Point and Click Adventure Games Are Here To Stay
If you’re the kind of player who can still quote the three trials of Guybrush Threepwood in your sleep and have been chasing that “aha!” puzzle-solving hit ever since, you know the struggle is real. Finding modern games that capture that classic LucasArts blend of quirky humour, clever puzzles, and unforgettable charm can feel like searching for a three-headed monkey. But fear not, fellow adventurers. For those seeking fantastic Monkey Island alternatives, the indie scene has delivered.
This is a curated guide to three of the best indie adventure games you’ve probably never heard of: under-the-radar gems that scratch that specific retro itch. Get ready for a deep dive into the good, the bad, and the occasionally buggy with a full review and buy guide for Cleo: A Pirate’s Tale, Duke Grabowski: Mighty Swashbuckler!, and LOCOMOTIVE.
Cleo: A Pirate’s Tale: The Heartfelt Successor
For Fans Of: Monkey Island, Grim Fandango, Voodoo Detective
Time to Finish: 6–7 hours
This is your feel-good pirate yarn with a dash of existential musing, a true love letter to the classics from solo developer Christoph Schultz.
The Story: A Coming-of-Age Tale on the High Seas
The narrative follows Cleo, a cynical 14-year-old girl living a repetitive life serving drinks in her father’s bar. She’s obsessed with the epic adventures of the legendary pirate Captain Cabeca but is surrounded by boring fishermen and washed-up buccaneers. Her world is turned upside down when she discovers a strange logbook and encounters a ghost, which leads to her being kicked out by her frustrated father, shipwrecked by a kraken, and thrown into a quest for the mythical Treasure of Eternal Memory. The story is a charming and relatable tale of a teenager dreaming of a bigger life, a theme that pays off beautifully in the game’s surprisingly deep message about how stories make us immortal.
Best Moments: Genius Puzzles and AAA-Quality Voice Acting
Cleo shines brightest in its clever design and unexpectedly high production values. The puzzles are a highlight, striking a perfect balance of challenge and logic without resorting to the “combine rubber chicken with pulley” nonsense that can plague the genre.Memorable brain-teasers include a musical note puzzle that requires genuine logical deduction and another involving the fingers of a severed hand.
However, the game’s standout feature is its voice acting. Cleo’s sarcastic, witty dialogue is brought to life perfectly, making every interaction a delight. The soundtrack also creates a fantastic atmosphere, reminiscent of the unique Afro-noir world found in The Journey Down.
The Issues: Pacing Problems and Frustrating Mini-Games
No hidden gem is without its flaws, and Cleo‘s are tied to its ambitious side content. The game features a complex card-and-dice mini-game called Kraken Fodder, which is unfortunately mandatory at certain points in the story.This can grind the narrative pacing to a halt, although personally I enjoyed this mini game. Similarly, a fishing mini-game is hampered by a repetitive, unskippable soundbite that quickly becomes tedious. While the developer’s passion for these systems is evident, forcing them upon players invested in the main adventure can be a significant roadblock.
Cost & Where to Buy:
- Steam India: ₹499 | Steam US: $9.99
- Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch
Duke Grabowski: Mighty Swashbuckler!: The CMI Connection
For Fans Of: Monkey Island, Nelly Cootalot, Leisure Suit Larry
Time to Finish: 2 hours
Short, silly, and stuffed with pirate absurdity, this game comes from a team that includes a true LucasArts legend.
The Story: A Brawny Pirate’s Bizarre Quest for Love
You play as Duke Grabowski, a pirate with more brawn than brains who reminds me of a seafaring Travis Kelce.After his ship’s captain is lost to mermaids, Duke’s crew, afraid of his sheer size, sends him on what they believe is an impossible quest to prove his worthiness: win the hearts of three women. The game’s creator, Bill Tiller, intended this as a story about the dangers of peer pressure, as the dim-witted Duke reluctantly tries to become a “ladies’ man” to gain his crew’s acceptance. It’s a slapstick premise that feels like Guybrush’s three trials remixed with a dose of chaotic courtship.
Best Moments: A Visual Treat from a Monkey Island Legend
The main reason to play Duke Grabowski is its artistic lineage. The game was developed by Venture Moon Industries, a team co-founded by Bill Tiller, the lead background artist for the iconic The Curse of Monkey Island. His influence is immediately apparent. The hand-painted 2D environments feature the same vibrant, stylized aesthetic that made CMI a visual masterpiece. For fans of that specific game, the art style alone is a powerful dose of nostalgia and might be worth the budget price of admission.
The Issues: Unfinished, Unfunny, and Unfulfilling
This is a cautionary tale about the perils of nostalgia. While the game looks like a successor to CMI, it falls short in almost every other area. It is incredibly short, clocking in at around two hours, and is merely the first episode of a series that was never continued, leaving the story unresolved. More critically, the writing, a cornerstone of the LucasArts legacy, was widely panned. Go into this one with heavily managed expectations, viewing it as a brief, artistic curiosity rather than a full-fledged adventure.
Cost & Where to Buy:
- Steam India: ₹299 | Steam US: $7.99
- Platforms: PC, Mac
LOCOMOTIVE: The Modern Mystery
For Fans Of: Agatha Christie, Day of the Tentacle
Time to Finish: 3–4 hours
All aboard the murder mystery express! Developed by the two-brother studio Robust Games, this whodunnit is a masterclass in witty writing and clever design.
The Story: An Agatha Christie Caper with a Comedic Twist
On the eve of a landmark speech, wealthy heiress Lady Unterwald is murdered aboard the luxurious Reuss Express. The twist? You play as three of the main suspects who are forced to work together to prove their innocence: Arthur, a straight-laced lawyer; Herman, a self-proclaimed crime novelist-turned-detective; and Diana, an undercover spy. This classic “locked-room mystery” setup is packed with deadly surprises, shocking twists, and a train full of quirky, larger-than-life characters
Best Moments: Witty Writing and Innovative Perspective Shifts
LOCOMOTIVE‘s greatest strength is its script. The superb voice acting brings the memorable cast to life, making every conversation a joy.The game’s central mechanic involves switching between the three playable characters, which does more than just offer different abilities; it re-contextualizes the entire mystery by allowing you to see the same events and clues through three very different sets of eyes. Its beautifully detailed pixel art animations recall other great modern detective adventures, like The Darkside Detective.
The Issues: Baffling Puzzles
Some of the puzzle logic has been criticized for crossing “the threshold of illogic,” which can be frustrating even for genre veterans.The train’s layout can also feel confusingly inconsistent as rooms appear and disappear for narrative convenience, a minor but immersion-breaking flaw.
Cost & Where to Buy:
- Steam India: ₹199 | Steam US: $6.99
- Platforms: PC, Mac, Switch
The Verdict: A Quick-Look Guide for Point-and-Click Fans
These indie gems offer quick, affordable, and charming adventures that are perfect for a weekend. All are under seven hours long and cost less than a movie ticket with snacks, delivering incredible value for money.
Which of these games are you most excited to try? Or do you have another hidden gem that scratches that Monkey Island itch? Share your recommendations in the comments!
If you enjoyed this deep dive, be sure to check out my other indie game reviews.
This blog post is part of ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’
hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla
in collaboration with Ratna Prabha.
