Belonging to a well-established genre in the gaming community, point-and-click games are truly a staple in any gamer's library. Despite their popularity peaking in the '90s, the rise of the indie gaming genre has led to a resurgence in this style of game. There are now plenty of modern titles for those who want to give smaller developers a go.As the games usually focus more on story and decision-making rather than mechanics, playing them can offer a nice reprieve from action that still delivers a memorable experience. Between new releases and older classics, there are many point-and-click games whose fanbases continue to grow, and for good reason too.Updated April 12, 2022, by Michael Abayomi: With the recent news that Return to Monkey Island will be released later this year, the point-and-click adventure games genre seems poised to see a bit of a resurgence. So now is a good time to revisit our list of the best point-and-click games ever made. We're adding two point-and-click adventure games that were highlights of the genre during its heyday - in the early to mid-90s.
12 Sam & Max Hit The Road
Based on a 1989 comic book, Sam & Max Hit The Road is a point-and-click adventure game developed by LucasArts. It charts the adventures of the titular pair of freelance police officers as they try to solve the mystery behind a missing bigfoot.
The game is considered a classic in the graphic adventure games genre, and it was well-received by many for its highly-detailed graphics and humor, among other things.
11 Broken Sword: The Shadow Of The Templars
The first game in the Broken Sword series was written and directed by Charles Cecil, and his team at Revolution Software had set out to craft what they hoped would be one of the most cinematic games ever made.
It is fair to say that they had hit their mark as the game remains a joy to play even today, drawing players into its world of secret societies and their diabolical machinations while still managing to stay relatively lighthearted and humorous.
10 Emily Is Away
As a brilliant throwback to the early 2000s, the events of Emily Is Away take place on an instant messaging chat client. You play as someone talking to Emily, a girl who goes to your high school and, following this, your college. The game's story follows your relationship with her, sometimes good, sometimes rocky.
Developed by Kyle Seeley, this point-and-click visual novel is a must-play for any fan of the genre. Although the third game, Emily Is Away <3, was released in April 2021, the original still holds up as one of the best point-and-click games made.
9 Please, Don't Touch Anything
Although short, Please, Don't Touch Anything is a brilliant point-and-click puzzle game that is harder than it looks but cements itself among the greatest of the genre due to its likability. Playing as someone who's watching his coworker's desk as they go for a bathroom break, you are instructed not to do anything. However, that's very hard when there's a big red button in front of you.
The puzzles increase in difficulty as you progress through the game, often requiring more of your attention and more information. With multiple endings and brilliant pixel graphics, this title from Four Quarters is a brilliant indie point-and-click gem.
8 Thimbleweed Park
Thimbleweed Park is a fantastic point-and-click adventure game for any fan of the genre. Taking place in the eponymously named town, you start as FBI agents Ray and Reyes, who are tasked with solving a murder. Gaining an additional three other playable characters, you must make your way around the town to get to the bottom of all the secrets it may contain.
Developed by seasoned point-and-click creators Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, Thimbleweed Park is a 2017 game that is meant to bring a style of play very similar to prominent '80s and '90s titles of the same genre. With an enjoyably expansive runtime, it is a terrific game with brilliant twists that will constantly keep you guessing.
7 Twelve Minutes
Released in August 2021, 12 Minutes made waves upon its arrival to the gaming world. Playing with a top-down view, you and the characters you watch are stuck in a 12-minute time loop from which you must help them escape. The point-and-click (and drag) interface allows you to interact with the aspects that you see, all in an attempt to prevent the same tragic events from repeating themselves.
Featuring the voices of well-known actors James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe, this recent game is well worth the play. With a brilliant original soundtrack to accompany it, the connection and tension that are built into 12 Minutes are truly masterful.
6 Doki Doki Literature Club!
As one of the most infamous point-and-click visual novels in the gaming community, Doki Doki Literature Club certainly lives up to its reputation. You play as the main protagonist, who is invited by his childhood friend, Sayori, to join their high school literature club, which causes an unexpected series of events.
With multiple romance options, as well as a mini-game, Doki Doki Literature Club masquerades itself as an anime dating simulator while being something much, much darker in reality. Although free to play on Steam, Doki Doki Literature Club Plus requires payment - however, it contains new side stories, music, and unlockable images that are not found in the free version.
5 Papers, Please
Released in 2013, the award-winning Papers, Please is a point-and-click indie game where you play as an immigration inspector. Set in a Soviet Bloc-esque state, you are chosen to control who can and can't enter the country of Arstotzkhan. On top of this, you are also tasked to manage your budget at home with the money you earn from the job or from bribes that you take under the table.
With multiple tools to utilize and increasing difficulty, this game is much more complex than it may appear at first: let the wrong person in and you'll enable a terrorist attack. There are multiple game mode choices, with a scripted story mode that has 20 possible endings as well as endless modes, which gives it great replay value.
4 Machinarium
Play as Josef, a robot in the eponymous city of Machinarium, who intends to foil a gang's bomb plot and save the clock tower in this puzzle-solving adventure game. One of the most interesting aspects of this game is the way in which you are only able to interact with objects that are within the robot's reach, bringing players a whole new element of difficulty.
With brilliant hand-drawn illustrations and an original soundtrack, the effort put in by developers at Anamita Design is clear. The visually intriguing art style, engaging storyline, and unique mechanics all combine to make Machinarium one of the best point-and-click games ever made as well as a must-play.
3 Fallout 2
Set in the post-apocalyptic world that fans of the Fallout game series have come to love, Fallout 2 is one of the most notable point-and-click games ever created. You play as the Chosen One, tasked by their town to traverse the ruined landscape in search of a Garden of Eden Creation Kit to save the town and help it prosper.
This game features one of the most iconic antagonists from the series, Frank Horrigan, as well as a host of other enemies in this open-world RPG. Although the combat may be confusing to new and unfamiliar players, as it is based on action points, Fallout 2 is one of the best point-and-clicks of all time for its individuality and compelling story.
2 Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
A blast from the past, Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's revenge is a 1991 classic of the point-and-click genre, with a growing fanbase even 30 years following its release. You play as Guybrush Threepwood, the same protagonist from the first game, The Secret of Monkey Island.
The Monkey Island series revolutionized gaming, with its clear focus on humor. It proved to be a massive hit for LucasArts. The sequel focused on providing the audience with a lot of fun, which is made evident through the iconic dialogue, fantastic characters (such as the Voodoo Lady), and great hidden details.
1 Grim Fandango
As another brilliant '90s point-and-click adventure game from LucasArts, Grim Fandango is perhaps the most iconic game of the genre that has ever been made. In it, you play as Manny Calavera on his journey through the Land of the Dead to save a virtuous soul. The story is unique and phenomenal and, coupled with the great voice acting, creates one of the most memorable point-and-click experiences.
This game is not only one of the greatest point-and-clicks but is often hailed as one of the greatest video games of all time, with a remastered version that was released in 2015. The unique art style only adds to the charm of Grim Fandango and has truly withstood the test of time.