Top 100 all-time adventure games: Our definitive ranking of what to play

30. Bad Mojo (1996)

A lot of the top-rated adventure games whisk you through gorgeous, fantastical worlds full of dashing heroes and heroines. Not Bad Mojo. Pulse Entertainment’s 1996 adventure turns that notion on its beady, antennaed head, starring an ugly little cockroach that takes you for (hopefully) the most disgusting ride of your life. In this terrifically unique game, you “play” as Roger Samms, a weirdo with a bowl haircut living in a dingy little apartment above a dive bar. He seems to have stumbled across quite a bit of money and is ready to start the good life and get out of dodge. Only before doing so, he tries to pack up his mother’s strange locket, and all of a sudden, he’s zapped into a cockroach. Yuck! Not a Kafka-esque, man-sized bug, either. You’re the real deal, and now even normal household elements are life-and-death struggles for survival – especially with no hands!

The arrow keys in this best PC adventure game are used to maneuver poor roach Roger through different hazards like roach motels and hot stove burners to get to the bottom of what happened to him. It takes some getting used to, but you’ll soon be immersed in a world filled with hot, bubbling dangers just waiting to extinguish you. You won’t gather inventory or solve traditional puzzles; rather, you’ll have to carefully determine how to make it across each dangerous landscape unscathed. But be forewarned: your skin may not stop crawling as you watch yourself skitter past dead rats and across a leftover TV dinner. Bad Mojo is definitely not for the squeamish, but if you can stomach the grotesqueries, exploring this suddenly imposing everyday world and solving puzzles is utterly fascinating from a roach’s point of view. Whether playing the original or the “Redux” version with updated video, you may not emerge from Bad Mojo with a newfound love of roaches, but the next time you see one, you may just have some grudging respect for its perilous adventure, having lived through a memorable one yourself.

29. Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney Collection (2019)

Capcom’s quirky Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney took the adventure community by storm when it was released in 2005 and has since become a classic adventure game. Originally launched in Japan on the Game Boy Advance, the enhanced remake for the Nintendo DS introduced the endearingly nervous, spiky-haired defense attorney and made common household expressions out of his patented catch-phrases “Hold It!” and “Take That!” The rookie’s five cases involve investigating crime scenes personally before defending the accused against seemingly impossible odds in court against the brilliantly flamboyant prosecutor Miles Edgeworth. But real-world laws do not apply in a courtroom ruled by a clueless, gavel-happy judge, with compulsively lying witnesses allowed to change their testimonies at will. It’s all very strange, surreal, and utterly charming, with a brilliant new gameplay dynamic as well.

The investigative portions involve examining locations for clues and interviewing people to acquire evidence you can take to court. There, it must be presented at just the right moment to support your theories or catch a witness fibbing. These court scenes essentially become complex dialogue puzzles as you sift through testimonies line by line, looking for weaknesses. You can press for more, call them on a suspected lie, or let the statement slide. But be careful! Mistakes have consequences – make enough and you can be sure a guilty verdict will come down. The backdrop to all this bizarre action is a delightful anime-style graphical presentation, with wonderfully exaggerated character gestures and expressions. The final case, exclusive to the DS remake, even makes clever use of the handheld’s unique features, which none of its sequels have matched. With its strong script, oddball characters, and creative gameplay, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney can stake a claim as one of the best adventure games on any platform. Surely there is no objection.

28. Sam & Max Hit the Road (1993)

The world is a better place with Sam & Max in it. In this politically correct era of Disney ideals, we NEED a canine shamus and a hyperkinetic rabbity thing who don’t think twice about gutting a cat just to move the investigation on (in a totally comedic way, of course). The Freelance Police may have been internally assimilated in the company’s early days (starting life as test sprites for the SCUMM engine), but LucasArts took a big gamble in giving cartoonist Steve Purcell’s creations a full game all their own – quaint family hijinx these were not. It was a risk that paid off to be one of the best PC adventure games, however, as the outcome was an amusingly surreal road adventure across the tourist back alleys of the US of A.

