The Lion's Song (Switch eShop)
An emotional story that weaves big themes across its episodes, The Lion’s Song is a poignant point-and-click adventure with excellent audio, a beautiful art style and great writing. The exploration of its subjects isn’t muddied with obstinate riddles or ill-fitting mechanics and it’s a satisfying, albeit brief, experience that is absolutely worthy of your time.
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (Switch eShop)
Point-and-click in the loosest sent of the term, whether you played this episodic narrative adventure back in 2012 or are completely new to the series, The Walking Dead: Season One is a masterpiece in video game storytelling. It features some of the best voice-over performances you’ll find on any gaming platform and sets the stage for a grand, multi-season odyssey of tragic proportions. However, this is also a satisfying and poignant collection even if you never play the subsequent episodes.
Machinarium (Switch eShop)
While the Switch incarnation of Machinarium doesn’t offer anything different from the other versions already out there, it’s still a fine port of an award-winning point-and-click adventure. Even after a decade, Amanita Design’s brilliant little odyssey still looks, plays and feels fresh thanks to a quirky soundtrack, those instantly recognisable hand-drawn visuals and an approach to environmental puzzles that strikes the right balance between obtuse and tantalisingly obvious. The lack of any additional content makes this a hard sell for anyone who's already played it elsewhere, but if you’ve never had the pleasure of joining Josef on his mechanical adventure, there’s arguably never been a better platform on which to try it.
Afterparty (Switch eShop)
Afterparty is certainly an acquired taste, but—like a fine wine or a good beer—it’s definitely worth the effort. From beginning to end, Night School's follow up to Oxenfree is a thoroughly enjoyable narrative experience — a puzzle-less point-and-click, if you will — that draws you into a hellish world that you (ironically) won’t want to leave. Branching paths and a smartly implemented drink system add plenty of options for replayability, and though the performance leaves something to be desired, Afterparty proves itself to be a visual treat. We’d give Afterparty a high recommendation to anyone looking for a good story to immerse themselves in; this is one that goes down real smooth.
Tangle Tower (Switch eShop)
From the makers of the delightful Snipperclips, Tangle Tower is an exemplary addition to the point-and-click genre, providing superb puzzles and very well written dialogue, backed up by some of the finest voiceover work in recent memory. A few of the character interactions may drag on a bit too long in places as you try and uncover every piece of evidence available to you, and there’s little reason to play through the game multiple times. But to be honest, these are very minor gripes considering just how much fun we had in the company of Detectives Grimoire and Sally.
The Red Strings Club (Switch eShop)
A neat little narrative game with point-and-click elements, The Red Strings Club tells a brilliant cyberpunk tale that's full of big ideas, tough moral questions and carefully mixed drinks. Its gameplay sections are a little flimsy and repetitive, but fortunately its sharp writing and memorable characters are always there to distract you and pull you through your funk, and you'll want to play through this memorable adventure nonetheless.
Stories Untold (Switch eShop)
Stories Untold is a chilling adventure with some point-and-click mechanics that manages to draw you right into its world through the ingenious use of its UI and perfectly realised lo-fi aesthetic. Through the walls of old technology and complicated machinery, it creates a uniquely strong bond between player and narrative, giving you a real sense of place within its world as it slowly corrupts and twists from the comfortingly familiar to something else entirely. It's one of the best interactive horror stories we've ever played and a perfect fit for enjoying alone in the dark on Switch.
Grim Fandango Remastered (Switch eShop)
The fact you’ve been able to play Grim Fandango Remastered on your TV and in handheld form elsewhere for years doesn’t matter one bit, because this gem of a game is still as enchanting and evocative as it was the first time you popped open that oversized cardboard box back in PC in 1998. Here and now on Nintendo Switch, this port looks and runs noticeably smoother thanks to Double Fine’s deft adjustments, so if whether you’ve already joined Manny on his afterlife odyssey or this is your first time among the dead, Switch's library is 100 percent better for its inclusion.
Comments (59)
Grim Fandango is my favorite game of all time. Never played the remastered though. I love the music so much and was always afraid the remastered music loses a bit of it's mood.
