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Tales from the Borderlands (Switch eShop)
Tales from the Borderlands is arguably Telltale Games' finest hour and easily one of the very best choice-driven narrative adventures available on any system. This is ten glorious hours' worth of top-notch entertainment with a world-class cast, consistently excellent writing that manages to perfectly balance comedy and drama, non-stop twisted action and a cast of kooky characters that are a joy to spend time with. This really is the best the Borderlands universe has ever been, and a game that everyone should experience at least once.
There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension (Switch eShop)
When it comes down to it, There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension is a bit of a misnomer. There is certainly a game to be found here, and it’s a ruddy good one. If you’re not a fan of point-and-click style adventure games, then you may want to look elsewhere, but with an experience packed with ingenious puzzles and excellent self-aware jokes, this is one of the strongest examples of the genre in recent years. It’s right up there with the best; don’t miss out.
Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments (Switch eShop)
A detective adventure with added minigames, Sherlock Holmes: Crimes and Punishments is the best Sherlock Holmes game we've encountered and a very auspicious debut for the consulting detective on Switch. This is far from a lazy downgrade, with developer Frogwares presenting a full-featured and compelling experience from start to perhaps-too-soon finish. It looks great and plays brilliantly, with only occasional annoyances and some weak (though thankfully skippable) puzzles to knock it down a peg. The fact that the game is willing to allow you to get it wrong means it feels less prescribed and inevitable as other titles in the detective genre, and that's quite refreshing. A little ironic that it took one of the form's oldest characters to finally land such a novel approach.
Lost in Play (Switch eShop)
Lost in Play has many of the hallmarks of golden-age point-and-click adventures: a cartoon style, humorously animated protagonists, item-based puzzles, and curiosity-piquing 2D scenes serving as both play space and reward for clearing the previous area. However, it also shakes off many of the classic bugbears: pixel hunting is impossible because you’re moving a character, not a cursor; using no words in the game leaves the hint system to be helpful but not too transparent; there’s very little backtracking because environments are kept small and the time in them is brief; and wacky dream logic is completely excused because you’re playing in children’s imaginations. Over its five-or-so hours, Lost in Play barely puts a foot wrong, delivering cerebral gaming and effervescent entertainment. In doing so, it makes many of the genre’s design challenges look easy.
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The Excavation Of Hob's Barrow (Switch eShop)
At its best, The Excavation of Hob's Barrow feels like the halcyon point-and-click days of LucasArts. Some of its puzzle chains are compelling, immersive, and pitched just right difficulty-wise. It gets a bit messy in the third act, but not enough to undo the excellent scene-setting and plot-thickening that precedes it. Hob's Barrow could have been hobbled by its muted setting; instead, it brings a barrowload of supernatural chills.
Return to Monkey Island (Switch eShop)
LucasArts' genre classic returns from Ron Gilbert and David Grossman a Terrible Toybox to show others in the genre just how it's done. Return to Monkey Island reaches into your heart, rips out your desire to know THE SECRET, and clenches it in front of your face. As hard as it would be to concede that The Secret of Monkey Island™ might always have been a McGuffin, it’s agonising to contemplate that your 30-year longing for the Monkey Island 3 might be just the same. Delighting as you tremor, Return presents to your transfixed gaze a phenomenal point-and-click adventure, bubbling with passion and fun. All the way through, you will hope, achingly, that the big reveal is coming – and then…
The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo (Switch eShop)
This standout, surrealist point-and-click is short, and not entirely sweet from a technical perspective, but Nacho Rodríguez's spectacular animation in The Many Pieces of Mr. Coo made a huge impression from the moment we laid eyes on it. Granted, the interaction is limited, the puzzles are obtuse, and we experienced a few crashes when we reviewed it, but fortunately, the presentation and music are good enough to distract you from those facts and provide an hour or two of great, surreal entertainment.
Another Code: Recollection (Switch)
Another Code: Recollection's biggest addition to the original DS and Wii experiences, besides the slick new graphics and fully explorable 3D environs, is its all-new navigation and puzzle aids. With the obtuse nature of some puzzles now a triviality — should you find yourself stumped — there are now no difficulty spikes or annoying moments to hold you back from a tale that's very much worth diving into for fans of slow-burn point-and-click titles. Their pacing could have done with some work, but this collection is as good a return to Ashley's world as fans could have hoped for.
Here are a few more games bubbling under which didn't quite make the list, but may be worth checking out if you just can't stop pointing and/or clicking:
- Agatha Knife
- Batman - The Telltale Series
- Broken Age
- Burly Men At Sea
- The Darkside Detective
- Dead Synchronicity - Tomorrow Comes Today
- Goetia
- Lair of the Clockwork God
- Silence
- Syberia (1 & 2)
- The Mystery of Woolley Mountain
Think there's something missing from our list? Incandescent with rage at the inclusion of games that aren't pure point-and-click adventures? If it's the latter, perhaps go and open a window and have a little walk to cool off — if you think something brilliant is missing, though, point us in the right direction and we may add it.
