Making games for touch gadgets has been somewhat of an excursion for the video game industry. It wasn’t generally clear what sorts of games or control schemes made sense, and adjusting existing genres has produced mixed results. Yet, one genre had little to no trouble in adapting to this brave new touchworld – adventure games. Their distinctive suitability stems from the fact that there’s almost no variance between point’n’click and touch’n’click controls.

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Here we present some of the best adventure games for Android (in no particular order). The choice includes classic games given another shiny coating, modern point’n’clicks that feel natural on the Android platform, and a few noteworthy mobile-first titles.

Top 5 Adventure Games for Android

The Last Express

Top 5 Adventure Games for Android

The Last Express

Nobody could blame you if you didn’t mention The Last Express as one of the classic point’n’click adventures. Upon its unique release in 1997, it collected extraordinary reviews, but sold unwell. Brøderbund, the company that issued it, gave it virtually no marketing effort because of financial difficulties.

The Last Express has since gone through better days – initial a digital re-release in 2011 and then an iOS/Android improved port in 2013. There’s even talk of a movie, to be directed by Paul Verhoeven. He described it as a mix between Indiana Jones and Hitchcock, and that seems to be accurate.

The game is set in 1914, a couple of days before the start of World War I. It takes place in a train – the Orient Express – which would in actuality soon be suspended. An American doctor (your character) is required by the French police for the murder of an Irish officer. And the internationality doesn’t stop there – there’s also a German industrialist, a Russian nobleman, a Serbian military officer, an Austrian-Jewish violinist and others, representing a cross-section of the players in the upcoming conflict.

It’s definitely a rich background for a killing mystery, however that’s not the only interesting thing about it. The Last Express is non-linear, with numerous endings and a (compressed) real-time experience. Include to this a charming, art nouveau look (accomplished through rotoscoping) and you get an extraordinary welcome addition to that list of classic point’n’clicks.

Price: $5.49 on Google Play Store

Grim Fandango Remastered

Top 5 Adventure Games for Android

Grim Fandango Remastered

Unlike The Last Express, Grim Fandango was never “forgotten” or considered “minor”. Back in 1998, it was greeted as however one more triumph from LucasArts, a company that produced almost nothing however triumphs when it came to adventure games. Grim Fandango did away with the point’n’click method – it was 3D, and the player controlled the character’s movement with the keyboard (or gamepad…too bad they did not release it on consoles at the time). So it was a major success, right? Alas, no, it shared the same financial fate as The Last Express.

Despite that, it’s still a much-loved game, and 2015 saw a remastered Grim Fandango hit the land of the living. I mention this because the game itself is set in the Land of the Dead, a mix between Aztec afterlife and film noir. It’s another visually striking game. The calaca-inspired character designs and environments in the style of Art Deco earned it a lot of praise.

You play as Manny Calavera, a travel agent at the Department of Death. Your job is to guide souls to their final destination, the Ninth Underworld. You are frustrated by your customers, however then a dame seems. She needs protection from dastardly plots by your agency and the criminal underworld. If you are getting a film noir vibe from this, you are right – its influence is felt most strongly in the plot and dialogue.

The Android port did n0t drastically change anything, though the textures and character models are of a higher quality, and they added a director’s commentary, which is expected to please most fans – both present and future.

Price: $9.99 on Google Play Store

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80 Days

Top 5 Adventure Games for Android

80 Days

You may have heard of 80 Days even if you are not into gaming. Notice I did not say “mobile gaming” or something as specific as “adventure games”, but gaming in general. It was TIME’s Game of the Year 2014, after all. New York Times also praised it as a sign that the future of interactive storytelling has arrived. So, what is this game? A retelling of the Jules Verne classic with a “steampunk twist”. Otherwise, it’s interactive fiction done right.

Phileas Fogg, your employer, has wagered he can traverse the globe in 80 days. As his truthful servant, Passepartout, your task is to support him navigate via all the danger and adventure, all in a timely manner. The story unfolds through a series of choices with various consequences, providing some replay value. In other words, you will have more than one chance to enjoy the stylish graphics and numerous locations and characters.

Price: $4.63 on Google Play Store

The Wolf Among Us

Top 5 Adventure Games for Android

The Wolf Among Us

TellTale Games have engraved out their little niche in adventure games, and there is no sign of stopping. If you have played any of their games, you know what to expect, as far as the game play goes. As for the story, The Wolf Among Us is set in the Fables world, a rich and exciting setting.

The premise is that numerous mythical creatures (fables) have escaped to our world, and live in Fabletown. The player accepts the role of Bigby Wolf (the Big Bad Wolf), who is charged with protecting and hiding this community from unwanted attention, as well as enforcing its laws in his capacity as sheriff.

There are five episodes in the first season, and the first one is available for free. If you own an old or under powered phone this game might not work, or you may experience frequent cracks, so we highly recommend you attempt it before purchasing it.

Price: Episode 1 is free on Google Play Store

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Detective Grimoire

Top 5 Adventure Games for Android

Detective Grimoire

Among the games on this list, Detective Grimoire might be the most casual title. It’s short, lacks difficult puzzles, and there are no timed options. But, that’s not to say it’s a bad game. It’s highly polished, the interface makes flawless sense for cell phones, and it possesses a quirky charm.

You play as the titular detective whose goal is to solve a murder mystery in a “tourist attraction” located in a remote swampland. You are not also pleased with that. What’s worse, your primary suspect is a cryptid.

The game play consists of gathering clues on every screen, and making the occasional connection between characters, actions and objects. Just like the real thing!

Price: $1.99 on Google Play Store

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