It’s very self-apparent thatnostalgia, specifically, is a crucial aspect of modern gaming. Emulation’s been important since forever now, certainly, but it’sparticularly relevant nowadays, and more powerful than ever before. Games such as Sierra Entertainment’s output are, however, often overlooked in this respect. They certainly shouldn’t be, though.
Sierra Entertainment’s classic adventure games generally released on MS-DOS, Macintosh, and early iterations of Windows proper, and they were all the rage at the time. Though point ‘n’ click games havemostlygone the way of the dodo in this day and age, even more so than real-time strategy titles have, they used to be thede factogenre for computer gaming.
We’re talking top-tier graphics, excellent interactivity, and a usually appropriately wild combo of solid and hammy voice-acting to top it all off. As far as these features go, Sierra Entertainment was the bees’ knees for the longest time, and here I’ve picked out ten of the very best point ‘n’ click adventures the publisher ever released. Note that you can play many of these games on the cheapvia GOG, if you wish to. Alternatives includeScummVMandDosBoxif you’re feeling more adventurous! Though, you will need to supply your own original copies of games for the latter.
Top 10 best Sierra Entertainment adventure games
While virtually everyone’s emulating those pesky Pokey-mans and Excellent Italian Plumbers, be iton the go or not, Sierra’s adventures don’t come up nearly as often. It’s not necessarily hard to see why, mind: these games sport fairly out-of-date tech and no accommodations for modern control schemes. Further, point ‘n’ click adventures basicallyneedyour full and undivided attention, which is a far cry from the simple gameplay of aPokemongame.
Still, I do genuinely believe you should give Sierra adventures a shot if you’re even remotely interested in them. And, oh hey, I’ve got a list of must-plays ready for your consideration. Do note, however, that unlike the more modern LucasArts adventures, classic Sierra games arenotvery player-friendly, and it’s often possible to lock yourself into a situation where it’s impossible to progress. Use guides, y’all.
#10: King’s Quest 3: To Heir is Human
King’s Quest 3was wildly annoying in some respects but also incredibly immersive in others. Graphics aren’t the key draw here, obviously, but the sheer ambition and innovation on show in this particular franchise entry were staggering. Players take control over a slave who’s about to be sacrificed on his 18th birthday, and the main objective for the first half of the game is to figure out a way to escape.
There is a timed element toKing’s Quest 3: it’s up to you to accomplish all the objectives the wizard gives youandwork on your escape plan within the allotted time frame. However, you’re able to’t allow the wizard to spot you mucking about with stuff you shouldn’t touch, so you’re always pressed for this resource or the other.
The bit that I personally loved the most about King’s Quest 3 was the need to reference the physical manual to actually create various concoctions and cast spells. There’s a physicality to Sierra’s adventure games that we just don’t get in modern titles, and that, in particular, is one of the bits I miss about the old titles. If you end up playingKQ3, I recommendprinting out a copy of the manualto go along with it!
#9: Quest for Glory: So You Want to Be A Hero
Quest for Glorywas, much like some other Sierra adventure games, a role-playing hybrid. Even though these games generally do fall into the same niche as, say,Gabriel Knighttitles, there’s a world of difference when it comes to gameplay. And gameplay, specifically, was the driving force behindQuest for Glory‘s rise to fame.
Crucially,Quest for Gloryhad multiple puzzle solutions due to its RPG mechanics (i.e., character classes, abilities, etc.), which meant getting stuck didn’t happen all that often. Players could choose a Fighter, a Thief, or a Magic User to start things off, but you could still build them up to unlock additional cross-class skills, which could, in turn, be used both in combatandduring adventuring.
I specifically remember being flabbergasted when I realizedQuest for Gloryhad the actual passage of time I needed to take into account. To say nothing of having to eat and rest if I wanted my wily Fighter to keep trucking along. FutureQuest for Glorytitles also allowed you to import your character to continue the adventure, which was a real joy!
#8: The Beast Within: A Gabriel Knight Mystery
Full-Motion Video (FMV) point-and-click games aren’t to everyone’s taste, and I’m not particularly fond of them myself. Yet, the second game in the reveredGabriel Knightseries is just excellent and a perfect showcase of what could’ve been accomplished in FMV titles.
Make no mistake,The Beast Withinisn’t nearly as good as the firstGabriel Knighttitle was, and it does perform some character assassination along the way. As a standalone project, though, it’s very competent and one of those experiences that grow on you if you allow them to. I myself absolutely adore the awkward campiness of it all: they justdo notmake games like these anymore. As long as you’re okay with this type of thing, I cannot recommendThe Beast Withinenough.
#7: Laura Bow 2: The Dagger of Amon-Ra
While the originalLaura Bowgame was fairly interesting in its own right, the sequel is easily one of the best Sierra adventure titles. As its title may imply,Laura Bow 2is all about that 1920s’ Egyptology craze, and it may well remind you of Poirot’s adventures in some ways. It’s an excellent setting and a very memorable story in its own right.
Gameplay-wise, the bits that separateThe Dagger of Amon-Rafrom other games of its era are the various bespoke gameplay mechanics (though they don’t function all that well in some respects), such as eavesdropping and interrogation, as well as the availability of multiple endings. Some annoyances do remain, naturally. The biggest problem withLaura Bow 2by far is one that comes up often in Sierra adventures: you can lock yourself out of progression by failing to pick up certain items, and the game might not outright state that you would ever need them. Once again, I highly recommend using a spoiler-free guide andthe official manualwith this game.
