | Best puzzle-focused; no dialogue |
| Broken Age | 2014 | PC/iOS/Android | Best modern LucasArts-style |
| Return of the Obra Dinn | 1019 | PC/Switch/PS4 | Best mystery deduction game |
| Disco Elysium | 2019 | PC/PS4/PS5 | Best RPG-adjacent; incredible writing |
| Thimbleweed Park | 2017 | PC/iOS/Switch | Best retro-style modern game |
| What Remains of Edith Finch | 2017 | PC/PS4/Switch/iOS | Best narrative walking sim |
| Kentucky Route Zero | 2013–20 | PC/Switch/PS4 | Most artistic; magical realism |
| Sam & Max Hit the Road | 1993 | PC (GOG) | Best comedy adventure |
Best Classic Point and Click Adventure Games (All Time)
1. The Secret of Monkey Island (1990)
LucasArts’ pirate adventure remains the gold standard of the genre. You play Guybrush Threepwood, a wannabe pirate navigating Caribbean islands, solving inventory puzzles with clever lateral thinking, and trading insults in the iconic Insult Sword Fighting system. Ron Gilbert’s design philosophy — no deaths, no dead ends, puzzles that are fair but surprising — established the template that most good adventure games still follow.
Platform: PC (Steam/GOG), iOS, Android | Why play it: The writing, humor, and puzzle design still hold up completely. The 2022 Monkey Island: Return to Monkey Island is the modern sequel.
2. Grim Fandango (1998)
Tim Schafer’s film noir masterpiece set in the Land of the Dead is widely considered one of the greatest games ever made. Manuel ‘Manny’ Calavera, a travel agent for the dead, uncovers a conspiracy that reshapes his entire afterlife. The writing is exceptional — sharp, witty, and genuinely moving. The 2015 remaster (Grim Fandango Remastered) adds modern controls and graphics while preserving the original.
Platform: PC (Steam/GOG), PS4, iOS, Android | Recommended version: Grim Fandango Remastered
3. Day of the Tentacle (1993)
The sequel to Maniac Mansion sends three friends — Bernard, Hoagie, and Laverne — across three time periods (past, present, far future) to stop a tentacle from taking over the world. Time travel puzzles where actions in one era affect objects in another are the game’s masterstroke. The 2016 Day of the Tentacle Remastered is the definitive version.
Platform: PC (Steam/GOG) | Best for: Players who want classic adventure game humor and genuinely clever puzzle design
4. Sam & Max Hit the Road (1993)
The freelance police — Sam the dog and Max the hyperkinetic rabbity thing — investigate a carnival mystery in one of the funniest games ever made. Max’s dialogue alone is worth the price of admission. The non-linear structure (most puzzle solutions can be found in any order) was ahead of its time.
Platform: PC (GOG) | Note: Three episodic Sam & Max series by Telltale (2006-2010) are also available on PC
5. Myst (1993) / Myst (2021 Remake)
Myst revolutionized the genre by removing inventory items and dialogue entirely — it’s pure environmental puzzle solving in a beautifully rendered world with a mysterious narrative discovered through journals and exploration. The 2021 remake brings full 3D environments and VR support. Riven (the sequel) is even better once you understand the language.
Platform: PC, iOS, Switch, VR | Best for: Players who want pure puzzle solving without adventure game conventions
6. Full Throttle (1995)
Tim Schafer’s biker adventure — you play Ben, leader of the Polecats motorcycle gang, framed for murder — is one of LucasArts’ most cinematic games. Shorter than most classic adventures but incredibly polished. The 2017 Full Throttle Remastered version preserves the game while offering modern visuals.
Platform: PC (Steam/GOG), iOS, Android
Best Modern Point and Click Adventure Games
7. Return of the Obra Dinn (2018)
Lucas Pope’s masterpiece puts you on an abandoned ship with a magical pocket watch that shows the final moments before each crew member’s death. You must deduce the fate of all 60 crew members — how they died, who killed them, or what claimed them — using logic and elimination. No other game uses deduction the way Obra Dinn does. One of the most original games of the decade.
