Best Adventure Games for iPhone and iPad

By Maddy Myers
last updated

Adventure games require an attentive eye and a patient hand; that's why these iOS games play out best on the iPad's big screen, although these titles will work just as well for an eagle-eyed iPhone owner.

1. Broken Age

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Double Fine's point-and-click adventure about two teens who live in disparate but intersecting worlds weaves a subversive tale that undoes gaming's all-too-common damsel in distress plot. The game serves as an accessible but still-challenging romp for folks who aren't as familiar with how point-and-click games tend to operate.

2. Grim Fandango

Here's yet another DoubleFine entry; this one's an all-time classic that recently received an HD re-release, including an iOS port. However, this old school point-and-click game is not for novices; these puzzles operate according to their own unusual, brain-twisting rules.

3. The Last Express

Ordinarily, point-and-click adventures don't involve a time limit; you can take as long as you want to look at each object over and over, pondering its significance in the grander scheme. Not so in The Last Express, a mystery that unfolds aboard a moving train. Trains operate on a strict timetable, and so does this game, which will require several replays in order for you to understand how to perform each of the required actions in sequence. It'll be worth lining up all your ducks in a row for the sake of seeing this excellent story unravel.

4. Myst

When Myst came out in the early 90s, it captured millions of hearts... and it also inspired tons of copycats and shoddy clones. If you've never played the real deal, this remastered iOS port updates the visuals of the mysterious, abandoned island and leaves in the unusual puzzles and spooky atmosphere.

5. The Secret of Monkey Island

This Lucasfilm title tops the "favorites" list of many a classic adventure game fan, and for good reason. It has briefly disappeared from the iOS store, but one can only hope that after an update or two, it'll return. This story of would-be pirate Guybrush Threepwood is known for its beastly puzzles, clever dialogue, and as of this new port, updated visuals, a remastered musical score, and voice acting.

Your favorites?

Which point-and-click adventures have you enjoyed on the iPad, be they ports of old classics or brand-new releases? Share your top picks with us!

Maddy Myers
Maddy Myers

Contributor emeritus at iMore, currently writing about games, movies, and podcasts at The Mary Sue. Former assistant Games Editor at Paste Magazine. Host of Isometric. Keytarist/singer for the Robot Knights. Follow her on Twitter @samusclone