The point and click adventure genre goes back a long way.
Its roots are on PC, where playing with a mouse allowed you to literally point and click. Since then, many of the classics have been remastered, and dozens of modern counterparts have been released, designed to be played on console with controllers. And here, we’re going to look at the best point and click games you can play on Nintendo Switch.
Thanks to the Switch’s touch screen, it’s almost as if the genre has gone full-circle. It’s perhaps more point and touch than click, but the Switch is the perfect platform to play the best point and click games on.
It’ll come as no surprise to you, then, that the format is absolutely teeming with great point and click games. Whether you’re looking for a murder mystery, an action-packed adventure or a sci-fi narrative to sink your teeth into, the Switch has something for you. Read on for our picks of the best point and click games on Nintendo Switch.
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1. Return to Monkey Island
It’s been over 20 years since the last true Monkey Island game released. But now, Guybrush Threepwood is back in Return to Monkey Island. This brand new entry into the long-running point and click favourite series might come with an all-new art style, but it’s the gameplay and storytelling that we all know and love. Guybrush is back with one of his usual adventures – but this time he’s recounting the tale to his son. You know, just to remind us all how so very old we are now.
For fans of the original games, Return to Monkey Island is not to be missed. It has everything a stellar point and click game should have: great storytelling, wonderful characters, engaging puzzles and, of course, lots of pirates.
Read our review of Return to Monkey Island
2. Grim Fandango
Originally brought to us on PC in 1998, Grim Fandango has since been revamped and brought to consoles as Grim Fandango Remastered. Its age means its slightly rough around the edges now, but don’t let that put you off. This is still one of the best point and click games of all time, and it’s easy to see why.
In Grim Fandango, you take on the role of Manny Calavera. He’s a grim reaper of sorts, in a role as a ‘travel agent’, selling afterlife travel packages to the recently departed. When one of his clients doesn’t get the package she deserves, however, it sparks Manny, along with hits trusty sidekick Glottis, to journey across the underworld to assist her.
As you’d expect, puzzles are at the forefront of Manny’s adventure. Although they can be tricky at times, the fantastic characters, witty dialogue and original locations keep you coming back for more. We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve played Grim Fandango in the last 20 years. But we’ll never get tired of Manny and Glottis’ adventures. Hands down, this is one of the best point and click adventure games on Switch.
Read our review of Grim Fandango Remastered
3. The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
Beautiful, captivating, and hilarious. Those are just a few words which can be used to describe the classic point and click adventure The Book of Unwritten Tales 2. Unfortunately its predecessor was only ever released on PC, but this perfectly standalone sequel is without a doubt one of the best point and click games available on Switch.
With around 20 hours of solid gameplay spanning across several locations, each as fascinating as the next, The Book of Unwritten Tales 2 is a tale of magic and mystery, and is the closest to the classic 90s point and click adventures as we’re ever going to get. King Art Games has done a stand-up job of bringing a magical world to life; with wizards, princes and elf princesses as believable as any human being. Filled with puzzles and humour from start to finish, there’s so much to love here. It should be an essential title for any point and click adventure fan.
Read our review of The Book of Unwritten Tales 2
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4. Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse
If you haven’t heard of the Broken Sword series, where have you been for the last 20 years? Starting with Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars way back in 1996, the series has evolved over time, culminating in a return to classic 2D form with The Serpent’s Curse.
The unforgettable duo George Stobbart and Nico Collard are back with another deep and intriguing mystery to get themselves involved with. It’s as captivating as ever. And like every other Broken Sword game before it, it’s George and Nico that make this game. George’s innate Americanisms contrast beautifully against Nico’s sarcastic French demeanour. It’s impossible not to get completely engulfed into their relationship and the story that plays out on screen.
Read our review of Broken Sword 5: The Serpent’s Curse
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5. Broken Age
Double Fine is the master of classic point and click games, and Broken Age is no exception. Telling two initially separate stories – of Vella, a beautiful tropical island dweller, and Shay, a young boy who’s lived his life on a spaceship – Broken Age puts you in the shoes of both of them, as they each have their own struggles to work through.