Platform: PC (Steam), Switch, PS4, Xbox | Price: ~$20
8. Disco Elysium (2019)
Technically an isometric RPG but mechanically a point and click adventure — no combat, only dialogue, skill checks, and investigation. You play a failed, amnesiac detective reconstructing his identity while solving a murder in a crumbling harbor city. The writing is extraordinary — each skill in your head (Logic, Empathy, Electrochemistry, Inland Empire) has its own voice and personality. One of the greatest games ever made.
Platform: PC (Steam), PS4/PS5 | Note: The Final Cut edition includes full voice acting
9. Broken Age (2014)
Tim Schafer’s crowdfunded return to adventure games — the game that proved the genre still had an audience. Two parallel stories: a boy trying to escape a futuristic world and a girl chosen for ritual sacrifice. The first act (free on some platforms) is the more consistent half; the second act has some genuinely challenging puzzles.
Platform: PC (Steam), iOS, Android, PS4 | Price: ~$15
10. Thimbleweed Park (2017)
Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick (co-creators of Monkey Island) returned to make the adventure game they always wanted to make — a Twin Peaks-esque small-town mystery with five playable characters and full LucasArts-era puzzle design. If you love classic adventure games, this is exactly what you want from a modern game made by the people who defined the genre.
Platform: PC (Steam), iOS, Android, Switch, PS4, Xbox | Price: ~$20
11. Kentucky Route Zero (2013–2020)
An episodic magical realist adventure that defies easy description — a truck driver making a delivery on a mysterious highway that doesn’t appear on any map. It is more about atmosphere, dialogue choices, and poetry than traditional puzzles. One of the most artistically ambitious games ever made. Released over seven years in five acts plus interludes.
Platform: PC (Steam), Switch, PS4, Xbox | Price: ~$25 (TV Edition includes all acts)
12. What Remains of Edith Finch (2017)
A walking simulator / adventure hybrid where you explore a family home and experience short vignettes depicting how each family member died. Each story uses different mechanics — one is a comic book, one is a bathtub fantasy, one is unbearably poignant. Finished in 2 hours but completely unforgettable. Won multiple Game of the Year awards.
Platform: PC (Steam), PS4/PS5, Switch, iOS, Xbox | Price: ~$20
13. Pentiment (2022)
Obsidian’s illustrated historical adventure set in 16th century Bavaria. You play Andreas Maler, an artist-in-residence at a monastery, investigating a series of murders over 25 years. The art style shifts between different historical illuminated manuscript styles. One of the most original game concepts in years and one of the best games of 2022.
Platform: PC (Game Pass/Steam), Xbox | Price: ~$20 / free on Game Pass
Best Point and Click Adventure Games on iPad and iOS
- The Room series (The Room, Two, Three, Old Sins, A Dark Matter): Tactile 3D puzzle boxes with an occult narrative; originally designed for touchscreens; all available on iOS and Android (~$2–5 each)
- Grim Fandango Remastered: Excellent touchscreen port; touch controls work well for this game (~$5 on iOS)
- Broken Age: Full game available on iOS; touch controls feel natural for point and click (~$10)
- Thimbleweed Park: Available on iOS with full touch support (~$10)
- Machinarium: Beautiful robot adventure with wordless storytelling; excellent on iPad (~$5)
- Samorost 3: Amanita Design’s atmospheric alien world puzzler; gorgeous on large iPad screens (~$5)
- Alto’s Odyssey / Gorogoa: Not traditional P&C but similar puzzle sensibility; exceptional on iOS
Best Point and Click Adventure Games on Android
- The Room series: All four main entries + Old Sins available on Android; free with ads or paid (~$1–4)
- Machinarium: Full game available on Android (~$5)
- Broken Age: Android port available with touch controls (~$10)
- Thimbleweed Park: Android version available (~$10)
- Grim Fandango Remastered: Android port available (~$5)
- Lucid Dream Adventure (series): Three games available on Android; made specifically for mobile; free with ads
Best Free Point and Click Adventure Games
- AGS (Adventure Game Studio) community games: Thousands of free fan-made adventure games created with AGS; the developer community at Adventure Game Studio (adventuregamestudio.co.uk) maintains a library of free downloads
- Sagrario’s Room: Free short adventure; well-received indie
- The White Chamber: Free horror adventure; available via developer site
- Scratches: Director’s Cut sometimes available free on GOG during promotions
