The most interesting adventure games released in 2017
All the best and most popular games of the year, upcoming releases, and hits from the past. Use filters to narrow down search.
Milkmaid of the Milky Way
Adventure
January 4, 2017
Developed by the one-man studio Machineboy, a classic point-and-click adventure game. Milkmaid of the Milky Way tells the story of a girl named Ruth who lives a dull and poor life on a farm during the 1920s. One day she notices a mysterious, golden spaceship and is forced to embark on a life-changing adventure. The production is inspired by classic adventure games from the 90s, and introduces no revolutionary changes to the genre. Gameplay focuses on going through various locations and searching for items vital to solving numerous puzzles and problems. The title is rather short and simple – it can be finished in, more or less, three hours. Milkmaid of the Milky Way features old-school, pixel-art visuals, and – interestingly - rhymed dialogues.
Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony Anniversary Edition
Adventure
January 12, 2017
The third full-fledged installment in the series of mystery thriller adventure visual novels developed by Spike Chunsoft. The plot of Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony tells the story of a kidnapped high school student named Kaede Akamatsu. Together with other students, he is taken to a school called Gifted Inmates Academy. The academy’s director is a teddy bear named Monokuma. He informs his “guests” that the only way to escape the place is to kill another student in such way that no one catches you during the investigation. The game employs gameplay mechanics known from previous entries in the series. The gameplay is divided into two main parts: School Life and Class Trial. In the first part the player interacts with other students, creates relations and pushes the story forward. Once a murder occurs, the gameplay mechanics change and the player focuses on conducting an investigation during which he learns testimonies and statements of various people, he looks for evidence etc.
Detention
Adventure
January 12, 2017
A side-scrolling horror/adventure game. Detention is a debut project of Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games. The action of the game takes place in Taiwan during the 1960s, in the middle of martial law that lasted 37 years. We are taken to Greenwood, a high-school placed in a mountainous area. The players assume the role of two students who discover that the school became inhabited by wicked monsters known from local legends. Their mission is to survive, as well as to discover the origins of the mysterious evil. Detention is built on exploration, gathering items, and solving riddles, all performed through a classic point-and-click interface. Our protagonists are practically helpless in open combat, so their only way to deal with the danger is to hide and lay traps, and escape if need be. The two-dimensional visuals are quite interesting, as the developers were inspired by the mythology of China and Taiwan, as well as Taoist and Buddhist beliefs.
Creeping Terror
Adventure
January 18, 2017
Creeping Terror is a 2D survival horror where we play as Arisa, a Japanese high school student, who, together with her friends, ends up in a haunted mansion in order to verify the stories told about it. After entering the residence, the entire group passes out and later wakes up in a sinister cave. Our job is to find a way out and survive. Action in Creeping Terror is presented from a side-scrolling perspective. Gameplay focuses on exploration of grim locations (underground tunnels and the residence itself) and solving more or less complicated riddles. In addition to that, Arisa has to hide from many nightmarish creatures (she can only fight with them on special occasions) and, if needed, simply run away. The 3DS version of the game has quite good visuals, but the same cannot be said about its PC release. Nonetheless, the game’s grim atmosphere can be quite enjoyable thanks to the toned-down colors and ominous soundtrack.
Cayne
Adventure
January 24, 2017
A completely free, standalone expansion for Stasis – a dark science-fiction adventure game released in 2015. The plot of Cayne references the base game in a number of ways, but without spoiling it, so players new to the series can also experience the title in full. Story introduces a pregnant woman named Hadle, who wakes up in an obscure medical facility, where unknown men want to take her baby away. As can easily be imagined, the player’s objective is to make sure that this doesn’t happen. The gameplay is exactly the same as in Stasis, so we are looking at a classic adventure game, seen from an isometric view. During the campaign, designed to last for roughly 1.5 hour, we are mainly occupied with exploration of new locations and searching for items, which are necessary to solve the problems turning up along the way. From the audio-visual side, the game relies on the same, albeit beefed up, visuals. Nonetheless, Cayne has a completely new soundtrack, composed by Ivo Sadiski.
Fetch
Adventure
January 24, 2017
A combination of an adventure and a platform game, developed by Big Fish Studios. The player takes control of Milo, who lives in a grim metropolis ruled by the Embark corporation. One day, company’s employees kidnap the protagonist’s dog, forcing the former to set on a dangerous journey – not only to rescue his quadruped friend, but also to find out why Embark steals dogs in the entire town. Fetch shows player’s character from the side perspective, and every puzzle features arcade sequences. Occasionally, the game will also change into an arcade minigame with various objectives: from feeding rainbow snake with fishes, up to battles against pirate ships. Fetch employs good-looking, colorful visuals that resemble Pixar’s movies. Official concept arts and built-in complex guide are nice additions.
