Best Adventure Games to Play in 2025

Adventure games have remained a cornerstone of gaming, offering players the chance to explore detailed worlds, follow compelling stories, and tackle challenges that test both skill and strategy. In 2025, the genre continues to provide a mix of expansive open-world experiences and more focused narrative-driven adventures. From single-player RPGs to action-packed story adventures, there is a wide range of games for players across PC and consoles.

These games all share the ability to transport players into unique settings, whether through physical exploration, character-driven storytelling, or a combination of both. This list highlights some of the best adventure games to play in 2025, spanning multiple platforms and gameplay styles.

Far Cry 4

Far Cry 4 places players in the fictional Himalayan country of Kyrat, ruled by the charismatic and unpredictable Pagan Min. The game blends open-world exploration with narrative-driven missions, allowing players to navigate mountainous terrain, engage in vehicular combat, and interact with wildlife. Beyond its action elements, the game emphasizes player choice and freedom, encouraging exploration and experimentation with different strategies and approaches. Side missions, hidden collectibles, and dynamic encounters with enemy patrols add layers of depth to the adventure, making each playthrough slightly different.

Hogwarts Legacy

Set in the wizarding world decades before the events of the Harry Potter books, Hogwarts Legacy casts players as a fifth-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Players can attend classes, learn spells, and explore iconic locations like the Forbidden Forest and Hogsmeade. The game emphasizes freedom of exploration, allowing players to uncover secrets, solve environmental puzzles, and interact with magical creatures. Narrative choices shape the character’s journey and influence interactions with other students, adding replay value and a sense of personal investment in the story.

Gone Home

Gone Home is a narrative-driven exploration game set entirely within a single house. Players return home to find their family absent and must piece together the story by examining letters, objects, and environmental details. The game focuses on subtle storytelling, using the environment itself to convey character backstory and emotional nuance. While the gameplay is minimalistic, it excels at creating immersion and engaging players in quiet reflection rather than action-oriented challenges.

Bioshock Infinite

Bioshock Infinite transports players to the floating city of Columbia, a visually striking environment with complex social and political dynamics. Players assume the role of Booker DeWitt, tasked with rescuing a mysterious woman named Elizabeth. The game mixes first-person combat with puzzle-solving and narrative-driven exploration. Columbia’s verticality and intricate level design encourage players to explore thoroughly, discovering hidden lore, collectibles, and tactical advantages in combat. Elizabeth’s AI enhances gameplay and narrative, offering dynamic interactions that respond to player choices.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Guardians of the Galaxy offers an action-adventure experience where players lead Star-Lord and his team across the galaxy. The game balances combat, exploration, and narrative elements, with dialogue choices affecting relationships and story outcomes. Each character has unique abilities, and the game emphasizes teamwork and strategy in both combat and puzzle-solving scenarios. The vibrant art style and fully voiced characters bring the Guardians’ personalities to life, making the journey through cosmic environments engaging and entertaining.

Star Wars Jedi: Survivor

Set in the Star Wars universe, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor follows Cal Kestis as he navigates the challenges of being a Jedi under Imperial pursuit. Combat mechanics combine lightsaber duels with Force abilities, allowing for a tactical approach to encounters. Exploration is integrated into richly detailed planetary environments, where players can uncover lore, solve environmental puzzles, and interact with characters who influence the story. The narrative explores the tension between survival and morality, making decisions feel impactful throughout the game.

Stray

Stray offers a fresh perspective by letting players experience the world as a stray cat in a futuristic, neon-lit city inhabited by robots. Exploration, environmental interaction, and puzzle-solving drive the gameplay. Players navigate vertical spaces, squeeze through tight areas, and uncover hidden secrets, all while interacting with the environment in ways unique to the feline protagonist. The game emphasizes atmosphere and immersion, creating a distinct and memorable adventure experience.

Until Dawn

Until Dawn is a survival horror adventure that unfolds over the course of a tense winter night. Players control multiple characters, making choices that influence their fates through a branching narrative system. The butterfly effect mechanic ensures that every decision carries weight, shaping both the story and the relationships between characters. Exploration, puzzle-solving, and quick-time events contribute to a suspenseful and cinematic experience, making it a standout in narrative-driven adventure games.

Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

Wolfenstein 2 blends first-person action with story-driven exploration. Players control BJ Blazkowicz in an alternate history where the Nazis have won World War II. The game features varied combat scenarios, ranging from stealth to full-frontal firefights, and encourages players to explore environments for resources, lore, and upgrades. The narrative emphasizes character development and moral choices, adding depth to the high-intensity gameplay.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla casts players as Eivor, a Viking raider navigating 9th-century England. The game blends settlement management, open-world exploration, and narrative-driven quests. Players engage in raids, build alliances, and make choices that impact their clan’s story. The richly detailed environments, ranging from snowy mountains to lush forests, encourage exploration and discovery, while side quests offer additional narrative depth beyond the main storyline.

Life is Strange

Life is Strange follows Max Caulfield, a teenage girl with the ability to rewind time, as she uncovers the mysteries of Arcadia Bay. The game emphasizes choice and consequence, with decisions shaping character relationships and story outcomes. Environmental exploration and dialogue interactions are central to the experience, creating an emotionally resonant adventure that focuses on human connections and personal growth.

