Point and click adventure games are usually focused on the narrative and puzzles. These games were pretty popular back in the day but over the years, more adventure games have dropped the point and click aspect completely. In this list, we’re going to highlight some newer point-and-click horror games that you should try out. Some of these titles may not be as focused on the classic point and click gameplay aspect, but they are full of puzzles and a heavy focus around telling a story.
#13 The Past Within
Platform: PC
Release Date: November 02, 2022
Have you been looking for a unique game to play with a friend to see how well you can work together? If so, The Past Within might be the one for you.
The title is a unique co-op game where instead of sharing the same screen, you’ll see events from two different points: the past and the future.
You’ll need to communicate with one another and then attempt to figure out how to get through the numerous puzzles and mysteries within the title. Changing the past can affect the future, so see what you can do and progress together!
Then, when you’re done, swap time periods and try it again!
#12 Amanda the Adventurer
Platform: PC
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Have you ever gotten something from a family member and wondered what the heck they were into or had gotten involved in?
In Amanda the Adventurer, you’ll play Riley Park, who has inherited a house from her aunt. But as she explores it, she finds a set of VHS tapes that showcase a “children’s show” about a girl named Amanda and her friend, who happens to be a sheep.
But there’s something more sinister in this “children’s show,” and Riley will need to see it through to learn the truth and hope that she survives the experience.
Are you up for finding out what really happened to your aunt?
#11 Inscryption
Platform: PS4, PS5, PC
Release Date: December 5, 2020
Genre: Puzzle
While Inscryption may sound odd, it’s even stranger once you dive into the title. The game is a mix of point-and-click adventure games but with cards and a lot of horror elements. If you look at the description of the title, you’ll notice that it doesn’t go into much detail. That’s because they want you to experience the terror for yourself as you play and slowly decide your fate.
The cards you use have various effects on what’s around you, and it’s unsettling what you must do at times to get more cards. If you’re not afraid, though, the game is ready for you.
#10 Five Nights at Freddy’s
Platform : PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, XSX|S, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
Release Date : First release : Five Nights at Freddy’s August 8, 2014
Latest release : Five Nights at Freddy’s: Special Delivery November 25, 2019
What started as a simple little PC and smartphone game blew up in popularity allowing this IP to become a massive series. It’s a point-and-click horror title that was full of jumpscares. Naturally, if you’re not a fan of jumpscares then you are not going to be a fan of this game series as it’s full of them. That’s the main thrill when playing this game as players start the series out as a security guard working at a pizza joint. However, to complete your various tasks, players are having to watch out for the different animatronics that comes alive at night and aim to kill the player. To complete your tasks, players will need to monitor the different camera feeds to see where the characters are in the building to close doors and ensure that they are in a good position. With that said, if you lose track of an enemy then there’s a good chance you’ll quickly get jumped by one of the characters.
#9 Fran Bow
Platform : PC, OS X, Linux, Android, iOS
Release Date : PC, OS X, Linux August 27, 2015 / Android February 16, 2016 / iOS March 5, 2016
Genre : Horror adventure game
Fran Bow is an indie horror title that you shouldn’t pass up if you enjoy more narrative-focused video games. In this game, players are taking the role of a little girl named Fran Bow who discovers her parents brutally murdered. Frightened over the scene, Fran takes her best friend, a black cat named Mr. Midnight who was given to Fran as a gift from her parents. While alone in the woods, players go into shock only to wake up in a mental institute. Without Mr. Midnight, Fran goes on a mission to break free, rescue her cat and make her way to an aunt. However, this is a tough journey as Fran also suffers from a mental disorder and can be taken to some truly horrifying locations.
#8 Little Misfortune
Platform : Linux, macOS, PC, Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch
Release Date : Linux, macOS, PC September 18, 2019 / Android, iOS February 13, 2020 / PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch May 29, 2020
Genre : Horror adventure game
Speaking of Fran Bow, the developers behind that title Killmonday Games, also developed the next title on our list, Little Misfortune. Players are once again stepping into the role of a little girl called Misfortune who becomes fixated with a fox that appears near her home. Meanwhile, a random voice convinces Misfortune to leave her home and go on a fun mystical game. This journey will take players to all kinds of different unique locations as they attempt to finish the game and earn eternal happiness. It’s a wacky game with plenty of humor to go along with some incredibly dark and horrifying moments. Additionally, outside of the puzzles that come up along the way, there will be a slew of unique choices you’ll need to decide on throughout the game campaign. If you enjoyed Fran Bow then chances are you’re going to love Little Misfortune as well.