Memoranda
Adventure
January 25, 2017
A classic point-and-click adventure developed by the independent studio Bit ByterZ, the game was funded via a successful Kickstarter project. Memoranda takes us to a small town inhabited by strange individuals who have lost something. This also happens to the heroine - she is slowly forgetting her own name. Your objective is to find out why this is happening. Gameplay focuses on looking for important items, chatting with more than 35 characters, and solving puzzles that primarily consist of manipulating the pieces of equipment you gather throughout the game. Exploration is also vital – in total, there are over 40 diverse locations to be traveled around. The title features detailed graphics which stand out with their exaggerated characters.
Divide
Adventure
January 31, 2017
An isometric action-adventure game taking place in a science-fiction universe inspired by Blade Runner. The plot of Divide tells a story of an ordinary man named David, who has to leave his daughter and enter a new realm, controlled by Vestige, a powerful corporation. His objective is to search for various clues and hack into computer systems to discover the reasons behind his current situation, and to find a way back to his world. Divide is a variation on a dungeon crawler, in which the story and characters are the main elements. Our task is to explore, solve puzzles, find various hints and documents, engage in problem solving and authentication of the acquired material, which influences the course of the story. The game is also filled with combat sequences, but they seem to be of secondary importance – it’s best to stay hidden and sneak out of the patrolled area. The game is complemented by a soundtrack composed by Chris Tilton, known from his work on Assassin’s Creed: Unity.
Bye-Bye Boxboy!
Adventure
February 2, 2017
Bye-Bye Boxboy! is the third installment of the logical platform game series developed by HAL Laboratory. Just like in the previous games, we play as Qbby, a square character that can replicate his shape. This time, he has to save Qbabies, beings that look like smaller versions of him. As a reward for his help, they will give him additional abilities. The game is made of eighteen diverse locations where we will have to solve logical and environmental puzzles and avoid traps. As we play, we will make a good use of Boxboy's gradually abilities: Boxrocket creates squares with jet engines which will alow our hero to push the buttons that are way above him; Warpbox can teleport him across a short distance. As we progress, we will gain access to additional content. All of that is presented in a rather simple form. The game has clear, cartoonish 2D visuals that work well, though you won't find any visual bells and whistles here.
Husk
Adventure
February 3, 2017
A first-person perspective survival horror inspired by such classic titles as Alan Wake, Silent Hill, and Alone in the Dark. Husk is produced by Polish studio UndeadScout, supported by IMGN.PRO – the creators of the successful horror Kholat. The title takes you to a mysterious town of Shivercliff, the destination of the game's main hero – Matthew Palmer. After a train wreck, he tries to find his family, which requires delving into the town’s dark secrets. Shivercliff resembles the other famous digital ghost town - Silent Hill, where nightmare interweaves with reality. During the journey Matthew discovers his own dark side. In Husk you see the action through the eyes of the hero and gameplay concentrates on exploration and puzzle solving, which unravels subsequent plot elements. The game features combat with monstrous enemies, during which the protagonist uses firearms and his own fists. The game is powered by Unreal Engine 4, but the visuals – typically for horror games – are kept in dark colors.
Leaving Lyndow
Adventure
February 8, 2017
An exploration adventure game by indie team Eastshade Studios. Leaving Lyndow is set in the universe of the Easthade game. The protagonist is a girl named Clara, who spends the last day on her family island before embarking on a long sea journey. The gameplay in Leaving Lyndow focuses on exploring the surroundings, interacting with the objects you find, and talking to NPCSs — this is how you learn of Clara's past. There are also various minigames, which help you uncover the plot step by step. The game can be completed in a single evening. Leaving Lyndow features detailed high-quality 3D visuals and calm, ambient soundtrack.
Holy Potatoes! We're in Space?!
