Adventure games are one of the earliest video game types, starting on computers before moving to home consoles in the late 1970s. Like all genres, it began simply but has grown into many different styles. Console adventure games tended to focus more on action, while computer versions often used a point-and-click system. There have been so many adventure games over the years, we’ve looked back at each console generation to find the very best. We chose these games based on what critics thought when they were first released, how influential they were to the genre, and, of course, how enjoyable they are to play.
1st) Colossal Cave Adventure
1st Gen: Atari Pong | Coleco Telstar | Magnavox Odyssey
Adventure games didn’t appear on the first home consoles, but they existed on early computers. The most famous was Colossal Cave Adventure, created in 1976 for the PDP-10 mainframe. Over the next few years, others expanded it, allowing more people to play. This text-based game was one of the earliest examples of interactive fiction – though not the very first – and it was hugely influential in establishing the adventure genre. This genre would later become popular on the next generation of consoles.
2nd) Adventure
2nd Gen: Atari 2600 | Channel F | ColecoVision | Intellivision | Magnavox Odyssey 2
The second generation of video game consoles saw a rise in adventure games, and one standout title was Warren Robinett’s Adventure from 1980. While not the very first game to hide one, Adventure is famous for including an Easter Egg. Originally conceived as a graphical take on Colossal Cave Adventure, it proved incredibly influential, helping to shape the adventure game genre and inspiring many games to come. Though simple by today’s standards, Adventure was a remarkably clever and challenging game for its time.
3rd) The Legend of Zelda
3rd Gen: Atari 7800 | Nintendo Entertainment System | Sega Master System
By the time gaming reached its third generation of consoles, adventure games had branched out into many different types, with the NES and Sega Master System offering a wealth of excellent titles. Among them, The Legend of Zelda stood out as the best. This game not only started one of the most successful video game series ever created, but also set the standard for many action-adventure games that followed. The Legend of Zelda introduced gameplay elements and ideas that became common in the genre for years to come, making it a truly defining game.
4th) The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
4th Gen: TurboGrafx-16 | Genesis | Neo Geo | Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The fourth generation of consoles saw many great adventure games, and while several stood out, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past on the SNES is often considered the best. Though it’s the third Zelda game, it actually tells a story that happens before the first one, bringing back the overhead view from the original after The Adventure of Link tried a different, side-scrolling approach. This game first introduced the iconic Master Sword, and it’s become one of the most popular Zelda titles ever, selling millions of copies and being re-released on many different consoles over the years.
5th) The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
5th Gen: 3DO | Jaguar | PlayStation | Nintendo 64
I previously faced some criticism for labeling The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time as a role-playing game, and I now agree it’s more accurately described as an adventure game. Regardless, it’s undeniably one of the best video games of all time. Despite strong competition during the Nintendo 64 and PlayStation era, nothing quite matched Ocarina of Time – with The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask being the closest. It currently holds the highest score on Metacritic at 99, surpassing many other acclaimed games. Therefore, choosing Ocarina of Time as the best game from that generation was an easy decision – it truly stands above the rest.
6th) God of War
6th Gen: GameCube | Dreamcast | PlayStation 2 | Xbox
While the Zelda series remained popular, the sixth generation of consoles also offered fantastic adventure games on various systems. Despite the release of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker on GameCube, God of War stands out as the generation’s best. Released for PlayStation 2 in 2005, the original God of War was a critical success and launched a long-running franchise often considered one of the greatest of all time. Its compelling story, well-developed characters, and intricate lore make it a standout action-adventure game.
7th) Batman: Arkham City
7th Gen: PlayStation 3 | Wii | Xbox 360
The 7th generation of consoles offered a wealth of great adventure games, but Batman: Arkham City truly shines. Before this game, Batman titles were inconsistent in quality. The Arkham series changed that, proving Batman could be a fantastic video game hero. Released in 2011 on most popular platforms, Arkham City is the highlight of the series. It has sold over 12.5 million copies and is often considered one of the best games of all time. While Grand Theft Auto V was a close contender for my top pick, Arkham City ultimately edged it out.
8th) Red Dead Redemption 2
8th Gen: Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 4 | Wii U | Xbox One
For several console generations (7th through 9th), most major games were released on all platforms. One standout adventure game from the 8th generation was Red Dead Redemption 2. Set in a stunningly realistic 1899 Wild West, the game lets players experience life as Arthur Morgan, embarking on adventures, participating in shootouts and robberies, going on hunts, and getting into all sorts of trouble. Red Dead Redemption 2 was a massive hit, earning numerous awards, rave reviews, and selling over 80 million copies.
9th) God of War Ragnarök
9th Gen: Nintendo Switch | PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X|S
Following the critically acclaimed 2018 game God of War, God of War Ragnarök continues the epic story, introducing both new and familiar faces – friends and foes alike. The game boasts a compelling narrative, outstanding voice acting, and incredibly engaging gameplay. It’s not surprising that God of War Ragnarök earned numerous awards and sold over 15 million copies in its first year. Though available on both PS4 and PS5, the game truly shines on the PS5.
10th) The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
10th Gen: Nintendo Switch 2 | PlayStation 6 | Xbox Project Helix
There’s no clear agreement on when the latest generation of consoles began, or even if it has started yet. However, some people in the gaming industry believe it began with the release of the Nintendo Switch 2. If that’s the case, then the best adventure game on the Switch 2 is definitely The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. While Breath of the Wild is also a great game, Tears of the Kingdom is significantly better. It offers so many new and engaging ways to play that it’s hard to measure how much fun it is. It’s possible another game will take its place eventually, but right now, that doesn’t seem likely.
What’s your favorite adventure game of all time? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-04-24 15:13