Top 10 Best Adventure Games of All-Time

We all love a good adventure. A big part of why we play video games is getting to play through an adventure that we would never be able to journey through in our real lives.

Since the advent of gaming, adventure games have been a craze for all of us, and we have seen all kinds of adventure games come out that have shaped our tastes, and our gaming tastes. They have impacted us in so many ways and we can see the effects of many of them to this day.

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So we have compiled a list of the 10 best adventure games that have ever come out.

Jak II

When Naughty Dog first created the world of Jak, and his furry friend, Daxter, it was a light-hearted adventure through mystical locations and world-saving. And then they cranked it up to 11 with the sequel, giving the entire game a much darker tone, violent, and some *gasp* swearing. It became a monumental game for those playing in the Playstation 2 era, and one that has many of us remembering it fondly.

The open world and combat were addictive, and the story was complex yet digestible to the point of making an instant classic.

Banjo-Kazooie

This hilarious N64 staple completely changed the way many of us saw adventure games. It wasn’t just about journeying through various environments and worlds, it was about the crazy cast of characters that you meet along the way. It was game that was truly one-of-a-kind when it came out.

Many of us are still waiting for a true third game in the series that takes us back to those adventuring roots.

Metroid Prime

While not the first adventure of Samus Aran, it was certainly one of the most memorable. This first foray into a 3D, first-person game in the series. Playing as Samus, crash-landed on a foreign planet and needing to not only re-obtain your abilities but also discover the history of an ancient race that once inhabited the area.

The mysterious nature of the planet and the feeling of discovering the next secret left a lasting impression on many of us that we still feel today.

Journey

Journey is a game that is truly unique. There is no real story, no real gameplay besides walking, and yet, the game is something that everyone should experience. Giving players a simple goal of reaching a location on the horizon, you come across other players making their own journey. You can walk with one another, or go your separate ways, but we assure you that joining one another for at least part of your adventure leaves a lasting impression.

The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Bethesda’s latest adventure in the Elder Scrolls series originally came out in 2011, yet it is still just as prominent now as it was then. With various re-releases and plenty of mod support for the game, the open-world RPG is still a blast to play. Taking the role of Dovahkiin, players are put into a world where they can do just about anything they want!

Shadow of the Colossus

Another truly unique, yet captivating, experience, Shadow of the Colossus has players control to role of Wander, a young man dedicated to resurrecting his lost love by killing the mighty colossi. The game is a beautiful experience as players traverse the giant world to hunt down the creatures, and the story, while simple, is poignant enough to leave you feeling something.

Firewatch

This simple game of a man watching out for fires in the parks of Wyoming and his relationship with his boss, Delilah, is narrative at its best. While there is a central mystery that leaves some people divided on opinion, there is no denying the absolute hook the game creates that keeps you coming back for more.

Uncharted 2: Among Thieves

The second entry into Nathan Drake’s story is still, to this day, a powerhouse of adventure. Uncharted has always been the quintessential Indiana Jones-experience for gaming, and this sequel is the best of the bunch. With charming characters, awe-inspiring locales, and addictive combat, Among Thieves is still the standard for many people for which to grade these kinds of games.

The Last of Us

This is the game that truly set Naughty Dog as a narrative powerhouse. The story of a man who lost everything escorting a young girl across a post-apocalyptic landscape, you have to contend with both zombie-like infected and murderous survivors. But at the core, the relationship between the two main characters drives this game home as a bonafide classic. Few games have tugged at our heartstrings like this one, both breaking us and filling us with optimism. Naughty Dog created some truly special.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

The latest entry in the ever-popular Legend of Zelda franchise just might be its best. Taking on the iconic role of Link, players are left a wide-open world for them to explore in absolutely any way they want. Want to immediately go to the last boss as soon as the game starts? Go for it. Want to spend countless hours not doing anything related to the main quest? That’s possible too. The sheer amount of options for you to tackle is what sets this game apart, and cements it as a game that will be remembered for decades to come.

With these games, you can feel the thrilling sense of adventure that many of us look for in our games, and they all do so in their own, unique ways. You can’t go wrong with any of them, and we cannot recommend them enough!

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