This article is one of our Switch Essentials guides which cover a wide variety of genres, including the Best Switch FPS Games, the Best Switch RPGs, the Best Switch Games For Kids, the Best Switch Couch Co-Op Games and the Best Switch Fitness and Exercise Games. We can also help out hunting down the Best Switch Horror Games, the Best Switch Racing Games, the Best Switch Action-RPGs, the Best Nintendo Switch Roguelikes, Roguelites and Run-Based Games, the Best Free Switch Games, the Best Remakes And Remasters, the Best Switch Music And Rhythm Games, Best Feel-Good Switch Games, Best Switch Open-World Games, Best Switch Soulslike Games, Best LGBTQ+ Switch Games, and even Games to Play After You've Finished Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Whatever your favourite genre, we've got you covered: Strategy Games, Metroidvanias, Puzzle Games, Party Games, Online Multiplayer Games, Local Wireless Multiplayer Games, Shmups, Twin-Stick Shooters, Visual Novels, Kart Racers, Fighting Games, Football Games, Funny Games, Golf Games, 'Walking Sims' And Narrative Games, Switch Games For Lovers And Lonely Hearts, Detective Games, Hidden Gems, 2D Platformers, 3D Platformers, Puzzle Platformers, Tabletop Mode Games, Run and Gun Games, LEGO Games, Sports Games, Survival Games, Beat 'Em Ups, Camera Games, Chill Games, Family Games, Retro-Inspired Games, Short Games, Card Games and Deck-Builders, and Life Sims And Farming Games.
Still hungry for more? Elsewhere we look at Wholesome Games, TATE Mode Games, Flight Sim and Space Combat, Point and Click Adventure Games, and the Best Switch Exclusives, as well as Every Arcade Archives Game, Every ACA Neo Geo Game, Every SEGA AGES Game On Switch, plus the Best Switch Ports, Best Wii U-To-Switch Ports, Best Switch Collections And Compilations, Best Cheap Switch Games, Best Switch Demos, Games That Are Better On Switch OLED, Switch Games Under $10, $20, $50, and Switch games with the Best Soundtracks and the Best Graphics. Phew!
If you're looking for the best Switch games regardless of genre, our reader-voted selection of the Best Nintendo Switch Games should help you out, and you can also find the Best Nintendo Switch Games of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. And finally, if you're interested in other Nintendo consoles and retro games, check out the Best Game Boy Games, Best GBC Games, Best GBA Games, Best Nintendo DS Games, Best Nintendo 3DS Games, Best NES Games, Best SNES Games, Best N64 Games, Best GameCube Games, and Best Wii Games, and Best Wii U Games, as well as Every Available Nintendo Switch Online Retro Game, and ranked lists of Every Nintendo Switch Online NES, SNES, N64 and Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Game.
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Comments 62
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.
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.
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.
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.
It's misleading to include Oxenfree here as it's not even close to the same type of experience. I bought it based on the idea that it was in fact an adventure game in the vein of Monkey Island and Maniac Mansion and quickly realized it's little more than a conversation sim. It's great for what it is, but it's absolutely NOT a puzzle game.
@nab1 As someone who didn't have access to PC games until much later, I absolutely loved point and clicks when I was a kid in the NES era after first being introduced to them by the NES version of Maniac Mansion, considered Shadowgate one of my favorite games at the time, and devoured every one of them I could get on any console I had going so far as to RENT A SEGA CD JUST TO THE FIRST MONKEY ISLAND! I even invited myself over to a friend's house who had The Fate of Atlantis and stayed up all night just to see how far I could get before wearing out my welcome. So, when I started hearing about how incredible Grim Fandango was, all the talk of this elusive game I couldn't play being the greatest of it's kind burned it's name into my brain so that I wouldn't forget about it if the time ever came when i could. When it was released on Switch I was overjoyed, bought it immediately, and I totally agree with you. Not only is it not even close to the best adventure game but it's one of my least favorite I've ever played. The ONLY reason, I'm convinced, it had and continues to enjoy it's sterling reputation is entirely due to it's presentation, setting, and dialogue. As a game it's terrible and the puzzles are almost all God-awful.
@macman I was thinking the same thing.
Deponia has a lot of charm and pretty good humor, character and puzzles.
Syberia games are also not bad really old school but nice games none the less.
@Zimon Rufus is selfish but he also tries to do what is right, the game aknowledges he is awful he is just not self aware enough to notice.
I like him as a character because he is not evil just a bit of a jerk.
I've got back into Broken Sword 5 this week. Very enjoyable and the hint system is good for those of us whose pointing and clicking ability has gotten rusty with age...
"Unavowed" is a very shocking omission.
Up there with the best if not the best.
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