Telltale’s The Walking Dead

Telltale’s The Walking Dead combines episodic storytelling with moral decision-making and interactive gameplay. Players navigate the challenges of surviving in a zombie-infested world while making choices that affect both immediate outcomes and long-term narrative arcs. Character interactions and environmental exploration are critical, with a strong focus on emotional stakes and narrative tension.

Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection

The Uncharted series follows treasure hunter Nathan Drake across global adventures, combining cinematic storytelling with exploration and combat. Players solve puzzles, scale treacherous environments, and uncover historical artifacts. The series emphasizes narrative pacing, character development, and environmental interaction, offering a balanced adventure experience that merges action and story.

Skyrim

Skyrim allows players to explore the province of Tamriel as the Dragonborn. The open-world design supports emergent gameplay, with quests, faction interactions, and dynamic encounters offering endless possibilities. Players can develop skills, craft equipment, and engage in combat while shaping their character’s story. The game’s depth, flexibility, and level of detail have made it a lasting reference point in adventure and RPG design.

The Last of Us

The Last of Us presents a post-apocalyptic narrative focused on survival and human relationships. Players control Joel and Ellie as they navigate hostile environments and manage limited resources. The game balances tense combat, exploration, and story-driven moments, with a strong emphasis on character development and emotional impact. Its combination of narrative depth and strategic gameplay has set a benchmark for modern adventure games.

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a turn-based RPG set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe. Players navigate the Sword Coast, engaging in tactical combat, complex dialogue, and branching storylines. The game emphasizes player choice, strategic thinking, and team management, creating a rich and immersive fantasy adventure. Exploration and narrative decisions shape the outcome of both combat encounters and overarching storylines.

The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

The Witcher 3 follows Geralt of Rivia across an expansive open world filled with quests, monsters, and morally complex decisions. Exploration, character interaction, and story-driven gameplay are central to the experience. Players can engage in contract hunts, explore hidden regions, and make choices that influence multiple endings. The combination of narrative complexity, world-building, and tactical combat establishes The Witcher 3 as a benchmark in modern adventure gaming.

God of War

God of War follows Kratos and his son Atreus on a journey through Norse mythology. Combat, exploration, and puzzle-solving are integrated into the narrative, which focuses on father-son dynamics, personal growth, and mythological storytelling. The game emphasizes player choice in combat and environmental interaction, making it both an emotionally resonant and strategically engaging adventure.

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2

Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 allows players to swing across New York City as Peter Parker and Miles Morales. Exploration, combat, and story-driven missions are core to the experience. Dynamic traversal mechanics, environmental interaction, and character dialogue make the game a comprehensive adventure that blends urban action with narrative development.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle offers first-person adventure gameplay with a focus on exploration, puzzle-solving, and cinematic storytelling. Players follow Indiana Jones across global locations, uncovering historical secrets and engaging in action sequences. The game emphasizes narrative immersion and environmental interaction, combining classic adventure tropes with modern gameplay mechanics.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2 presents a vast Western frontier, allowing players to experience the life of Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang. Exploration, narrative, and survival mechanics are interwoven, offering opportunities to engage with the world in multiple ways. Side quests, environmental storytelling, and dynamic encounters enhance immersion, creating one of the most detailed and interactive adventure games available.

Final Thoughts

These titles represent a wide range of adventure experiences in 2025, from narrative-focused stories to open-world exploration and strategic gameplay. Each game emphasizes player engagement through exploration, choice, and interaction, highlighting the versatility and creativity within the modern adventure genre. Here is the full list of all the games mentioned:

Far Cry 4
Hogwarts Legacy
Gone Home
Bioshock Infinite
Guardians of the Galaxy
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Stray
Until Dawn
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus
Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
Life is Strange
Telltale’s The Walking Dead
Uncharted: The Nathan Drake Collection
Skyrim
The Last of Us
Baldur’s Gate 3
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
God of War
Marvel’s Spider-Man 2
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Red Dead Redemption 2

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best adventure games in the world in 2025?

Top adventure games of 2025 include recently released and upcoming titles like the open-world narrative-driven Crimson Desert and the cinematic JRPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Other promising games to watch for are Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, Ninja Gaiden 4, and the new Pokémon Legends: Z-A installment. New releases like Split Fiction and Tales of the Shire have also been noted for their varied gameplay and unique settings.

What are the next big adventure games in 2025?

Major upcoming adventure games in 2025 include Grand Theft Auto VI, a highly anticipated sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, a realistic open-world RPG, and Monster Hunter Wilds, a new installment in the popular series. Other notable titles are the fantasy RPG Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the expansion Elden Ring: Nightreign, and the prequel Doom: The Dark Ages.

Which adventure games are No. 1 in 2025?

There isn't a single "No. 1" adventure game in 2025, as rankings vary by publication and subjective preference, but some highly-rated and anticipated titles include the enhanced editions of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for the new Switch 2 system, the open-world adventure Monster Hunter Wilds, the interactive mystery Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile, and the unique roguelike Blue Prince. Other prominent adventure games mentioned for 2025 are Assassin's Creed: Shadows, Avowed, and Ghost of Ute.

What are the most played adventure games of 2025?

The most played adventure games of 2025 include highly anticipated new releases and existing popular titles, with Monster Hunter Wilds, Assassin's Creed Shadows, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach appearing frequently on lists of popular and best-reviewed games. Other notable adventure titles include the mobile games Roblox and Free Fire, while critically acclaimed games like Baldur's Gate 3 and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (implied by its popularity and association with 2024/2025 lists) continue to draw large player bases.