Released in 1993, the game looked similar to other titles of the time, but the humor was an entirely different beast. Purcell based the story on some of his early Sam & Max comics, fully expecting them to get toned down during production. Not so, thankfully, as Hit the Road is hilariously edgy from beginning to end. Complementing the excellent jazz-inspired score is some brilliantly bizarre dialogue brought to life by inspired voice acting. Rounding it all off was a big overhaul for the SCUMM engine, replacing the standard verb input method with a set of icons selectable by right-clicking, showing how this title is one of the most influential adventure games because it’s a feature still used in some adventures today. All these factors combined to make Sam & Max Hit the Road a riot, which is exactly how they’d like it. The pair have remained immensely popular over the years, with multiple sequels and even a cartoon television series, but for most of us, this is where it all began, and it’s proven very hard to top.

27. Discworld Noir (1999)

After two successful comic adventures based on Terry Prachett’s fantasy Discworld franchise, Perfect 10 Productions took the series in an unusual direction, but the results amounted to one of the best adventure games. Discworld Noir is what you’d get if you mix a parody of classic film noir elements and a sprinkle of pure dark whimsy, set on this bizarre flat disc on the back of four elephants, who in turn ride on the back of a giant cosmic turtle. The Discworld’s first-ever detective is the hard-boiled, down-on-his-luck Lewton, whose life takes a turn for the crazy when he encounters the mysterious, seductive Carlotta Von Uberwald. As you help Lewton investigate an increasingly complex case, you’ll get to interact with some old Discworld favorites like Nobby, a corporal on the city watch who never gave up his old habit of stealing things when no one was looking, and new characters created specifically for this game, like Al Khali, a murderous dwarf who eschews the typical fine-toothed comb for an axe when searching Lewton’s office.

Surrounding these oddball characters are fantastic pre-rendered backgrounds that capture the dark, dreary city of Ankh-Morpork perfectly. You’ll explore the city’s seedy underbelly (well, as the Discworld’s largest city, it’s all seedy underbelly, so that’s a lot of exploring) for clues, which is another of the game’s strong points. Your tasks focus on detective work rather than typical inventory puzzles (though there are a few of those), and it’s a blast interviewing suspects, exploring a variety of locations, and gathering information. The game provides you with a handy notebook that doesn’t just keep track of clues, it lets you actually use them, much like regular inventory. It’s a common feature in adventures today, but this game was blazing that trail long before others caught on. Working as a private eye focused on gathering and manipulating clues to come to a solution is a perfect integration of gameplay and story. Whether you like detective stories, film noir, comedic fantasy, incessant rain, or blackmailing singing trolls, you can’t help but enjoy investigating the zany universe of this must-play adventure game.

26. Heavy Rain (2010)

It all started with a tech demo, showing a teary-eyed woman berating the player with accusations of infidelity and abuse. Quantic Dream showed they had come nearer to leapfrogging the Uncanny Valley as anyone could have imagined in 2005. Four years later, it came to fruition in Heavy Rain, an innovative, experimental adventure game everyone should play, on a console dominated by shooters and RPGs. Building on the work begun in Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit, the French developer pushed the envelope in visual fidelity, cinematic presentation, and branching story paths where the player’s actions truly matter. Freedom of choice is hardly a new concept, but rarely (if ever) has it been pushed to these extremes with such impressive results. Heavy Rain even managed the unthinkable: it made Quick Time Events fun. Now that is an accomplishment.