Adventure
February 14, 2017
Holy Potatoes! We're in Space?! is an indie game developed by Daylight Studios, creators of Holy Potatoes! A Weapon Shop?!, that combines the elements of strategy, adventure, and rougelike games. The game protagonists are Casie and Fay. The girls travel through the space to find their grandfather Jiji, who was kidnapped by the evil Eclipse federation. Holy Potatoes! We're in Space?! is full of peculiar sense of humor, which can be seen in the dialogues, world building, and the game's overall stylistics. Universe in Holy Potatoes! is procedurally generated and inhabited by numerous vegetable-like creatures. We will visit numerous different planets that can provide us with useful resources. Those can be used to upgrade our ship and weapons, useful against the encountered enemies. Battles are turn-based and our victory depends on our tactics and the power of our weapons. We also have to manage our ship and crew.
The Wardrobe: Even Better Edition
Adventure
February 15, 2017
A classic representative of the point-and-click adventure genre, in which we play Skinny - the skeleton of a teenager who died five years ago as a result of poisoning with plums. Now it is up to the hero to convince his friend, who gave him these fruits, to admit guilt, because only in this way can he save his soul from eternal condemnation.
Herald
Adventure
February 16, 2017
A narrative-focused point-and-click adventure game and the debut project from the independent Dutch studio, Wispfire. Inspired by real events, the game is set in alternative version of the 19th century in which all western countries have been united under the banner of an empire known as the Protectorate. Players take the role a man named Devan Rensburgh, who seeks the truth of his origins while on his journey to Western Colonies of the empire. The protagonist ends up on board of the HLV Herald, a ship that is a true melting pot of cultures, and is forced to make several crucial decisions that will shape his future from now on. The game mechanics of Herald derive a lot from classic adventure games and focus based on exploration and numerous dialogues with NPCs. Furthermore, the game draws some inspiration from Telltale Games’ productions, focusing, instead of puzzles, on narration, character development and moral choices.
Vampire: The Masquerade - We Eat Blood
Adventure
February 16, 2017
A narrative adventure game from White Wolf Entertainment’s team, based on the popular tabletop game Vampire The Masquerade. It takes place in alternative reality, known as World of Darkness, where many supernatural beings live besides humans. We play as a young vampire, who only recently started to feel the great hunger and noticed changes in his body. Players will help him cope with this new reality and discover the truth about the supernatural world that surrounds him. Vampire The Masquerade: We Eat Blood focuses on story and the decisions that affect it. What’s unusual is that the game’s interface looks like an operating system of a modern smartphone, through which we discover new plot threads or contact other characters.
Mage: The Ascension - Refuge
Adventure
February 16, 2017
An adventure storytelling game for mobile devices, created by White Wolf Entertainment and Swedish novelist Karin Tidbeck. Mage the Ascension: Refuge is based on a tabletop role-playing game. The production takes place in today's Sweden, and you play as a woman, who recently learned that she's a mage and gradually discovers her powers, which allow her to shape reality. Unfortunately, enemy factions want to use her powers to conquer the magical society. There are no arcade sequences in the game, which focuses on the plot, shown via text with occasional pictures, and on conversing and making decisions, which affect the story. To succeed, you need to achieve balance between your desire for power and the risk of the so-called Paradox.
Blackwood Crossing
Adventure
February 17, 2017
An adventure game developed by PaperSeven. The plot was written by Oliver Reid-Smith (the creator of the script for the well-received The Room), and it focuses on the relations of orphaned siblings: Scarlett and her younger brother, Finn. When the girl enters adolescence, their relations worsen. While traveling on a train, the protagonists meet a mysterious creature that lets them look at their past from a different perspective. The gameplay in Blackwood Crossing is based on exploration of the environment, having conversations with non-player characters, and making various kinds of decisions. The choices we make not only have an influence on subsequent stages of the story but also its climax. The game is also enriched by simple logic puzzles. The title is powered by Unity Engine technology and boasts high-quality three-dimensional cartoon graphics.
After the End: Forsaken Destiny
Adventure
February 17, 2017
After the End: Forsaken Destiny is an adventure puzzle game developed by the indie studio Neople Games. The game takes us to a surrealistic world filled with mysteries. We play as a father and son who got separated in space and time. We observe the action from an isometric perspective. Gameplay focuses on the exploration of twelve diversified levels and solving various riddles and puzzles. Some of them will require only a pull of lever, others will make us manipulate the game's environment or the camera angle. We will also collect gems and pieces of statuettes that will alow us to rebuild the forgotten ancestors' statues. After the End: Forsaken Destiny's visuals bring games like Journey and Monument Valley to mind and are the title's strong suit.