#6: Conquests of Camelot: The Search for the Grail
Another atypically mature Sierra game,Conquests of Camelotwas a stark and engaging adventure for those of us who played it back in the day. While the exploration of Arthurian mythology was a fairly common topic for games in the ’90s,Conquests of Camelotdeliberately went against the grain in many ways. The main conceit for Arthur’s quest for the Grail is, for example, the curse brought about by the love triangle between him, Guinevere, and Lancelot. It gets brought uprather oftento grim effect.
Gameplay-wise, you’re getting a solid combination of real-time action sequences and bog-standard point ‘n’ click adventuring. It’s nothing to really write home about, but the experience is overall extremely memorable and engaging throughout.
#5: King’s Quest 6: Heir Today Gone Tomorrow
King’s Quest 6is one of those games that are plainly wonderful to engage with. There’s been plenty of discussion as to whichKing’s Questis best, but I am very much willing to die on this particular hill. More so than any otherKQ,Heir Today Gone Tomorrowis an honest-to-goodness fantasy adventure poised purely to entertain and make its players happy.
Crucially,KQ6is relatively easy to beat without a guide, and its almost open-world nature means you’re able to approach the vast majority of its content at any point in time. One of the best memories I personally have with this game is starting it anew and following a prolonged playthrough, only to discover that a frankly ridiculous number of its quests are entirely optional. I missed them on my first go! This is something we take for granted nowadays, but it was outright unprecedented at the time. And that’s without going into the wonderful variety of content you’ll enjoy, even without looking for side-quests.
Exploring the Isles of Wonder, Crown, Beast, and the Sacred Mountain was an experience like no other, and it comes highly recommended.
#4: Space Quest 4: Roger Wilco and the Time Rippers
If pure ridiculousness is what you’re after, boy, will you enjoySpace Quest 4. As Sierra Entertainment’s designated IP for goofy jokes and assorted silliness,Space Questgames are all hilarious. The fourth entry, though, kicks things into overdrive. This is partially due toSQ4‘s adoption of the traditional Sierra point ‘n’ click interface. The key twist is that the titular protagonist also gets to smell and taste whatever the heck you wish him to.
This feature, in particular, is used almost exclusively for comedic effects. Let me tell you: the fact that Roger’s mishaps are narrated by none other than Gary Owens works incredibly well.
For those who are unfamiliar with Space Quest, it’s an effective and delightful parody of science fiction in general. In that sense, it’s quite unique even in Sierra’s remarkable roster, and it’s often way better than you’d expect it to be.
#3: Quest for Glory 4: Shadows of Darkness
As a youngling who hadn’t yet been exposed to Lovecraftian horror at the time, I was absolutely bedazzled by the vibe and setting ofQuest for Glory 4. Certainly, it also helps that the game takes many of its cues from Slavic folklore, which Iwasquite familiar with. Whereas the priorQFGtitles were relatively straightforward fantasy ordeals,Shadows of Darknessamped things by being substantially darker and edgier than we had been used to.
Quest for Glory 4‘s biggest issue by far was the fact that it wasn’t thoroughly tested. It shipped in what many reviewers at the time agreed was an unacceptable state, and this took away from its awesome setting and mythos. Gameplay-wise, it continuedQFG‘s classic RPG/adventure loop with the added bonus of introducing auto-combat for those who preferred to focus purely on adventuring. Dark, creepy, and incredibly memorable,Quest for Glory 4is a franchise highlight today, even though it really did need more time in the oven at the time.
#2: Conquests of the Longbow: The Legend of Robin Hood
Retellings of Robin Hood’s (mis)adventures were a dime-a-dozen in the run-up to Y2K, but I’d go so far as to argue thatConquests of the Longbowremains the best of the video-game bunch even today. Without a doubt,The Legend of Robin Hoodis one of Sierra Entertainment’s crown jewels. It merits a playthrough, even if only for the awesome amount of research that had to have gone into it, much the same as the case withConquests of Camelot.
Curiously, whereasConquests of Camelotwas extremely grim in tone for much of its playtime,The Legend of Robin Hoodelevates itself beyond mere dreariness. It’s a matter of taste which approach you prefer, of course, butConquests of the Longbowfits more neatly with the rest of Sierra’s output without being outright zany. A heck of a balance, that.
You’re getting some truly phenomenal graphics and some of the best gameplay Sierra could’ve mustered back in the day, on top of all the other boons I mentioned above. Plainly excellent, this game.
#1: Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
If you’re only ever going to play a single Sierra point ‘n’ click adventure game, it should probably beGabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers. The arguable pinnacle ofJane Jensen’s rich tenure,Sins of the Fathersis a full-fledgedtour de forceof all the best adventure tropes.
You’ve got a likable protagonist with a shady past and a world-changing fate, an engaging narrative that keeps you interested throughout the story, and more interactive elements than you could shake a voodoo doll at. Tim Curry lends his voice to Knight himself, adding some levity to an atypically mature narrative that truly stood out among all the other classic Sierra properties. The setting (a “modern” New Orleans as the starter backdrop) helped in this respect, too.
Gameplay-wise, the reliance on tried-and-true tropes continues:Sins of the Fathers‘ gameplay loop used the arcane action bar for interactive elements. Knight could WALK, LOOK, ASK, TALK, PICKUP, OPEN, CLOSE, OPERATE, and MOVE any given thing at any given time, often to comical effect. Figuring out what it is, exactly, that the game wants you to do was a job in and of itself.
Yet, disregarding questionable pacing and a frankly ridiculous insistence on pixel-peeping for item discovery,Sins of the Fathersremains a phenomenal experience in the context of Sierra’s output. A real showstopper, if you will.
Explore more:See every Sierra game in orderon a timelineand share your favorites onListium.
