10 Point-And-Click Adventures to Play After "The Walking Dead"

Image via Complex Original

Machinarium

Developer: Amanita Designs

Released: 2009

Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, iOS

Upset with the almost nonexistent puzzles in The Walking Dead? Machinarium has you covered. With brain twisters that will leave you stumped for hours, you'll have a blast trying to figure them out as you rummage through the scraps. It's an adventure of a different kind. One that takes full force of the mind, and not so much the heart. That said, with no dialogue to speak of, it's the antithesis of TWD's play mechanics. Even so, it's still a worthwhile play experience that we highly recommend. Plus, it's protagonist, Josef, is super adorable. You root for the robot. How could you not? 

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Awesome People

Developer: Telltale Games

Released: 2008

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii

We're not going to lie. Fans of The Walking Dead games might actually hate these episodic titles featuring the characters from Homestar Runner. Gone is the heavy, decision making processes of TWD, and in its place are talk-heavy, joke sessions that mimic the popular flash series it's based on. So, with that out the way, this game isn't for everybody. That said, try it out on PSN or the Wii if you're intereted, because some of you might love it and like the change of pace from the grim and depressing world of TWD. This universe is bright and playful and never takes itself seriously. It might be just what you need after that depressing events that occurred in TWD. Yeesh. 

Blade Runner

Developer: Westwood Studios

Released: 1997

Platforms: PC

While we really, really, really wanted to put Snatcher on this list, we decided that that game, which came out on the Sega CD in 1994, wasn't easily accessible enough to put on here. But since Snatcher was heavily influenced by Blade Runner anyway, we decided to put this classic on the list instead. Following a different story than the movie but set in the same universe, you take on detective duty as you search for clues and seek out replicants. It's a tough job, but somebody has to do it. The gunfire moments, while not great, provided a good break from the detective work, and we loved the fact that it had multiple endings. The Walking Dead game could have taken note from that. And like TWD, you also have to make choices. Once you find out when a person is a replicant or not, you have to decide what you're going to do about it. What you choose will ultimately decide what happens later in the game. It's intense. A great, great game all around and much easier to find than Snatcher. Check it out. 

Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within

Developer: Human Entertainment

Released: 1999

Platforms: PlayStation

Scissorman!!! Bringing survival horror to that ass long before The Walking Dead, Clock Tower II: The Struggle Within, which is technically Clock Tower III, since the first wasn't released in America, is all about investigation and then, running for your life when you happen to find the Scissorman. While this first American Clock Tower is a good point-and-click adventure (and has a much better story than this clunky one's), we recommend this one instead after you beat The Walking Dead, only because you're not as helpless in this one toward the end of the game and it's scarier. With multiple endings, you can always go back to relive the horror. Just remember what we said it, though. The story isn't on par with The Walking Dead's. Not by a longshot. Oh, and Clock Tower 3 isn't a point-and-click adventure at all, which is why we didn't include it, in case you were wondering. 

Sam and Max: The Devil's Playhouse

Developer: Telltale Games

Released: 2010

Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, iOS

While yes, Sam & Max Hit the Road is the quintessential S&M (Heh, we S&M) game, there's a lot to like in this title from Telltale Games' third season of the franchise. Namely, that it's more console friendly than the last two, which were Sam & Max Save the World and Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space, respectively. So if you played TWD on one of the consoles, you may feel more at home here. You also have the ability to play as Max, and you can even turn off the whole point-and-click interface. But why would you want to do that? Play it as it was meant to be played! The story is typical Sam & Max zaniness, and if you haven't played any of the titles before, you may want to start with S&M Save the World. But this is probably the most casual, so you may want to work your way backward. This is a fine introduction.  

Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure

Developer: Capcom

Released: 2007 

Platforms: Nintendo Wii

Do you want to feel like you're really a part of the game? We don't mean just through storytelling, but through actual movements with the controller? Then Zack and Wiki may be your title, as it uses the Wii-mote to its advantage. With the sole objective in each level being to solve the puzzle and get to the treasure, Z&W is very fast paced and moves briskly like TWD. You never feel stuck for too long. It's also highly rewarding. You feel a real sense of accomplishment each time you make your way through a stage. It may be a lot brighter than TWD, but it's also just as addictive. If you didn't play it before, you have a reason to dust off your Wii again. 

Back to the Future: The Game

Developer: Telltale Games

Released: 2011

Platforms: PC, Mac, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, iOS

A video game that acts as a sequel to the Back to the Future trilogy starring actors from the film like Christopher Lloyd (Though, through most of the game, Marty is voiced by newcomer, AJ Locasico)? Well, you know we were all over that one when it first came out in 2011. Telltale Games made a point-and-click adventure that tasked us with rescuing the good Doc Brown after he turned up missing following the events of the third movie. And it all took place in episodic form. Sound familiar? Dialogue trees and searching out things for later use abound in this title, just as it does in The Walking Dead. And while the choices you make aren't timed and relationships aren't formed or broken depending on how you act, it's a fun game nonetheless that both fans of the BttF series and non-fans alike will enjoy. It almost makes up for the awful Back to the Future 3. Almost we said. 

The Secret of Monkey Island

Developer: LucasFilm Games

Released: 1990 (Original), 2009 (Special Edition) 

Platforms: PC, Mac, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, iOS

For those who never experienced these titles back in 1990, welcome to the world of Guybrush Threepwood. We seriously envy you if you're experienceing this series for the first time. We still remember it to this day. Since Telltale Games is awesome, we have a relatively new version of the game with spiced up graphics and music. And while we actually prefer the original presentation of the game, we're still glad that a new generation will get to explore Monkey Island and indulge in the hilarity of its adventures. Tell LeChuck we said hi. Unlike The Walking Dead, where you'd could die quite easily if you didn't push the right buttons, you're pretty much imune to death here in this game, so you don't have to worry about anything of that nature. This is a true adventure that rests more on its storytelling than anything else. Many consider it to be the greatest point-and-click game ever made. We don't know if we agree with that, but it's still quite the winner. Play it now.  

To The Moon

Developer: Freebird Games

Released: 2011

Platforms: PC

Okay, so you obviously like sad games if you enjoyed The Walking Dead, so why not play one of the saddest games of all time in To The Moon? What makes TTM so great (besides its unique RPG style) is that the narrative totally drives the game. There really isn't any action to speak of as you give a moribund man his last wish on his death bed by going through his memories and replacing them. But well, we don't want to spoil the rest, but we can assuredly tell you that the ending is one of the saddest you'll ever encounter in a video game and it definitely rivals that of TWD. So if you're still wasted from that game, you might want to wait a little while before jumping into this one. Buy an extra box of tissues. We're serious. It's really sad. 

Heavy Rain

Developer: Quantic Dream

Released: 2010

Platforms: PlayStation 3

Okay, we already know what you're going to say. Heavy Rain isn't technically a point-and-click adventure. It's more of a psychologucal thriller with some gameplay elements thrown in. So, yeah, maybe it doesn't belong on this list. That said, it's probably the closest to the overall play mechanic and mood of The Walking Dead, so we're including it here. Besides, we never tire of making pressing X to Jason cracks. Never. Lambasted by some at the time for being nothing more than an interactive movie, we loved its engrossing approach to story-telling. And while it may not reach the narrative peaks of TWD, we adored the fact that your decisions had ramifcations down the line. It was TWD game before TWD, and it's definitely an experience worth taking. Just watch out for some of the glitches. Many of them are scarrier than the story itself. There's some weird shit going on here. Weird shit, indeed.