The Another Code writer is back, and the point-and-click revival is real
Happinet and Wit One just announced a new game from Rika Suzuki, the writer behind Another Code and Hotel Dusk: Room 215. Both of those were Nintendo DS-era classics that leaned into mystery, dialogue, and slow puzzle-solving. The news pulled the whole point-and-click adventure genre back into conversation, so we picked seven of the best on desktop right now.
Every game here is available on Steam, GOG, or a publisher store. Pricing reflects current listings. Runtimes range from three hours to over 20, so pick by mood, not by price per hour.
What to look for in a point-and-click adventure
Before buying, weigh these four things.
- Puzzle style. Classic inventory-combination (Grim Fandango, Thimbleweed Park), deduction-first (Obra Dinn, Chinatown Detective Agency), or dialogue-driven with lighter puzzles (Kentucky Route Zero).
- Session length. Some games are one-sitting stories; others expect you to save and come back for a week.
- Interface. Modern touch-friendly UIs sit alongside straight ports of 1990s scumm-style verb wheels. Try a demo first if you have never played a verb wheel.
- Voice acting versus text. Full VO tightens the story and slows the play; text-only is faster but demands a stronger writer.
Quick comparison
| Game | Best for | Runtime | Starting price | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grim Fandango Remastered | Classic LucasArts | 15 hours | Under $15 typical | Tim Schafer’s dialogue, remastered VO |
| Return of the Obra Dinn | Deduction and mystery | 8 hours | Under $20 typical | 1-bit art, insurance-adjuster premise |
| Thimbleweed Park | Modern classic verb wheel | 15 hours | Under $20 typical | Made by original Maniac Mansion team |
| Kentucky Route Zero | Narrative and mood | 12 hours | Under $25 typical | Magical realism, no death, no puzzles |
| Chinatown Detective Agency | Real-world research | 8 hours | Under $20 typical | Google-cases-yourself gameplay |
| Syberia: The World Before | Sequel to a 20-year saga | 20 hours | Under $30 typical | Full VO, cinematic pacing |
| Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer | Modern pixel-art mystery | 10 hours | Under $20 typical | Direct sequel to a cult 2016 hit |
| The Longest Journey | Long-form classic | 25 hours | Under $10 typical | Enormous story, 90s art at 4K on GOG |
The apps
1. Grim Fandango Remastered, best classic LucasArts pick
Grim Fandango Remastered is the 1998 Tim Schafer classic with new voice mixing, updated character models, and modern control support. You play Manny Calavera, a travel agent in the Land of the Dead, and the writing still lands harder than most games released this year.
Where it falls short: Some late-game puzzles rely on adventure-game logic that has aged. Community walkthroughs are frequently consulted.
Pricing:
- Free: Occasional weekend events on Steam
- Paid: Under $15 base
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Bottom line: Start here if you have never played a point-and-click adventure and want to know why the genre matters.
2. Return of the Obra Dinn, best for pure deduction
Return of the Obra Dinn is Lucas Pope’s follow-up to Papers, Please. You board a ghost ship in the 1800s and use a magical pocket watch to relive the last moments of each of the 60 crew and passengers. Your job is to identify every body and how each died. The game is played with your notebook and your brain.
Where it falls short: 1-bit art is a taste. Motion sickness is real for some players; adjust the display filter.
Pricing:
- Free: Occasional Prime Gaming or Epic Games Store giveaways
- Paid: Under $20 base
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: Steam · GOG · Epic Games Store
Bottom line: Pick this if you loved Hotel Dusk’s slow interrogation loops and want a modern equivalent.
3. Thimbleweed Park, best verb-wheel throwback
Thimbleweed Park was made by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, who built Maniac Mansion and The Secret of Monkey Island. It is a full-fat verb-wheel adventure with five playable characters, hint lines you can dial, and jokes that keep landing after 15 hours. The 1987-mystery setting supports the point-and-click nostalgia without leaning too heavily on it.
Where it falls short: Some players find the humor overly self-aware. Verb-wheel interface is intentionally retro.
Pricing:
- Free: Prime Gaming and Epic Games Store have both given it away
- Paid: Under $20 base
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Bottom line: Pick this if you want a modern game built by the people who invented the genre.
4. Kentucky Route Zero, best for atmosphere over puzzles
Kentucky Route Zero is a five-act magical-realist road trip along a fictional highway in Kentucky. There are no puzzles that gate progress, no fail states, and very little conventional adventure-game logic. What you get is one of the best-written games ever made, delivered over five acts released across seven years.
Where it falls short: If you want puzzles, this is not the game. Reads as a play more than a game to some players.
