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

5. Riven (2024)

Cyan’s Myst may have been a revolutionary game, but the masterful Riven proved its superior in every way, delivering an unrivalled depth of visual realism, puzzle integration, and organic storytelling that’s one of the greatest adventure games ever made. In 1997, the sequel once again thrust players into the boots of the stranger, this time to help Atrus by rescuing his wife Catherine from his estranged father Gehn, who has imprisoned her on a dying world. The premise may be thin, but Riven is a far more complex, unified set of islands, and it’s a marvel just to explore its lakes, volcanic cliffs, and beaches, much of which you can reach without ever solving a puzzle. You can sneak up on sea creatures lazily sunbathing on the rocks, or watch an irritable giant fish through an external viewer. Although largely deserted, you’ll find plenty of evidence of D’ni civilization as well, complete with mechanical lifts and interconnected tram rides. In making your way through these serene but troubled lands, Riven is as much an unguided tourist experience as it is a game.

The Riven Remake is built from the ground up, and isn’t only more beautiful than its predecessor’s, but it’s also expanded upon. A star among the best puzzle adventure games, Riven’s puzzles are often multi-layered, requiring several steps to solve completely. With unique writing and numbering systems and myths to learn, all without any overt assistance, note-taking is essential. Anything can be a clue, requiring the utmost attention to even the smallest of environmental details, both visual and audible. Those subtle but richly immersive sound effects aren’t just for ambience; they’re an inherent part of the islands that factor into the puzzles as well. Taken alone, the game’s qualities are exemplary, but it’s the brilliant interweaving of each element that makes it a timeless classic. Striking a near perfect balance of difficulty and design, Riven is definitely not for the puzzle-solving faint of heart, but for anyone who enjoys an engrossing challenge, Riven is an unforgettable work of art.

4. Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars Reforged (2024)

Few companies were able to go toe-to-toe with LucasArts and Sierra back in their heydays, but Revolution, a tiny British company, not only released a worthy rival in 1996, but one so outstanding that it outshone all of its contemporaries at the time – and most of the best adventure games since. Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars was that game, and it did just about everything right, from the memorable European settings to the expansive globetrotting plot to the gorgeous cartoon graphics. In particular, its lead character George Stobbart proved to be a runaway success – a lovable everyman thrown into a situation we’d all secretly love to experience. It’s a nice play on the standard Indiana Jones-style story, but George has more in common with Guybrush Threepwood than the bullwhip-slinging adventurer.

George is far from alone, however, as the game features a memorable cast of supporting characters as well, including the perfect foil in Nico, the sassy French photojournalist. The story builds from a single random event (a coffee shop being blown up by a clown) to a much larger, deadly plot involving conspiracies, secret orders, and the Knights Templar. Add in some brilliant voice acting, a touch of humor, and a host of clever puzzles, and you’ve got adventure gaming gold. It put Revolution on the map and made gaming royalty out of its designer Charles Cecil, a man who now holds a royal honour for his work in the British Gaming Industry. The game has spawned three sequels and has stood the test of time so beautifully, it’s still being ported to console and mobile platforms. There are few games on this list that can match such achievements, making Broken Sword thoroughly deserving of its top-five placement on our list of best adventure games of all time.

3. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (2013)

The year is 1715, and pirates rule the Caribbean, having set up their own lawless Republic where corruption, greediness, and cruelty are the basis of their survival. Embark on an open-world pirate adventure as Edward Kenway, a captain trained by Assassins. As a brutal pirate with your very own ship, expect to plunder and pillage, search for treasure, fight off the Spanish and British factions that will challenge your quest for glory, and even position yourself with legendary names in the pirate world, such as Blackbeard and Benjamin Hornigold. Even over a decade later, Black Flag remains arguably the best Assassin’s Creed game ever seen, further justifying its high placement on our top 100 adventure games list.

2. Grim Fandango Remastered (2015)

There is a long-standing idea that no game should receive a perfect score because no game is perfect. There are those who might nitpick and say that Grim Fandango‘s blocky character models should prevent it from being considered among the greatest adventure games ever made. Well, fine. Tim Schafer’s magnum opus may not be perfect, but it’s as close as any game in the genre has ever come. Landing at the tail-end of the Golden Age of adventure gaming (by 1998 adventure games were far, far away from the limelight), this epic tale of skeletal travel agent Manny Calavera’s four-year journey through the Land of the Dead infuses the mythos of the Mexican Día de Muertos with film noir atmosphere and archetypes, bebop and jazz, beat culture, and even hot-rod fetishism, all glued together with the best of the best of LucasArts’ trademark wit and humor. It sounds absurd, and it sometimes is, but it works beautifully, as if there were no more natural mash-up of influences.

The game’s memorable characters are nearly overshadowed by breathtaking environments full of clever ideas and devious puzzles, that only look, sound, and control better, thanks to the 2015 remaster. The Land of the Dead is home to unforgettable characters like Glottis the lovable gearhead demon, sleazy fellow travel agent/con-man Domino Hurley, and zealous revolutionary Sal Limones. You’ll visit magical places like the seedy Casablanca-inspired Rubacava and a coral mining plant at the Edge of the World. And all of this is set to Peter McConnell’s classic score that is a masterpiece in its own right, mixing jazz, mariachi, and classical film score influences. Despite selling poorly at the time, Grim Fandango‘s star has risen over time, and it now holds a place of hushed reverence (or gushing praise) in the hearts of adventure gamers. It may not have the most incredible graphics, the funniest lines, or the cleverest puzzles, but it has an utterly unique alchemy of those elements that leads to something sublime. Seriously – being dead has never been so enjoyable, thanks to this must-play adventure game.

1. Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

Closing out our list with a bang is none other than the best action-adventure game, Red Dead Redemption 2. The world, story, and characters are all unforgettable, with some of the best writing in video game history. The setting is a fictional version of the late 19th-century American West that feels lived in. The immersion on offer and focus on realism make exploring the open world on your horse a joy. The emotional story of the protagonist, Arthur Morgan, of the Van der Linde gang, touches on morality, crime, and survival —themes that must be navigated throughout the evolving world. The legacy and cultural impact of Red Dead Redemption 2 will be difficult to outshine, if ever.

FAQs

What is the best adventure game?

The best adventure game depends on your preferences, whether that be a first-person puzzle-driven experience like Riven, or a grand adventure delivered by Indiana Jones.

What is the most immersive open-world game?

The most immersive open-world game is often cited as Red Dead Redemption 2, while The Witcher 3 and Ghost of Tsushima are hailed for their immersion.

What are adventure games?

Adventure games usually have an interactive story, exploration elements, and a focus on solving puzzles.

Are adventure games still popular?

Adventure games are still popular and continue to evolve by bringing fresh, creative ideas to the genre.

What is considered the best story game of all time?

Many games have a compelling story, with Red Dead Redemption 2 and The Witcher 3 delivering some of the best.

What are classic adventure games?

Classic adventure games include point-and-click adventures such as King’s Quest VI: Heir Today, Gone Tomorrow, as well as influential games such as Myst.

What makes a good adventure game?

A solid adventure game is usually dictated by its engaging exploration, variety in its puzzle-solving, and compelling storytelling.