Broken Age‘s art style is second to none, but it’s the characters and locations that bring the game to life. As with any point and click game, some of the puzzles are a little on the obtuse side. But don’t let that put you off diving into this glorious adventure. It’ll warm your heart and test your brain, but you’ll walk away from Broken Age having loved every moment of it. As far as point and click games on Switch go, this is one of the best.
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6. Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis
With a story covering themes such as a medieval prophecy and a religious cult, there’s no denying that Secret Files 2: Puritas Cordis is a traditional point-and-click game. It’s been around for some years: it originally released on PC back in 2009, but recently released on Nintendo Switch. Despite its age, it’s still as good as the genre ever gets; it combines a gripping narrative with engaging puzzles, three-dimensional characters and a whole host of settings to explore.
Secret Files 2 tells its narrative from a number of different perspectives, putting you in control of a few different characters. It means that you’ll find yourself in a varied range of locations; from a cruise ship to the middle of a jungle – and everything in between – each one is a pleasure to explore. Sure, it may sometimes show its age, but this is still one of the best point and click games on Switch.
Read our review of Secret Files 2
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7. The Little Acre
The Little Acre may be a fairly short game, but it’s one well worth experiencing. From its charming story to its gorgeous Disney-inspired visuals, there’s a lot to love here. You’ll follow Aidan and his young daughter Lily as they travel from rural Ireland to find Aidan’s father, Arthur. Along the way you’ll be interacting with strange contraptions and visiting mysterious new locations.
We love practically everything about The Little Acre, from its wonderfully-imagined characters to its artwork that really does feel like it could be ripped from a long-lost Disney Classic. It’s a true homage to point and click games of the 90s, too, with plenty of puzzles to find, items to collect and an engaging story to boot. It only lasts three or four hours, but you’ll be hooked throughout that time.
Read our review of The Little Acre
8. The Raven Remastered
If crime thrillers are your thing, then you should definitely acquaint yourself with The Raven Remastered. Developed by King Art Games, The Raven Remastered puts you in control of Anton Jakob Zellner, a middle-aged Swiss police constable who’s out to prove himself. Finding yourself on a case spearheaded by the young and popular inspector Legrand, you must seek out evidence and converse with those around you, uncovering clues as to whether the world famous thief called Raven is back on the scene again. The mysterious thing, however, is that it is believed that inspector Legrand shot him dead years ago.
The Raven Remastered really does make you feel like you’re a true detective at the heart of a mystery. Every clue you find that puts you a step closer to finding the thief feels like a true victory. If that’s not enough to hook you, then we don’t know what is. With a classic crime mystery at its heart, The Raven Remastered is a point and click game on Switch not to be missed.
Read our review of The Raven Remastered
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9. Thimbleweed Park
Written and designed by Ron Gilbert and Gary Winnick, Thimbleweed Park was always destined to be a winner. The pair pretty much created the point and click genre with their 1987 game Maniac Mansion, after all. And, it was Ron Gilbert who delivered us the classic The Secret of Monkey Island.
Unsurprisingly, Thimbleweed Park doesn’t try to do anything to break the classic point and click mould. This is a game made to please fans of the genre, and please it does. It has puzzles – bucketloads of them – as well as an entertaining story, and it’s absolutely packed full of jokes. Some of them may not always hit the mark, but Thimbleweed Park will definitely have you guffawing. If you’re a Switch owner and a fan of point and click games, Thimbleweed Park is one of the best.
Read our review of Thimbleweed Park
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10. Yesterday Origins
Yesterday Origins takes classic tropes of point and click games and attempts to mix them up in new and exciting ways. It’s a welcome addition to the ever-growing roster of adventure titles on Switch.
Its gorgeous hand-drawn art style sets the tone for a dark and fascinating adventure. It’s laden with challenging puzzles to chew over, delivered across a wealth of worldly locations with an intriguing story. The level of detail in the history of the game is to be applauded, too; a massive amount of research has gone into its historic Spanish settings and the use of real Latin passages. There’s a great deal to get immersed in for any long-time point and click fan.
