Adventure Gamers - Forums

The Following Freeware segment has been gone for a while, but apparently it’s sorely missed. Here’s a place to shine a spotlight on freeware once more.

To start: anyone who has a freeware adventure game recommendation can post it right here, including your own.

Ideas for some kind of Following Freeware reboot (a forum version?) are welcome as well.

right on!

i’ll give a quick shout out to: https://cosmicvoid.itch.io/elsewhere-in-the-night

It’s probably been mentioned here and there, but it deserves to be in this thread.

another quick mention: https://abstract-machine.itch.io/feet-in-the-snow
It makes the low-budget style work by perfecting and leaning into it, resulting in something weirdly gorgeous, creepy and dream-like.

Awesome! A very welcome thread. I did see Cosmic Void before somewhere, the art reminded me of the most obscure Sierra series, Manhunter, and the devs actually mention it on their page! Can’t be missed. Grandad also looks interesting, never heard of the original game, but it sounds like a good setting for inventive puzzles. Funny how AG simultaneously posted a review for GrandMa Badass.

To contribute to the topic, I finally remembered the name of that science-based online adventure which impressed me back in 2021: The Quantum Prisoner. Here’s a link to the original thread.

https://freshgames.itch.io/blackout

A game about a witch in a spooky house!

“Blackout is a straight forward point & click adventure. Investigate, navigate, and use items to interact with things in your environment.

This is the polished version of the Ludum Dare 48 entry by Carl Lenngren, Erik Schröder, Fredrik Edman, Viktor Holmér and Ulf Malmberg.”

https://motvind-studios.itch.io/how-we-know-were-alive

there’s a colourful and beautiful kind of gloom to HOW WE KNOW WE’RE ALIVE, or by it’s own description:

“HOW WE KNOW WE’RE ALIVE is a free hour long melancholy,  point-and-click narrative mystery set in the bible belt of Sweden.”

The Quantum Prisoner is really good! thanks for bringing that up. Gems come in many forms.

Here’s a short historical romp, very traditional pixelated point & click adventure game, but a good one, easy to fit into your schedule. Good sound design as well: The Devil’s Teeth, check it out:
https://gamejolt.com/games/Devilsteeth/783976

It’s by the author of the Broken Windows games, a pretty solid Police Quest hommage set in contemporary England. Three chapters have been released, still waiting for the finale (and the plot is going places).

Here’s a fun little game that parodies suburban gossip in a pretty friendly and comical way: The Gossip Detective. It’s all grey tones, a combination of slightly pixelated photographs (probably to make it easier to edit some stuff in), but the music is great, smooth jazz is great for peaking through blinders. It’s takes about five to ten minutes.
https://gamejolt.com/games/the-gossip-detective/783540

Here’s a cool, medium length adventure game, kind of a lo-fi hand drawn fantasy.
The Witch’s Lullaby
https://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/site/games/game/2653-the-witch-s-lullaby/

edit: i noticed the previous game was mentioned in the freeware Aggies thread. it’s pretty good though, i’m trying it out now, so i’m going to leave it here. But i’ll throw in one more freeware title.. i mean, why not.

a story about guiding a robot, by the name of Artificial Adventure.
https://lukeph.itch.io/artificial-adventure

What’s the twist?

“For this game jam I wanted to try and create a game with all content made entirely with AI. It was originally going to just be 2d but it was hard fit different generated content together. The background art, items art, dialog and description text, music, as well as some code use AI. The only real thing not created by AI in the game is most of the coding and the 3d robot.”

that’s different, i will check that out.

I mentioned the second chapter of Powerhoof’s The Telwynium in another thread, here are links to both chapters for your convenience:

https://powerhoof.itch.io/the-telwynium
https://powerhoof.itch.io/the-telwynium-book-two

They’re definitely in the retro+ category: early Sierra nostalgia in it’s presentation, mechanically polished to suit the modern player. good stuff.

Here’s another tasty cookie straight out of the oven: The Sinking of Dream Chaser

https://funigami.itch.io/the-sinking-of-dream-chaser

Great title. I just gave it a quick try and it might a diamond in the rough.. or just a fun (and free) diversion; see for yourself.

I’ve been debating whether or not to include visual novels in these posts. Though it’s not my cup of tea, i found this quite impressive: the level of design, music, sound effects, voice acting and amount of content - in a free game? Dusk and Dawn. content warning: there’s quite a bit of cursing/foul language, especially at first.

https://lavinnia.itch.io/dusk-and-dawn

edit: i’m thinking of making a monthly best of, with screenshots and a short description/evaluation. curious about GateKeeper’s thoughts on this, possibly doing this together.

here’s a little try out for the monthly best of. Both are December 2022 releases, but i found them both peculiar enough and since this is kind of a pre-pilot, why not?

The Feast is an allegory of regression and conformity, to avoid a horrifying reality.

It’s about a 20 to 30 minute experience of coping and acting - the main puzzle of this game is taking on the role of the single person not (yet?) on board with the disturbing consensus where everything is a wonderful holiday.

If you hadn’t picked up on it, little heads up: it’s not. This game’s semi-realistic presentation comes with this warning from the developers: The Feast contains elements and images of violence that may be disturbing to some audiences.

An interesting and original experience, if you’re up for it. Strong premise, pretty good visuals, sparse but effective and high quality sound design.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2221940/The_Feast/

Margo is the flip side of the same coin: a loopy cartoon-style romp about helping a gal name Margo get back on track after an accidental nap. But there’s some existential dread under the generally lighthearted and easygoing tone of the game.

This is a short, cute and easy slice of life that offers different things for different people. Story, characters? Sweet. The graphics are very particular, but consistent and good! The music - yes, please.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2245890/Margo/

OLD-FASHIONED Way to Die is a text-based but beautifully illustrated detective novel.

There are fifteen possible endings, a bit of the ol’ crime jazz in the background and fabulous graphics based on magazines from the 1920s. Attention to detail - appreciated.

You need an HD or 4HD monitor to play it, apparently. This game will take a good chunk of your time if you get into it: at least half an hour if you read all the text and just stroll through the game. You could finish the story in five minutes, on a subsequent playthrough, if you’re really economical about it.

awesome. i was pretty impressed (and overwhelmed) by GateKeeper’s list in the Aggies for the best freeware of 2022 thread, trying to get as many games in before casting a vote.

there’s a lot of talent, good stories and ideas out there.

GateKeeper opened up a whole can of interesting games, so i’m with you down that rabbit hole.

here’s a game i want to recommend, even though i’ll put it on hold until i’m up to speed on 2022 releases):

https://sirtartarus.itch.io/after-the-curtain-call

instead of a write up, i’ll just quote the author:

You are the new electrician of the Goldshine Theatre, and so, you don’t only have to move the spotlight, but also fix all the electric circuits that may break around the building.
However, something wanders the theatre, and the actors are… acting different.

Play your part. Follow the script.

Currently only ACT 1 and some extras are in the game. It may take around 15 min to complete it, since it’s pretty short yet! However, if you support and share the game, more chapters will arrive!