#7 Oxenfree
Platform : PC, OS X, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Linux, iOS, Android
Release Date : January 15, 2016
Genre : Graphic adventure
Oxenfree is an indie title that blew up online and its allowed the development studio, Night School Studio, to develop more games. With Oxenfree, players are following a young teenage girl who decides to attend a party with friends at a nearby island. However, upon arriving at the island, a supernatural entity seems to appear putting players into an odd time loop. There is a ton of puzzle-solving and unique choices players will need to make as they attempt to regroup their friends on the island. While ultimately the goal is to get off the island, there is still a ton of narrative content here as you make your way through the nightmare of an island and you’ll even have multiple different endings to obtain as well. This game was such a breakout hit that years later enough fan feedback has warranted the development studio to bring out a sequel, but at the time of writing this description, we don’t know much of anything about the upcoming installment.
#6 The Cat Lady
Platform : PC, Linux
Release Date : PC December 7, 2012 / April 20, 2014 (Linux)
Genre : Psychological horror, graphic adventure
The Cat Lady from Harvester Games is quite a bleak and depressing journey for players to go through. This is a more traditional point-and-click adventure game where players are stepping into the role of Susan Ashworth, a middle-aged woman that is done with a life that she finds to be nothing but misery. With no family or loved ones to live on for, Susan commits suicide where players are met with an old mysterious woman. Promising a happy life in return for killing five specific individuals, Susan accepts the deal and is given immortality in the living realm. To reach eternal happiness, players are forced to venture out to find these specific targets and kill them off. It’s a trippy and dark journey but one that has had plenty of fans recommending others to try out.
#5 Detention
Platform : PS4, PC, MacOS, Linux, Nintendo Switch, Android
Release Date : PC, OS X, Linux 13 January 2017 / PS4 3 October 2017 / Nintendo Switch 1 March 2018 / Android 5 September 2019
Genre : Adventure game, puzzle video game, survival horror
Detention comes from Red Candle Games where players are tossed into the 1960s. Placed in Taiwan under martial law, players are stepping into the role of a student in a high school. However, the school is far from normal as players will venture around only to discover different terrifying enemies scattered around. There’s no combat so it’s a run and hide-type of the game when you encounter an enemy in certain scenarios. Depending on what you’re facing against, players can use different maneuvers to get around the hostile enemy such as holding their breath when they cross pathways.
#4 Dark Fall: The Journal
Platform : PC
Release Date : July 23, 2003
Genre : Adventure
Dark Fall: The Journal is described to be a bit like the classic Myst adventure game but with a horror twist. Decades ago an old train station at Dowerton was once a bustling location for travelers. However, one mysterious day the station passengers and staff vanished. No one was able to uncover what happened and now years later a contract was taken on to redevelop the station. Players step into a protagonist that receives a call of help from their brother who had taken on the job to rework the station. As players travel to the station, they find that their completely alone but something else lurks around the area leaving players scrambling to uncover clues and solve the decades-old mystery in order to avoid being taken as well.
#3 Serena
Platform : PC, Linux, OS X
Release Date : 30 January 2014
Genre : Adventure game
Serena is a completely free game to download and play, but it’s also extremely short. You’re looking at maybe an hour to complete this game so we’re going to be pretty light here on what to expect in hopes of avoiding spoilers. With Serena, players are diving into a story of a man that ventures to an old cabin waiting for his wife Serena. However, as he looks around he begins to uncover hidden memories. If you have an hour to kill and want something more relaxed in terms of gameplay then we would point towards checking out Serena on the PC platform.
#2 Anna Extended Edition
Platform : Macintosh, PC, Xbox 360, PS3
Release Date : April 12, 2013
Genre : Adventure
If you’re wanting a challenging point and click horror game to go through then give Anna Extended Edition a try. This title puts players into a role of an amnesiac man who wakes up outside of an old sawmill. From there, it’s a journey to find a way inside, uncovering more cryptic puzzles and dealing with a supernatural entity to figure out what happened prior. This is a title that has a few different endings as well so there’s replayability. With eight possible endings available, your actions within the game will determine how the story will end. As the name suggests there was an original Anna title available before this game, but the feedback received caused the developers to go back and rework the project a bit. As a result, we have some brand new puzzles and environments for players to venture through.
#1 The Walking Dead
Platform : Android, iOS, Kindle Fire HDX, OS X, Linux, PC, Nintendo Switch, Ouya, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Release Date : April 24, 2012
Genre : Graphic adventure Interactive drama
The Walking Dead from Telltale Games may be their best work. It was an adventure title that put them on plenty of player’s radar back in the day when it was first released and over the years we’ve seen several installments come out into the marketplace which again further adds to this incredible storyline. We’ll stick with the first game to avoid spoiling anything if you haven’t already played this title, but with The Walking Dead, players are following Lee during the start of a zombie apocalypse. Finding a little girl all alone named Clementine, Lee takes the young girl in and attempts to find a sanctuary. Meanwhile, the world is incredibly hostile with deadly zombies roaming the world and even deadlier human factions that are after nothing more than resources. With plenty of choices and consequences that affect the storyline, this is one game that should be played even if you’re not already a fan of the hit AMC television series or iconic comic book.
