​​The Best Free Adventure Games to Play Now

Adventure games are one of the most popular game genres worldwide. Solving riddles and being immersed in a storyline gets even better when played for free. There are plenty of free adventure game versions out there, from point and click to exploration and escape. Additionally, you can find fantastic games that are not necessarily classified as adventure games, but have reason to be included in that genre. But with all these options at hand, it’s overwhelming to make a choice. Another obstacle is that it’s not always clear if a game is really free, and nothing is more bothersome than heading off to a great start only to realize that you have to pay when leveling up.

Why are adventure games still so popular? When Colossal Cave Adventure was born as a text-based game in 1976, it kicked off the adventure genre that has evolved ever since. Exploring, problem‑solving, fulfilling tasks, achieving something, and, most importantly, getting rewarded for it are in our innate nature. In a world where survival isn’t a daily fight and jobs might not fulfil the mentioned needs, games step in to give purpose to our explorative nature, handing us a cocktail of happy hormones every time we finish a task.

They say money doesn’t make one happy, and it’s true. Fulfilment can be found without needing to spend a lot. Free titles are not too hard to come by when you know what to look for and where. Let’s start with the technically non-adventure games that are, however, certainly adventurous.

Sweepstakes casino play is probably one of the most underrated non-adventure adventure games. Sweepstakes casinos are free to play since they don’t require an entry fee, like traditional casinos do. The goal isn’t to evolve in a narrative, but to win rewards. They work with an in-game currency, so-called Gold Coins and Sweep Coins. These can be used within the game for fun (Gold Coins) or for prize entry (Sweep Coins). When a game is won, the player can exchange the coins for real-world prizes or cash. Sweepstakes casino games indeed don’t quite deliver the usual plot-driven narrative, but with many fantastic themes and the opportunity to win real money, they definitely add to the excitement.

Other not quite adventure games that are worth exploring are Reventure and visual novels. Reventure is classified as an action-adventure game. As a reinterpretation of the Ludum Dare game jam entry of Lonk’s Greedy Adventure by Pixelatto, the player needs to rescue the princess. Depending on the player’s actions, 100 different endings can occur. The Android version is free with limited lives that can recover with time.

Interactive fictions, or visual novels, focus on dialogue and storytelling and usually require only a little input from the player. Many Japanese releases offer this kind of play. While classic adventure games require the player to take action to make the game fun, these games’ fun lies in their complex storylines. Titles like Narcissu and Find Love or Die Trying are free on Steam and evoke deep feelings and offer emotional relief rather than being very action-heavy. Many Japanese visual novels fall under the genre “depressing game”. While playing a depressing game sounds, well, depressing, research has found that games exploring themes like loss, death, and isolation can help players cope with grief.

Among the sheer number of adventure games, here are the top 4 picks that can be enjoyed for free. These games feature different styles and storytelling.

Mandagon is a title by Blind Sky Studios and can be played for free on Steam. It uses a pixelated retro style and invites the player into an adventure that is influenced by the Tibetan belief system, which helps to develop a deep storyline that focuses on death, philosophy, and sacrifice. Although the visuals are held simple in a 2D world, the atmospheric sound coupled with storytelling and an expanding narrative gives depth to the game.

Your Turn to Die is a free episodic horror adventure created by Studio Nankidai. The inspiration for the series comes from Danganronpa, where twelve strangers with no memory wake up in a locked room and must pass deadly tests. The game uses point-and-click mechanics and an evolving narrative with dialogue. The player’s choices influence the narrative and shape the potential ending. The game is played from a first-person perspective, and the episodes are filled with tension since the storyline revolves around betrayal, trust, and survival. A free version is available for PC, with an enhanced edition on Steam.

Off-Peak by Cosmo D is an unusual type of adventure game since it mostly focuses on exploring the environment and collecting gadgets. To make up for the little action, however, the environment is exceptional and expansive. As a first-person adventure game, the player explores their fate as a musician who needs to trade tools, drink beer, and play board games to progress. The player has time and space to move around and explore each hidden passageway and direction. The game can be played for free on Linux, Steam, macOS, and Microsoft Windows.

Interestingly, a study that explores the effect of adventure video games on the development of character and behavior has found that games that feature a main character experience can help the player develop new ideas and skills. These kinds of games affect the player’s thought process positively and can help them overcome challenges not only in-game but also in real life.

Last but not least, Cube Escape by Rusty Lake Games is one of the best-rated intense escape games. Although the genre experienced a low in 2010, the series is still ongoing. The reason for the title’s popularity is its storytelling, which is not very typical for the genre. As a classic point-and-click adventure, the player gets introduced to the world of mysteries and follows two main protagonists. Each game dives deeper into the narrative and constantly retells the same story from different perspectives. Free platforms are Rusty Lake’s Website, Android, Web browser, Microsoft Windows, and iOS.