For some of us playing adventure PC games is a form of escapism where we can immerse ourselves in a different world. For a smaller number of us this becomes an obsession! Either way, it’s more often the case that the best results for this come from the games with the best characters and stories attached. PC adventure games are often underrated while consoles pretend to be the king of RPG. This is just not the case!

The following are some of my recent favourite “get-aways”:

Half Life Series

Ok, this one’s not so recent! But it’s been one of my favourite series of adventure pc games for many years now. The setting for the Half Life series obviously draws many parallels with our own world but maintains a distinct feel for itself.

The first game did not focus too much on a plot as such, but more of an event driven story progression that worked very well. In many ways it’s the story of Gordon Freeman himself, while the sequel and episodic follow-on games are more plot driven and feature other characters more strongly.

The fact that story is vary rarely ‘explained’ to you is one of the reasons this series draws you in so well. The need to find out and discover the story is really quite strong because of this and therefore it drives you to explore and examine events and areas in more detail.

However, one of the more famous traits about the series is the way that Gordon never talks. Ever! It’s a fantastic way of putting you in his place. The supporting cast strangely seem to understand everything you’re thinking. It just works but it’s not by accident. Valve Software are well known for their tenacity at getting this series just so and we’re all glad for it.

Sam And Max

In a completely different adventure pc game, Sam and Max are a private investigation duo (or freelance police as they like to be called). These episodic investigations are point-and-click-adventure games in the vein of LucasArts adventures such as Monkey Island or Day Of The Tenticle.

They’re quite wacky and the plots don’t really mean much, being set in a cartoon world, anything can happen and it usually does!

Within these games are a number of fantastically interesting and curious characters. A robot head replica of Abraham Lincoln, Bitter Ex-child super stars and evolved 8-bit computers that try to take over the world just for example. Then you have Sam and Max themselves. Sam: A ponderous dog with a big gun, and Max: the most evil rabbit-creature in the world.

In some ways the stories are an excuse for comic one-liners from Sam and for Max to try and beat the living snot out of anything and everything he sees. Other than that the levels require you to use a collected object with a world object to create a positive outcome. In other games this usually consists of using a key in a lock. However in Sam and Max games it’s more like put the chicken in the time machine, but maybe slightly more logical than that! As Sam says: “You crack me up little buddy!”

Zeno Clash

This fighting first person game gave me a lot to think about when it was initially released. Firstly I’ve not come across a game like it before! Usually combat games like this are presented from a 3rd person view and not through the eyes of the main character.

The fighting moves were simple but you could be vaguely clever and use the right moves and positioning to give yourself the advantage, especially within group fights. Weapons were around but they didn’t figure into it as much except for some of the different fights involved where your target is too far away to physically reach.

So, what makes this one of the greater adventure PC games? Well, mainly the story and setting in this case. The world itself reminded me greatly of classic fantasy films such as Jason and the Argonauts and Sinbad where stop-motion animation was the height of special effects. The unusual landscapes featured unique creatures, all of which had their own traits, such as Father-Mother, a suspicious bird like creature, and Golem, a mysterious giant who lives on the edge of the world.

The vivid setting for Zeno Clash is so unique that it can’t help but pull you into the story. The only downside is it’s not a very long, but well worth playing considering the attention to detail.

Fallout 3

This adventure PC game is set in the aftermath of a nuclear war. The main character’s family fled to the vaults, a series of underground bunkers built for when the bombs dropped. Now your father has run from the vault and you have to go after him to find out why he left…

I know I’ll get shouted at for this next bit though!

I’d played the original fallout games and I didn’t like them very much. Well, the truth is I couldn’t get into them.

However Fallout 3 was different for me. Because it’s a shooter and a role playing game the rpg elements keep you hooked and draw you in so you keep playing! Like any other good adventure PC games you’re basically on a long journey to get questions answered and to bring some kind of order to the world.

Some of the story elements are quite imaginative, the tech level feels like something out of the early 80’s and the characters are all believable. All of this means a well rounded experience that was only hampered by a few crashing problems I and a few others experienced. Don’t let me put you off, this is one of the most intricate adventure pc games to date, and is not to be missed!

Beyond good and Evil

Last, but definitely not least is Beyond Good and Evil, the adventures of Jade and her friends. Their world was once peaceful until the Domz (alien creatures) started attacking and abducting innocent people. A special division of the army called Alpha Section is doing all they can the protect the public from the Domz…or are they?

I’m usually not a big fan of third person action adventure pc games, but this turned out to be a pretty huge exception to the rule. There’s not much of an rpg element but there are some great story moments that keep you interested.

The characters and their interactions with each other are fantastic and believable. Even though we’re talking about a world where you have anthropomorphic animals helping you the relationships built here feel real.

The adventure part itself leads you around the world of Hillys, acting as a feelance reporter trying to prove that Alpha Section is up to no good. This includes a lot of sneaking around and, my favourite part, taking photographs of the enemy shenanigans.

At some points in this game I had to stop and think about what was happening. Not because it was confusing, but because it was amazing.

So, these games are all unique in their own way and every one is worth playing. In each I’ve had that feeling that I’m experiencing something special, almost magical. This certainly doesn’t happen in every game and the attention required to make it so must be staggering. In some ways it’s better than a massively multiplayer game where you can get dragged in because you’re friends are all there. In these it’s your own personal special adventure that can’t be spoiled by anyone.

Therefore, the next time you’re looking to find somewhere to escape to I would easily recommend any of these adventure pc games. All of which are now very well priced on steam I believe. Go and get any of them and I guarantee you won’t be disappointed. But while you’re there, deep into Hillys or Washington or Zenozoik…

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