In recent years, most of the really good adventure games have been produced by independent studios. Some of them have even allowed there work to be distributed freely. My faves are...
On Line:
Archipelago -
http://www.woolythinking.com/
Return to the Archipelago -
http://www.woolythinking.com/
The Stone of Anamara -
http://www.channel4.com/entertainmen...ameguru/stone/
Samorost -
http://www.samorost.net/samorost1/
Samorost 2 -
http://www.samorost.net/
Download:
The Museum of Broken Memories
http://www.jonas-kyratzes.net/
These are in no particular order, just some very good free games out there!