There are four storylines in Heavy Rain, each involving a different main character, including a father grieving over the loss of his son and driven to action by the kidnapping of another, an FBI profiler with sci-fi sunglasses to analyze clues at crime scenes, a private eye, and an investigative journalist, all pursuing individual leads into the identity of the serial Origami Killer. Rarely do the characters interact with each other, but their narratives cleverly interlock to provide an intriguing whole. Each protagonist is given real depth of character that allows you to identify with them, making you all the more invested in their fates. Their stories all depend heavily on the player’s choices, successes, and failures, and results can vary wildly, making for one of the best choose your own adventure games. If one of them dies, the story even plows forward without them. At times it feels more like a movie than game, but when it comes to taut, emotionally-charged, player-directed thrillers, Heavy Rain is better than perhaps any game ever made.

25. Tex Murphy: Under a Killing Moon (1994)

The first two Tex Murphy games had their fair share of problems, from the dreadful speeder sequences in Mean Streets to the lacklustre story of Martian Memorandum. Then in 1994, Under a Killing Moon became the most influential adventure games installment (and first adventure of any kind) to introduce what would become the hallmark of the series: free exploration through pseudo-3D environments, interspersed with tons of full-motion video sequences. With a host of Hollywood acting talent, branching dialogues, a context-sensitive hint system, substantial puzzles to solve, and Aaron Conners on board to help Chris Jones author its engaging sci-fi mystery story about a dangerous cult seeking to bring forth the Apocalypse, the combination proved to be a winning formula that was far ahead of its time. (In fact, it’s still far ahead of most games today!)

Of course, being a pioneer meant that Under a Killing Moon is not perfect, and indeed many sequences can be a bit frustrating, especially when fast reflexes and hand-eye coordination come into play. Still, the puzzles are nicely integrated into an intriguingly layered detective story, with dozens of interesting characters, ranging from disfigured mutants treated as pariahs by the rest of the population to treacherous femmes fatales dressed in black, always with a cigarette between their red lips. The 3D environments have not stood the test of time particularly well, but the atmosphere has lost none of its appeal, paving the way for this game’s inclusion on the list of all-time greats. Playing Under a Killing Moon is like reading a sci-fi version of the best Raymond Chandler novel, and Tex himself (played superbly by Jones) is such a lovable, charismatic lead that he deserves a rightful spot amongst the greatest heroes in classic adventure games.

24. Police Quest 2: The Vengeance (1988)

At a time when cartoon comedies and light fantasy adventures ruled the top 100 adventure games, the gritty realism and intrigue of Sonny Bonds and the Lytton Police Department provided a captivating change of pace that was never more perfectly realized than in the brilliant Police Quest 2: The Vengeance in 1988. The story takes a direct cue from the conclusion of the first game in the series, continuing the tale of the “Death Angel” Jesse Bains one year after his capture. The sequel takes no time at all to ratchet up the intensity and never lets up on the suspense through pursuit, multiple murders, and a violent final confrontation in the underground sewers of a fictional New Mexico city.

The other Police Quest adventures suffered from thin plotting and weak writing, but this gem has no such issues, with a great script and a very balanced level of difficulty. Sierra really set a new standard of drama for the time, with some surprising turns and the violent integration of elements of Sonny’s personal life. The game is colourful and diverse in its locations, offered a sparse but cool soundtrack in the earliest stages of the sound card, and in all areas it boasts a remarkable attention to detail that makes the game a wonderful detective mystery. As one of the top games – serious or otherwise – of its era, The Vengeance is still an entertaining and intense adventure more than two decades after its release, standing not only as the best of its series but one of the very best adventure games of all time.

23. Quest for Glory IV: Shadows of Darkness (1993)

Arguably the best chapter in the Quest for Glory series (we know, because we argued), Shadows of Darkness overcame a huge array of bugs that plagued the initial release to stand alone atop this unique RPG-adventure hybrid series. As a bonus, most of the bugs have since been resolved by fan-made patches, providing a better experience all around. But even back in 1993, its gorgeous VGA backgrounds literally oozed atmosphere from every pixel, and an outstanding soundtrack accompanied every moment of the game with haunting, memorable instrumental pieces. Then there’s the usual series trademark, that exquisite mix of the best adventure game and RPG features, like character-building, side-quests and – gasp! – even combat (though here you can let the computer A.I fight for you if you wish).

