Aren’t award shows great? No? Yeah, they really aren’t. Generally speaking at least, because there are exceptions. Exceptions like… the AGS Awards! And this year saw more than a hundred new pointy and clicky games, all of which are elligible for nomination. At least I think they are? Gonna go with that unless someone says otherwise.
That said, I was initially planning on listing every last one here, hand-picked from the official database. But then I realized how much work that’d require, not to mention how bloated this article would be, with that many pictures. So instead I’m gonna do the sensible thing and limit it to picks posted in the ‘play my game’ thread (hint hint), at the time of writing. Do check out the full list though. It’s right there. In that link earlier in this paragraph.
Rat Channel (Arcangelo Bonaparte)
Mister Ufti is a refugee who immigrates into the global realm.
Forced by the government system he has to work in the sewers of the worlds capital city and serves as a rat catcher.
A controller is continously giving him orders on a handset so that the orders is followed.
During his adventure in the sewers he finds an impossible situation that confronts him with the supernatural.
Soon he recognized that his situation has completely changed.
Gateway Remake (HandsFree)
You are a Gateway prospector travelling to other worlds in search of alien technology.
But when Gateway scientists examine one of your findings they discover the terrible secret behind the vanished Heechee civilization.
It’s up to you to ensure the same fate doesn’t strike earth.
The Fickle Hands of Fate (LostTrainDude)
“Fate is finalizing her last recording in the steeple of an abandoned church in a village she is about to leave. Then, off to another city and another recording: her search is not over yet.”
Sniper and spotter serving the motherland (Blondbraid)
The great patriotic war is raging and Olga, a sniper loyal to the motherland, and Ivan, her trusted spotter, have received an order to use the scorched earth tactic on a small village in Soviet Russia before it falls into the hands of the axis. Their mission will be to use any means at their disposal in order to destroy any usable resources in the village before the enemy gets a chance to do so.
Kanji Gakusei (cat)
Find Japanese characters in a colourful adventure part and then learn how to write them with the help of a gesture recognition system.
A Tale of Two Kingdoms: Deluxe Edition (Crystal Shard)
A graphical adventure in the style of the classic Sierra games. Set in the world of Celtic mythology and fairy tales, it features many sidequests and alternate endings. This release is a Deluxe Edition with a new interactive prologue, several graphic updates, and professional voice acting. Also the writing is much improved and no longer relieth on ye olde spellinghe.
Archeos (Atavismus/Ibispi/Peder/UnFantomeBleu)
In distant future, a professor and his student are visiting a planet believed to be the birthplace of humanity.
They’re looking for historical artifacts and are in the meantime coming up with theories about the people who once lived there.
Hidden Plains (Tech Troupe)
You are on the trail of a survey ship which has been mysteriously lost, when your shuttle suffers the same fate, being trapped on a barren planet.
Eat, drink and meet Terry, as you repair your ship. Learn a bit about the planet’s history and its illicit affairs, and the beliefs of the locals.
When the exact right piece of music comes on, take a moment to be still. Can you feel the desert? Its stillness and emptyness? Your thirst builds.
Neofeud (Silver Spook Games)
Neofeud is a Dystopic Cyberpunk adventure game in the vein of Blade Runner, but with an overlay of Game of Thrones-like political intrigue, and 1366×768, hand-painted, stylized visuals.
The Chrysalis (Kyriakos Chalkopoulos)
Your character was invited by a person he knows since they
were in school – they now are in their thirties. He falls in love with
this person’s apartment, due to the elegant rooms, but also the antique
furniture and – last but not least – the paintings his host has created
(they are macabre).
While your character would like to just stick
around and move from room to room, he is also a bit alarmed, because…
his host has left him, without saying why; he just noted that he has
something to do, and will return soon.
You wonder if the other person
has gotten involved into some bizarre story, or strange interests.
Nevertheless… you are happy to be given the opportunity to explore the
apartment on your own.
Memories Fade (Riaise)
After the loss of his beloved wife, an old man seems to be forgetting her. With the help of an old photo, can his son remind him of the good times they once had?
The Execution of Anne Boleyn (Riaise)
When villains from the future alter the past, a time traveller must try to set history back on track with the help of an imprisoned queen.
(Source: AGS Awards 2017 – Play the games!)