All the Delicate Duplicates
Adventure
February 17, 2017
An experimental adventure game with exploration elements created by two independent developers: Mez Breeze and Andy Campbell. The main protagonist of All the Delicate Duplicates is John - a computer scientist and a single father of Charlotte, who accompanies him on his adventure. One day, the man receives some mysterious items - journals and sketches - as an inheritance from an enigmatic relative of his - Mo. After some time, our characters discover that the objects they inherited, and now keep at the attic, feature some unusual properties that affect both their surroundings and memories. During the game, the players observe the action from the first-person perspective, and the gameplay itself revolves around the exploration of diverse surreal locations and logical puzzles solving. Consecutive plot sequences are revealed after the main protagonist reads texts and site-specific notes, which he finds on his way to discover the secret of mysterious inheritance. Because of a rather short playthrough and the nonlinear nature of the game, one might classify it as an interactive experience, rather than a typical video game.
The Mooseman
Adventure
February 17, 2017
A narrative adventure game inspired by the legends of the Czudow tribe, formerly inhabiting the north-western regions of modern Russia. In The Mooseman players take on the role of the title shaman discovering the secrets of the world hidden from the eyes of mortals.
Night in the Woods
Adventure
February 21, 2017
A combination of adventure and arcade games, created by an independent developer known as Infinite Ammo. The player assumes the role of Mae - a cat with paranormal abilities. The protagonist quits her studies and returns to her hometown - Possum Springs, in order to have some quality time with her old friends. The place has fallen into decline since the last mine in town was closed, because the inhabitants have been left without work. What is worse however, is that a neighboring forest has apparently kept some dark secret concealed. The plot serves the role of an parallel to human existence, with themes such as death, transience of all things or longing for certain moments from the past elaborated on throughout the story. The player is required to explore (by jumping across platforms mostly) a unique in-game environment, solve simple puzzles connected to it, talk to NPCs, as well as engage in joyful activities, such as playing the guitar or having fun with the in-game friends. What distinguishes Night in the Woods from other titles, are its visuals based on an original art style - those were crafted by Scott Benson. The unique soundtrack on the other hand, was created by Alec Holowka.
Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin
Adventure
February 21, 2017
A spin-off entry in the popular platform game series, originally launched by Double Fine Productions in 2005, developed exclusively for Sony’s platform to make use of PlayStation VR sets. The game starts exactly where first Psychonauts has ended, acting is a bridge between it and the sequel. When the boss of Psychonauts, Truman Zanotto, gets kidnapped, a special team is sent to rescue him, including little Lili Zanotto and the protagonist of first game, ‘Raz’ Razputin, who is recognized as one of the most prominent PSI-cadets. In terms of gameplay, Psychonauts in the Rhombus of Ruin is following in its predecessor’s footsteps, adapting the well-known formula to modern virtual reality sets.
Vaccine
Adventure
February 21, 2017
Survival horror inspired by the classic scenes of the Resident Evil cycle. The player takes on the role of one of the members of a bio-hazard department, in whose skin he traverses a ghastly residence, looking for a vaccine for a companion infected with a deadly virus. He has only thirty minutes to complete his task - if he does not manage to return to the sick person with medicine and discover the mystery of his home, the struggle will start anew.
Four Last Things
Adventure
February 23, 2017
Four Last Things is an unusual, funny point & click adventure in 2D, which was prepared on the basis of fragments of works from the Renaissance era. Its creator, Joe Richardson, presents his game with the words "a bit like Monkey Island, if it had been created in the 16th century Flemish Region by the time traveler Monthy Python's fanboy".
Stories Untold
Adventure
February 27, 2017
An unique horror game by No Code, combining four separate stories. In Stories Untold you play as a person sitting in front of a computer, and your task is to acquaint yourself with a series of eerie recordings. In time, the protagonist immerses themselves in the stories so much that they begin to spot inexplicable things in the nooks of the shabby rooms. The game features a first-person view and you are free to look around your surroundings. The stories take place in varied locations, such as a bedroom or a radio station, all of which are dimply lit to intensify the scary mood. Additionally, the game splendidly captures the atmosphere of the 1980s, in no small part thanks to the unique soundtrack.
Unearthing Mars
Adventure
March 7, 2017
Developed by Wiking Entertainment, an adventure action title prepared for VR googles. The production tells a story about the crew of the spaceship Sentra, which has been sent to the Red Planet with the objective of retrieving the remains of the Phobos, a research probe. Once they got there, they find remnants of an alien civilization that come back to life due to contact with humans. The backbone of Unearthing Mars is exploration, but you will also have to display different skills – during gameplay, you shoot, solve logic puzzles, and control a rover or a lander. Even though the initial moments are realistic, further into the story more fantastic elements emerge, such as war machines constructed by the legendary Martians. The title uses the power of Unreal Engine 4, which makes the game it look amazing.
