Why Point & Click Video Games Still Hold Great Value

While they’re not produced in the volume they used to be, point and click adventure games once dominated space on the home computer. There have been many dozens of classic titles, and you can still play a good number of them today through platforms such as GOG and Steam. Some have even been ported to consoles or handheld devices.

But what is a point and click video game? Well, they can mostly be defined as narrative-based adventure games that can offer multiple solutions, often have multiple screens of background art, and are heavily story-based.

If you’re looking for something to play that holds more of a slower-pace, or you want to see some historic artistry to the development of video games, you could do much worse than diving into this genre between rounds of solitaire. 

Retro Aesthetics Have Their Own Charm

If you want to see some of the best artistry in the video game space, there’s something special about the look of older point-and-click games that still holds up today. That’s because many have hand-drawn backgrounds, pixelated characters, and vibrant color palettes, which allow the artistry to pop. There’s nothing AI-generated here, nor stock assets being used. 

For example, games like Day of the Tentacle or The Secret of Monkey Island are bursting with personality, and their visuals hold up surprisingly well even today.  Some even have remastered where you can swap between art styles on the fly, such as with Monkey Island. It’s true that they might not have the hyper-realistic graphics of modern titles, but that’s part of their appeal, and strong art direction will beat fidelity every single time. You can think of them like interactive storybooks, and the art style adds to the charm.

P&C Games Offer Some Of The Best Story Experiences

If you’re into games with strong narratives, point-and-click adventures are hard to beat in any category. That’s what they’re known for, the strength of their writing,and that tradition really does hold up today. 

This is because they’re often packed with hilarious or interesting characters, clever dialogue, and plots that range from hilarious to downright bizarre. Funny concepts can really be explored here. Take Grim Fandango, for example, which is a noir-inspired tale set in the land of the dead, you play Manny Calavera who fulfilled a grim reaper role but is now tired of his office job and looking to branch out. It comes with with sharp writing and a story that sticks with you long after you’ve finished playing. Where else do you find such great concepts in the modern market, where publishers are increasingly risk-averse?

Certain Publishers Have Product Libraries Filled With Hits

Some developers and publishers absolutely nailed the point-and-click genre and their games are worth playing today. LucasArts, for instance, is legendary for its lineup of classics like Sam & Max Hit the Road and Full Throttle. Indiana Jones & The Fate of Atlantis is concerned a huge classic too, with a hilarious introduction that sees Indy falling through several floors of his university building in Connecticut.

You may have alos heard of Sierra, known for series like King’s Quest and Space Quest. But there are also some amazing publishers and developers working today – Wadjet Eye Games for example, run by Dave Gilbert, has had some incredible point and click games like Gemini Rue and Unavowed to boast of.

Adventure Games Are Great To Watch When Relaxing

One of the best things about point-and-click games is how relaxing they can be, either to play or watch on YouTube. Some of the developers might not be around anymore, so the ethics of just watching the game isn’t necessarily so bad for older titles.

If you work from home at the computer or are undergoing a nasty bout of sickness, he slower pace means you can take your time enjoying the more artistic elements without feeling too overwhelmed or uncomfortable. It really does make a difference.

Moreover, such adventure games speak of a time that feels a little less cynical. They’re at a time where each game was often made to be a fun product that could be enjoyed for years instead of a cash-grab, or a modern game filled to the brim with microtransactions. If you’re a little exasperated by the state of the modern world (and let’s face it, who isn’t?) then you could do worse than enjoying a point and click adventure game once in a while.

Why not let us know how you get on, and which titles you enjoy?

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