Every video game is, in its own way, an adventure. But there are only a few games that can truly capture what it means to be an adventure game. These games tend to be heavy in exploration and most times lean on a deep story as well.There are other elements, like combat and puzzles, that become part of the journey as well. But generally, adventure games are broad and can take various different forms. Some of the best games ever made are considered adventure games, but each of those games is much different from the other. These are the best and worst adventure games ever made, courtesy of Metacritic's scoring system.Updated on January 16, 2022 by Chris Birsner: Adventure games are meant to be celebrated, so this article has been expanded to focus solely on the classics that have shaped what the genre is today. This includes games that changed the way players look at adventure mode gameplay, enhanced storytelling to make the audience feel more for the characters, and introduced new ways of interacting with puzzles. From the walking simulators to the deep experiences that require a lot of skill and patience, the best adventure games can paint a wide brush and have greatly impacted what the industry releases today.
10 What Remains Of Edith Finch (Metacritic Score: 89)
Walking simulators have become a unique subgenre of adventure games, with plenty of big hits coming out over the last decade. However, no walking simulator has been as unique and imaginative as What Remains of Edith Finch.
Developed by Giant Sparrow, What Remains of Edith Finch starts with Edith revisiting an old home she used to live in. The house is truly bizarre-looking, but it gives the player insight into each of the family members, all of whom are no longer alive due to strange circumstances. The player learns about each of these stories through creative storytelling mechanics.
9 Return Of The Obra Dinn (Metacritic Score: 89)
It's strange to call something an adventure game when it all takes place in one place, but Return of the Obra Dinn takes players on a journey of a different kind. The game revolves around an inspector who has been given the task of examining a ship that came to shore after it was previously lost at sea.
The inspector's job is to examine the dead bodies on board, identify who they were on the ship's roster, and give them a formal cause of death. Return of the Obra Dinn gives players a device that lets them go back to the moment of each passenger's demise to help them make decisions as they weave an interesting narrative of a wild voyage.
8 L.A. Noire (Metacritic Score: 89)
Rockstar Games have made many adventures about breaking the law, but how about a game where players are the law? Set in 1947 Los Angeles, L.A. Noire has players take on the role of Cole Phelps as he works his way from a patrol cop all the way up through homicide and through various other divisions of the department.
The open-world setting allows players to take on various cases off the street. However, the core part of L.A. Noire is investigating cases and interrogating both witnesses and suspects. Plus, the story unfolds in a way that lets Phelps know that there is more going on in the city than he thought.
7 Chicory: A Colorful Tale (Metacritic: 90)
Adventure games can sometimes be incredibly brutal with the way the setting is established and how the story unfolds. With Chicory: A Colorful Tale, even some tough dives into the darkest parts of the characters don't take away from an overall wholesome experience.
Players are a small anthropomorphic dog that has been working as a janitor for the Wielder, a person who possesses a brush that brings color to the world. After the current wielder relinquishes the brush to the player, it is up to them to paint the world again. There are many puzzle and adventure elements in this game, but the strength of the game is the story and characters.
6 The Longest Journey (Metacritic Score: 91)
While there are a lot of big names in the adventure genre nowadays, sometimes the older games slip out of the public conversation. A great example of this is The Longest Journey, a classic point-and-click adventure that came out in 2000 released by Funcom.
The story revolves around an art student named April Ryan who is known as a Shifter. This is because she can switch between the dimensions of Stark, which is the more "scientific" universe, and Arcadia, the more "magical" universe. The goal of the game is to restore the balance between these two.
5 Journey (Metacritic Score: 92)
The greatest games ever made are often indie games, and Journey is a perfect example of this. Players take on the role of a robed individual in the middle of a desert. The goal of the game is to travel to a nearby mountain.
Along the way, players could run into other players who could only communicate with musical chimes. This was to allow players to make emotional connections in simple ways. The story is told through visual cut scenes with no dialogue. Despite its short length, Journey is considered one of the best Playstation 3 games.
4 Minecraft (Metacritic Score: 93)
The highest-grossing game of all time, Minecraft can be played in so many ways that it fits into various genres. Adventure is one of the most prominent elements of Minecraft as the main gameplay involves exploring a randomly-generated open world.
Minecraft is iconic for the ability it gives players to explore and create in these beautiful worlds. Despite its less-than-stellar graphics, the game has hooked so many gamers around the world because of this built-in flexibility. Not only is an adventure pre-generated for the player, but the players themselves can craft their own adventure for others.
3 The Walking Dead (Metacritic Score: 94)
Although it is no longer around, Telltale Games' impact on the industry will not be forgotten. This is well evidenced by their greatest hit, The Walking Dead. The game is based on Robert Kirkman's comic book series of the same name and features a unique animation similar to the series.
Lee Everett is the main protagonist and a convicted criminal that has been given freedom during a global zombie apocalypse. Lee spends The Walking Dead trying to survive while also protecting an orphaned girl named Clementine.
2 Grim Fandango (Metacritic Score: 94)
Tim Schafer's Grim Fandango is over 20 years old. As of today, it's still near the top of the greatest adventure games ever made. The game is set in the Land of the Dead. This world is the hub between life and the afterlife.
Players are Manuel "Manny" Calavera, a travel agent who is trying to save Mercedes "Meche" Colomar on her journey through the land. The gameplay includes solving puzzles along the journey, with hints being provided through conversation trees. Grim Fandango was praised for its story, gameplay, art direction, and soundtrack.
1 The Last Of Us (Metacritic Score: 95)
The Last of Us isn't just the best adventure game according to Metacritic. It's arguably one of the greatest games ever made. The game is set twenty years after the start of a pandemic that turned many members of civilization into infected monsters.
The Last of Us follows Joel as he attempts to bring a teenage girl, Ellie, across the United States. Ellie is immune to the disease and could help save others. The game was praised for its writing and storytelling, along with excellent gameplay.