If you’re anything like me then you occasionally get the itch for a game with a good story and compelling characters. In these times of great need (and no money) there’s always one particular genre that I turn to. I turn to it, then I point at it and click on it. So here’s my list of some cheap point-and-click adventure games that you may not have heard of.
Blackwell Series
Wadjet Eye Games has recently won a lot of plaudits for the release of several high-quality adventure games, ‘Gemini Rue’ being a particular fan favourite. But it began its roster with a game that would eventually spawn a whole series, all centered on a psychic investigator named Rosangela Blackwell.
The central premise of the game is that of being able to seamlessly switch between control of Rosangela and her spirit companion Joey. This not only creates some great opportunities for puzzles, but also makes for some great dialog between Rosangela and Joey who often can’t stand one another, despite being unable to move more than 20 or 30 feet away from each other.
The writing is great, the stories are always gripping and well designed and the environments are interesting to explore, especially when certain areas can only be accessed by a character who can walk through walls. Plus, you can pick up all 5 games in the series for almost nothing, keeping you entertained for days if not weeks.
Check this series out on Steam here
Toonstruck
The main character in this game is the Doc from ‘Back to the Future.’ You shouldn’t really need any other reason to check it out, but if you do, then get a load of this!
Toonstruck came out in the mid 90’s when PC games were experimenting with the use of Full Motion Video. Consequently we had a slew of really crappy games with dreadful acting and choppy frame rates. Gamers quickly realized how bad these games were and they died out after only a few years. Toonstruck was one of the last and also one of the best. But it was a huge financial failure thanks to the absolutely abhorrent reputation of FMVs and was promptly consigned to the annals of PC Gaming history.
However, if you can find a copy and get it to run on your system, you will be treated to an awesomely zany romp through a twisted Disney-esque land with cartoonist ‘Drew Blanc’ and his created companion ‘Flux Wildly.’ Yes those are puns and yes the game is that stupid. But that is why I love it. You’ll rarely play a game that takes itself less seriously and bounding through a World that exists only in the mind of the Game’s protagonist is a fantastic experience that you won’t soon forget.
There is currently a Facebook page dedicated to getting a sequel to this game which seems to be flagging somewhat. But you can check it out here
Curiously Strong All Night Long
This is definitely the most obscure title on the list. Created as a promotional tool for a peppermint treat called ‘Altoids,’ this jaunty little adventure game is actually a solid effort with a lot of great humour and a bunch of really interesting and enjoyable areas to explore. You play as a pathetic loser going by the handle ‘Big Al’ who cons a super-hot punk named Sheena into meeting him at a night club called…..Night Club. Hilarity ensues.
You can play it for free here
Chzo Mythos
Like the Blackwell Series, the ‘Chzo Mythos’ is a series of games created using Adventure Game Studio, a freeware engine for designing point-and-clicks. This particular series of 4 games, starting with ‘5 Days a Stranger,’ was created by famous games critic and Internet celebrity Ben ‘Yahtzee’ Croshaw and can be acquired in its entirety for absolutely nothing. The graphics are a little basic and there is no voice acting but if you can get past these superficial shortcomings you will be treated to a game rich in excellent writing and interesting mechanics.
Due to the almost episodic nature of the series, it is quite hard to describe the game without giving away the plot but the series is centered on a villain who continually crops up in different stories, much like the classic slasher villains of the 80s and 90s (think Freddie Krueger and Jason Vorhees.) Wreaking havoc, quite literally, through time and space in every installment of this psychological horror adventure of nightmare-inducing quality. I would highly recommend that you soldier on through the somewhat dated first installment in order to get to the much higher-quality later games in the series.
You can begin the series by downloading the first game here
The Last Door
One of the most atmospheric psychological horrors I have played in recent years. ‘The Last Door’ employs an extremely minimalistic art style which works to its advantage, creating a very bleak sense of loneliness. The story itself has you investigating the disappearance of an old school friend in 19th century England, only to be sent on a Lovecraftian nightmare of an adventure, discovering pan-dimensional horrors, the likes of which only exist in the dark recesses of your psyche! The soundtrack is awesome, making great use of the instruments of the day to produce the feeling of the English winter.
You can play the first chapter for free here