Had the soundtrack CD always playing while working back in the day.
Not exactly a point and click game (though it does have some such elements) but there's a game on sale right now for $2.99 called Jenny LeClue Detectivu. It's somewhat like Night in the Woods but with some detective elements as well. I've played about an hour of it, and it's super charming.
@Yanina it doesn't plus the remastered visuals are can be toggled at any point, main thing is it has a better option than the original "tank" controls
Besides the stuff on this list, I love Layton's Mystery Journey and Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney Trilogy!
Wouldn't you know it I picked up Agent A recently for just over a $1 and really enjoyed it, didn't want to put it down until completing the 5 chapters.
Also loved Oxenfree and really should pick up Afterparty. And I need to get back to Thimbleweed Park.
Oxen Free was the biggest load of balls I've ever played. I was so disappointed that I wanted to see the 'proper' ending, so I did it again in the hope it would be justified. Nope. I love this genre but Oxen Free sucked.
Grim Fandango would make a much better movie or series than it does a game. The story is great, and all the characters are really interesting, but's a really clunky and frustrating game to play. I would not recommend it to anyone except those those who are really into old school point and click games AND understands their shortcomings (although those people would probably already have played it).
The main problem with 'Stories untold' is that the first chapter is so fricking good that the rest of the game, though not bad on its own right, just can't measure up.
Oxenfree is fantastic.
As are the curiously absent Syberia and Goetia. Much better games, in my opinion, than say... Bulb Boy.
Agent a kicks ass! Xxx
I think I have played 9 of those (and 2 from the honourable mentions list). Interestingly, they all took me a bit of a while to get into. However, once I did, they provided me with satisfying gaming. Kentucky Route Zero stood out in particular I think. My teenage daughter is a fan of a couple of the games on there too.
I may investigate a few of the others you have listed there that I have not played
What a strange genre for console
If you have an Xbox One or Playstation Now (or a Wii, I guess) and you want a point and click adventure, may I recommend Sam & Max?
"and we'll cover visual novels at some point in the future, too"
I don't have particularly high hopes for that list considering how few of them get reviewed here.
Machinarium is amazing! The art is gorgeous!
But I would love some Monkey Island games on the Switch and Sanitarium which is THE BEST POINT AND CLICK ADVENTURE for me.
AI: The Somnium Files probably has the highest degree of production value (animation and voice work) over most other point'n'click games. I'm also a big fan of the Shadowgate remake.
I would love Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle and Monkey Island series to come to the system!
Kinda shocked to see Broken Sword 5 missing. I much prefer it to some of these other choices. It deserves a spot for sure.
How playable are these without a mouse? I'd love to play some point and clicks on Switch but I'm worried my lack of a mouse would make it frustrating.
Broken Age needs to be on this list
Machinarium is easily one of the best point and clicks I’ve ever played. I grew up on those things, so it’s nice to see the genre making comeback.
Roki should be on this list as well
Some others worth a shout out (in no special order) are the Edna & Harvey Games, The Journey Down Trilogy, Detective Gallo, and The Little Acre. The Switch has lots of hidden gems in this genre.
West of Loathing is my recommendation. It's half point-and-click, and half light rpg, with actually good writing and humour.
No love for Deponia I guess
Some of these I had never heard of before. Thanks for the list!
How did I forget the Syberia trilogy? Granted, only the first two would fit this list, but they also come recommended. Woulda been nice to at least see the first one make this list.
Gabriel Knight 2 would be great on Switch! (As far as I can remember it...)
Nintendolife you forgot a really good one.. True Fear-Forsaken Souls part 1 and 2
@graysoncharles this is what I came to say.
Deponia is an amazing point and click, but wait for a sale as like most ports it is ridiculously over priced on the switch
It's a shame that I still didn't get it through Grim Frandango after so many years, but its control scheme was and is my personal nemesis.
The list also missed some masterpieces:
Broken Age
Deponia series
Night in the Woods
Röki
Silence
The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
The Journey Down
@geox30
Yep, we got Grim Fandango, but what's about DotT, Full Throttle and Monkey Island? Come on, Double Fine/LARIP!!!