Most notable of all, however, is the deeply touching story about regret and redemption, whose Gothic elements perfectly fit with the Transylvanian setting and mythology, and the many endearing characters – some solemn, some zany, but all of them vibrant and charming in their own ways. This includes not only one of the greatest all-time “villains” of the genre, but also minor characters like Tanya and Toby, whose tale is bound to bring at least a little tear to the eye. Then, of course, honorable mention must go to Jonathan Rhys-Davies, who did a mesmerizing job as the voice of the narrator, delivering an ominous tone to every description, making the experience all the more exhilarating. The sum total of these superb elements make Shadows of Darkness the most memorable installment in the one-of-a-kind Quest for Glory series and one of Sierra’s best adventure games overall.

22. The Lost Files of Sherlock Holmes: The Case of the Serrated Scalpel (1992)

Ask anyone about good detective mysteries, and the name Sherlock Holmes springs immediately to mind, and when it comes to the greatest adventure games ever made, The Serrated Scalpel usually stands out as his greatest triumph. Mythos Software’s 1992 Lost Files game tells a brilliant, original tale in which Holmes is confronted by a murder that appears to be the work of Jack the Ripper. He knows better, however, and this certainty sets him and his ever-faithful partner Dr. Watson on a chase across London to find the real culprit. The ambitious plot twists and turns in unexpected ways, cleverly involving a cast of over a hundred across more than twenty different locations, from the morgue to the London Zoo. There is so much to investigate and so many people to interrogate, the plot feels incredibly meaty and will keep you hooked for quite some time.

The faithfulness to the Sherlock Holmes canon is also evident, with many familiar characters making appearances, plus nice little references to other cases that only fans of the books may notice. But even Sherlock neophytes have found themselves completely engrossed by continually uncovering clues that create new leads that point to new places with still more clues to find. The plot progression feels very organic, and though challenging, it is a lot of fun piecing together the evidence to work out the truth. The sound design and graphics were nothing special at the time of release, and there are technical limitations that prevent it from holding up well two decades later. But if you can find a copy and get this classic adventure game running, even now you’ll feel like you’re actually in an authentic Sir Arthur Conan Doyle mystery, which raises it above even the slicker, newer Sherlock Holmes adventures of today.

21. Blade Runner Enhanced Edition (2022)

Though history may remember them best as the creators of the critically-acclaimed strategy series Command & Conquer, Westwood Studios made a fair number of top-rated adventure games in its time, including the brilliant 1997 companion to Ridley Scott’s 1982 dark future masterpiece, Blade Runner. Taking place parallel to Rick Deckard’s investigation, the game stars rookie Blade Runner Ray McCoy, who explores many of the film’s signature environments and interacts with familiar characters as you hunt down a group of replicants who are suspected of killing real animals. Given their scarcity in this grim, neon-obsessed metropolis of 21st-century Los Angeles, this is a crime on par with murdering humans. The storyline twists and turns continually, and you’ll come to suspect virtually everyone of being a “skin job”. Even your own authenticity comes into question.

The game was originally billed as a “real-time adventure game” and employs a variety of sequences that test your reflexes against other characters and environmental hazards along the way. You will dodge a screaming maniac, examine crime scene photos with the ESPER, and administer Voight-Kampff tests to suspected replicants you encounter. The story boasts a large number of branches, both in the final moments and in multiple steps along the way. If you like, you can mimic the plot of the movie or take the investigation in a vastly different direction. No matter which of the many narrative alleys you venture down, the game manages an engaging story with well-realized characters and subplots that build on, never break, the reality established in the classic film. As a bold movie tie-in (albeit 15 years after the fact), Westwood gave players both the world they were familiar with and the personal agency to explore it as they saw fit, securing Blade Runner its rightful place among the best adventure games.

Next up: #20-16…