Bad Dream: Coma
Adventure
March 9, 2017
Bad Dream: Coma is an adventure game by Desert Fox. The gameplay focuses on solving puzzles by using items found in the game’s world. The game set inside a nightmare, and the hero who gets trapped inside is ready to go to great lengths just to get out. In order to wake up, he needs to visit a number of horrifying locations, like a ruined bridge, gloomy swamps, or a disturbing hospital. He also meets different characters who are, just like him, trapped in this dreadful dimension. The choices the player makes play a crucial role in the story, as the consequences affect the whole world and lead to one of several endings.
2Dark
Adventure
March 10, 2017
An unusual survival horror game created by Frederick Raynal and Gloomywood - a French studio. The game offers pixel-art visuals and is played from the classic top-down view. The player takes on the role of a criminologist by the name of Smith, whose wife got murdered and his children were kidnapped by unknown assailants. Despite the fact that 17 years have passed since then, the protagonist still searches for his children and those who killed his beloved woman - Smith tracks down subsequent serial killers who target juvenile victims. The player explores numerous dark locations and gathers various items that help either to avoid threats or to deal with them. However, the game focuses on saving those who have become targets, instead of punishing the psychopaths. Once the protagonist stumbles on innocents, they join Smith and collectively create a line of original figures following the protagonist. The children can be controlled by issuing simple commands. The player's actions get rewarded with bonus points when they manage to save a large number of children.
The Silver 2425
Adventure
March 15, 2017
A compilation of two detective adventure games by Grasshopper Interactive. The Silver 2425 bundle includes a remastered version of The Silver Case, originally released in 1999 for PlayStation, and its remake, titled The 25th Ward: The Silver Case that came out in 2005 for mobile devices. While playing, we are taken to the Japan of 1999, and our task is to solve cases of mysterious murders. It seems that the perpetrator’s modus operandi matches the one of the criminal that carried out the assassinations of the most important members of the government and was supposedly killed by a police detective. The storyline initiated in the original is continued in the sequel, whose story was enriched with previously unavailable chapters. Gameplay-wise, both titles are typical detective adventure games that focus on exploration, gathering evidence, conversation with neutral characters, and solving puzzles.
Kona
Adventure
March 17, 2017
A first-person adventure game featuring survival elements. It is the first major project of the Canadian Parabole studio. The story is set in the northern regions of the Quebec province, in the 1970s. The game tells the story of a conflict between the owner of the most profitable copper mine in the region - a rich man called W. Hamilton, and the native local community accusing him of devastating sacred sites in search for more profit. The player is put in the shoes of a detective hired by Hamilton after his chalet in the mountains has been devastated. After his arrival, the protagonist discovers that his employer as well as the entire local community went missing. The gameplay focuses on exploration, finding clues and solving puzzles. However, the game features survival elements as well - the player has to tend to the protagonist's health and face many different dangers, such as low temperatures, predators, etc.
Troll and I
Adventure
March 21, 2017
An action-adventure game from Spiral House studio, set in 1950 in Northern Europe. Player takes control of two characters – a boy named Otto and a big Troll. As the village of the first protagonist is destroyed by a mysterious cataclysm, they set on a journey to find a new home for him. Most of the game comes down to exploring locations, solving simple puzzles and fighting or avoiding enemies. Both heroes have different skills – Otto mastered fighting with spear, while the Troll has magical abilities and huge strength. This means they have to cooperate in order to progress. Troll and I also features a complex crafting system, used to create weapons and other useful items. Aside from single player mode, the title offers cooperative multiplayer option.
Zero Escape: The Nonary Games
Adventure
March 24, 2017
A compilation of remastered editions of two adventure games developed by Spike Chunsoft - a Japanese studio. The Nonary Games includes 2009's 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors and Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward - a game which came out three years later. Since the plots of the two games are strongly connected, it is recommended to play through them in chronological order. Both games offer a gameplay formula based on two branches - the story-based sequences typical for visual novel as a genre, and the adventure-like sections played from first-person view. During the sequences of the first kind, the player follows the developments in the story and makes different choices from time to time; the other segment of gameplay requires the player to solve puzzles. Compared to their original releases, the games contained within this compilation come with improved visuals. Additionally, 999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors was enriched with professional voice acting (both in English and Japanese).