With the introduction of adventure games in the mid-to-late 1980s, the narrative potential of video games grew. However, the limitations of the hardware meant the gameplay had to be similarly restricted. This proved a challenge for developers to overcome, but a solution was found in what would later become the point-and-click genre. The simplicity of clicking the screen to select prompts, move a character, or interact with NPCs allowed developers to craft experiences that stand the test of time. Adventure games have changed greatly, but the tried-and-tested formula has yet to go out of style.
The point-and-click genre has yielded some influential titles, and many like Full Throttle or Revolution Games' Broken Sword series are as good as they've ever been. This doesn't mean they enjoy much popularity in the AAA space though, as frantic action and precision shooting has dominated the market for what seems like forever. As the years roll by, the point-and-click genre is becoming more niche, so the absence of any notable high-budget game in the genre is an error that should be remedied.
Telltale's Shift of Perspective
The last great point-and-click games that gained significant traction were the offerings of Telltale Games. With critically acclaimed properties like The Walking Dead, Tales From The Borderlands, and Batman: The Telltale Series, fans were given experiences that offered great stories with a gameplay loop that is innovative, yet nostalgic. The explorative aspects of these games were carried out using an advanced version of traditional point-and-click mechanics, but in times of action the gameplay shifted to be more in-line with modern titles.
With the company's closure in 2018, and surprising relaunch not long after, there's every chance that the upcoming The Wolf Among Us 2 could revive hopes for a new point-and-click game that entices the industry. Yet the immense pressure to succeed given the company's history is huge, and falling at the first hurdle would do nothing to help the genre find new fans. Point-and-click games fell out of fashion because advancements in hardware rendered them outdated, but Telltale's writing could be the key to unlocking a future for adventure games of all varieties.
Point-and-Click Is Unique In 2022
With advancements in gameplay options over time, there's more of a place for the point-and-click genre as variety highlights the strengths of adventure games in comparison to other offerings. Point-and-click games lean far heavier on their story rather than gameplay, which is more the focus of genres like twin-stick shooter. It's not a new philosophy, as studios like Telltale Games and Detroit: Become Human developer Quantic Dream have adopted a narrative-led approach with success. More rigid point-and-click gameplay is not utilized near as much as it was in the past, despite offering truly different gameplay mechanics to the current slate of AAA studios.
Witty writing and character development are always the driving force of such titles, with gameplay often being a byproduct of the events that unfold through the narrative. Few will remember the core mechanics of many LucasArts classics, but hand-drawn visuals and kooky characters stay with players long after the credits roll. Having a budget that allows for gorgeous visuals, fluid gameplay, and clever marketing could do wonders for any developer who takes on a point-and-click project, satisfying a niche that hasn't really been filled since Disney's acquisition of LucasArts in 2012.
The AAA space is home to a litany of unique experiences, and there's something to love for everybody, but in order to find innovation players have to wade through cookie-cutter action franchises that sit atop the high-budget mountain. The point-and-click genre is still going strong in smaller circles, but bringing up a new franchise in AAA spaces could add variety, giving longtime fans something to get behind.