@megakasp
Yes, these are safe bets given the nature of the platform. And although I haven't ever played Full Throttle and Day of the Tentacle, I can't force myself to sit in front of my PC to do so.
@Creature @yanina the Switch version does have the commentary too.
I'm not a regular point and click player, but I did enjoy and recommend Agent A. Also, kinda enjoyed Darkside Detective, but not as much.
Just bought Jenny LeClue and Agent A after seeing the comments section.
Hopefully will enjoy 😊 Only paid around £3 (a London price coffee 😂) so no harm if not.
Would love to have Grim Fandango Remastered in physical format what a fantastic game!😀
Great list Nintendo Life and thanks to the commenters for their suggestions. I prefer point and click games on a PC with a mouse or a tablet with touch controls.
Wadjet Eye Games has lots of great point n click games that remind me of the Lucas Arts games of the 90’s. None of them on the Switch though, but maybe soon according to Dave Gilbert of Wadjet Eye.
Top 3: Thimbleweed Park, Grim Fandango, Broken Age.
Anyway there are many titles missing in that list.
At the moment I'm also playing the almost unknown Detective Gallo.
I really really hope Full Throttle and the Day of the Tentacle will get ported to Switch too some day. C'mon Double Fine, you remastered them recently, you can do it.
Also looking forward for the release of the Monkey Island series.
@sportvater the first one of the series got a recent remaster.
@Jacoby I agree Wadjet Eye games would be interesting. I particularly enjoyed Gemini Rue.
Makes absolutely no sense that Broken Age didn't make the full list. Please fix this
@Yodalovesu Totally agree. Agent A is great but Broken Age is a top notch point and click.
I played Machinarium on an ipad
I hope Nintendo bring this classic point and click adventure to NSO soon.
Night in the Woods, Gibbous, Scheming Through the Zombie Apocalypse, and (if you’re a fan of the original series) Leisure Suit Larry is a good reboot of the series. All good games and worth the time/money for any PnC fans
This list does exactly what it should do: it highlights adventure games that people might have missed. I had a ball with Broken Age, but it’s not exactly under the radar. However, I had completely missed Afterparty, had forgotten about Tangle Tower and then there are a few good suggestions here I had never even heard of.
I'm taking furious notes here. I'm a big fan of the genre, yet there's a lot in here I haven't tried.
Wow I’ve played quite a few of these already and really enjoyed them. Thimble weed Park is on my ‘must get it’ list.
One that’s been missed that I recommend is Tuberbrook, it’s not perfect in terms of story but it’s worth a play throughout the physical version comes with a lovely little booklet 😉
Yesterday Origins
Deponia1-4,
Broken Age,
Sybyria 1-2,
Myst,
Violet,
A lot of great games missing here.
@Zimon Deponia is great, but it may take longer for the main character to grow on one than one would be willing to give it. If you stick it out, it's a wonderful series, though.
No love for Broken Sword 5?
@Pak-Man I'm glad to hear that becsuse I'm almost done with part 1 and I really dislike Rufus as a character. He's not even selfish in a fun way.
@MrGawain it's a great series, I enjoyed the first 3 games but not the 4th. BS5 is in my backlog, but I heard good things about it.
Has anyone played Darkestville Castle? I really enjoyed the demo.
@Yanina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km6bLtiSSq4
@GG11 ❤️
The bad dream series is so underrated. The games are usually on sale for about a $1. Each game is different in theme but similar in atmosphere.
Im surprised those two fantastic games haven’t been mentioned yet:
Edna & Harvey: The Breakout - Anniversary Edition
Edna & Harvey: Harvey's New Eyes
❗No love for 'Secret Files 1/2/3/Sam Peters'?
For shame...
@TG1 You think so? I picked it up yesterday (luckily it was on sale), and like suspected I’m finding it mundane and uninspired.
Broken Age is real quality. And Unforeseen Incidents is quite good, even if it is not fully bug-free and some (few) puzzles are too obscure.
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