Pricing:
- Free: Full first act is free on itch.io
- Paid: Under $25 base for the complete edition
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Download: Steam · GOG · itch.io
Bottom line: Pick this if you loved the mood and writing of Hotel Dusk more than the puzzles.
5. Chinatown Detective Agency, best for real-world puzzle work
Chinatown Detective Agency puts you in near-future Singapore as a private eye whose cases require actual research. Some puzzles want you to look up a Latin phrase, decode a real cipher, or check historical dates in your browser. It commits to the bit, and the pixel-art aesthetic is beautiful.
Where it falls short: Requires an active internet browser next to the game. Short main story; multiple endings encourage replay.
Pricing:
- Free: Occasional weekend events on Steam
- Paid: Under $20 base
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Bottom line: Pick this if you want to feel smart, not just clever.
6. Syberia: The World Before, best for cinematic sequels
Syberia: The World Before is the fourth game in Benoit Sokal’s saga and the strongest since the original. Full voice acting, cinematic camera work, and a dual-timeline story that jumps between 1937 and the present. The puzzles are gentle and mechanical; the pacing is the point.
Where it falls short: New players can start here, but knowing the first two games hits harder. Occasional pathfinding hiccups.
Pricing:
- Free: Weekend events during Steam sales
- Paid: Under $30 base
Platforms: Windows, macOS
Download: Steam · GOG · Epic Games Store
Bottom line: Pick this if you want a long, cinematic point-and-click and can spend 20 hours on it.
7. Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer, best modern pixel-art mystery
Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer is the direct sequel to the 2016 cult hit, and it lands almost a decade later without losing a step. You play Kathy Rain, a journalism student turned reluctant investigator, chasing a missing-person case that grows into something larger. Point-and-click classic in pixel art, with strong voice work.
Where it falls short: Some slow scenes early on. Save often; a few puzzles have permanent misses.
Pricing:
- Free: Steam demo covering the prologue
- Paid: Under $20 base
Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux
Bottom line: Pick this if you loved the first game or want a modern, self-contained adventure with a strong lead.
8. The Longest Journey, best for a huge saga on a budget
The Longest Journey is Ragnar Tornquist’s 1999 opus, 25 hours long, cross-cutting between two parallel worlds. The GOG version runs cleanly at 4K, and the story is still cited in most “best adventure game ever” lists.
Where it falls short: Some 90s-era logic puzzles are notorious. Voice acting is uneven.
Pricing:
- Free: Free-weekend events on GOG
- Paid: Under $10 base
Platforms: Windows
Bottom line: Pick this if you want the deepest single-game story on the list and are OK with occasional walkthrough consultations.
How to pick the right one
If you want the safest first bet, start with Grim Fandango Remastered.
If you want the closest match to Hotel Dusk’s slow-burn mystery, pick Return of the Obra Dinn or Kathy Rain 2.
If you want mood over puzzles, pick Kentucky Route Zero.
If you want a genuinely challenging puzzle experience, pick Chinatown Detective Agency.
If you have a full weekend, pick Syberia: The World Before or The Longest Journey.
If you tried a classic verb-wheel game and hated it, skip Thimbleweed Park and go straight to Return of the Obra Dinn or Kentucky Route Zero, both of which invent their own interfaces.
FAQ
What is the best point-and-click adventure on Steam right now?
Return of the Obra Dinn holds up as the best-reviewed modern point-and-click on Steam, followed closely by Kentucky Route Zero and Disco Elysium. Grim Fandango Remastered remains the best entry point for someone new to the genre.
Are point-and-click games still being made in 2026?
Yes. Small studios and creators like Wadjet Eye Games, Clifftop Games, Cardboard Computer, and Microids publish new adventure titles every year. Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer and Syberia: The World Before are recent proof.
Is Return of the Obra Dinn a point-and-click game?
Return of the Obra Dinn is played from first person rather than fixed screens, but the design DNA is point-and-click: you observe, deduce, and record. Most curators and adventure-game communities include it in the genre.
Can I play any of these on Steam Deck?
Grim Fandango Remastered, Thimbleweed Park, Kentucky Route Zero, Return of the Obra Dinn, and Chinatown Detective Agency are all Steam Deck Verified or Playable. The Longest Journey requires a fan launcher for smooth playback.
What is a good free point-and-click adventure?
The first act of Kentucky Route Zero is free on itch.io. Wadjet Eye’s Blackwell Legacy has been free during promotional events. On the amateur side, itch.io hosts hundreds of free adventure games made in Adventure Game Studio.