- Itch.io adventure game section: Many free indie point and click adventure games; itch.io/games/tag-point-and-click
- Pentiment: Available free on Xbox Game Pass
Best Point and Click Adventure Games on Nintendo Switch
- Return of the Obra Dinn: Excellent Switch port; great for handheld mode (~$20)
- Thimbleweed Park: One of the best Switch adventure games available (~$20)
- Kentucky Route Zero TV Edition: All acts in one package; Switch version includes all content (~$25)
- Myst (2021 remake): Available on Switch with touch controls in handheld mode (~$30)
- Broken Age: Available on Switch eShop (~$15)
- The Forgotten City: Roman mystery adventure; Switch port available (~$25)
Best Indie Point and Click Adventure Games
- Unavowed (2018): Ink Monkey Games urban fantasy adventure; multiple playable characters; excellent writing (~$15 Steam)
- Mutazione (2019): Slow-burn community simulation / adventure hybrid with beautiful hand-drawn art (~$20 Steam/PS4)
- Norco (2022): Southern Gothic point and click set in Louisiana’s oil refinery country; one of the most atmospheric adventure games in years (~$15 Steam)
- Citizen Sleeper (2022): Sci-fi RPG with point and click structure; excellent narrative design (~$20 Steam/Switch/Xbox)
- Paradise Killer (2020): Open-world murder mystery on an island that defies easy description; genuinely unique (~$15 Steam/Switch)
- Nusquam (recent): Psychological horror adventure; short but intense (~$5 Steam)
Classic LucasArts vs Sierra: Which Is Better for Beginners?
| Feature | LucasArts Style | Sierra Style |
| Deaths | No deaths (mostly) | Frequent deaths — save often |
| Dead ends | Cannot get stuck permanently | Can reach unwinnable state |
| Difficulty | Challenging but fair | Often extremely difficult |
| Tone | Predominantly comedic | Drama, comedy, and horror |
| Best entry point | Monkey Island 1 or Day of Tentacle | King’s Quest V or Police Quest |
| Modern equivalents | Thimbleweed Park | Unavowed, Quest for Glory remakes |
For most modern players new to classic adventure games, LucasArts games are the better starting point — the no-death, no-dead-end philosophy makes them frustration-free experiences where every puzzle solution exists in the game and can be found without a walkthrough.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best point and click adventure games of all time?
The most universally acclaimed point and click adventure games are The Secret of Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, Day of the Tentacle, Return of the Obra Dinn, Disco Elysium, and Myst. For modern games, Pentiment (2022) and Norco (2022) are standouts. The LucasArts golden age (1990–1998) produced the most consistently beloved titles in the genre.
What are the best free point and click adventure games?
The best free options are Pentiment (free on Xbox Game Pass), the itch.io adventure game library (many free indie games), and the Adventure Game Studio community library (thousands of free fan-made games). The Room series has free versions with ads on Android. GOG.com occasionally offers free classic adventure games during promotions.
What are the best point and click adventure games on iPad?
The best iPad point and click adventure games are The Room series (designed for touch), Grim Fandango Remastered, Broken Age, Thimbleweed Park, Machinarium, and Samorost 3. All are available on the App Store and scale well to iPad screens.
What makes a good point and click adventure game?
The hallmarks of a great point and click adventure game are: fair puzzles with solutions discoverable through observation and logical thinking (not random trial and error), strong writing and character voice, a coherent world where items and actions make sense in context, and the absence of unwinnable states or deaths that punish exploration. The best games in the genre reward curiosity and attention to detail.
Final Thoughts
The point and click adventure genre spans from pixelated 1980s text parsers to lush hand-painted modern masterpieces, but the core appeal has never changed: the pleasure of exploration, observation, and the satisfying click of a puzzle falling into place. Whether you start with the LucasArts classics on GOG, dive into Return of the Obra Dinn’s deduction-based mystery, or explore the atmospheric storytelling of Kentucky Route Zero, the genre offers some of gaming’s most purely cerebral and narrative-rich experiences.
For newcomers, The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition (Steam/GOG, ~$10) remains the single best entry point — 35 years old and still one of the most enjoyable games ever made.
