Looking for more games like Hotel Dusk, 999, etc.

[theguru1974]

I grew up during the heydey of Sierra point and click adventure games. I thought Hotel Dusk and 999 were some of the best modern games in that vein, and I'm hungry for more. Give me some recommendations please - doesn't matter which console, I have access to most of them :)

 

[Otosou]

Well, if you like Hotel Dusk there's no reason to miss its sequel, 'Last Window' and a very similar game by same company, Cing, 'AGAIN'. Both are for NDS. :)

 

[longestseason]

Some of these I haven't played yet, but I'll mention them anyways:
- Jake Hunter series.
- Manhattan Requiem.
- Again: Interactive Crime Novel.
- Miami Crisis.
- The Case of the Golden Idol.
- The Silver Case.
- AI: The Somnium Files (from the director of the Zero Escape series).
- If On A Winter's Night, Four Travelers.
- Retro Mystery Club Vol. 1: The Ise-Shima Case.

 

[Reindeer]

Lost Window: The Secret of Cape West is a direct sequel to Hotel Dusk. There's also Trace Memory (NA, in the rest of the world it's called Another Code: Two Memories). Those are both for NDS but I think Trace Memory got a remake or sequel for the Switch. Also on the NDS with a Switch remake is Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective which I personally think is absolutely phenomenal, highly recommend it. There's also the Danganronpa series. 999 is the first in a series that also includes Zero Escape and Zero Time Dilemma. Of course they still make Sam and Max games. I hear good things about the Deponia series. Something similar to a classic P&C game that I played a while ago was Gorogoa, though now that I think back on it's more of a puzzle game. Beneath a Steel Sky (which is free on GoG if you havn't played it) also recently got a sequel called Beyond a Steel Sky. You should also check out the games by Benoit Sokal: Amerzone and the Syberia series.

 

[psvitaforever]

"The Longest Journey" for PC. There's also a sequel with the character of April, but I've only played the first game and I think it's beautiful if you like point-and-click and a very good story.

Post automatically merged: Apr 21, 2025

Trace Memory got a remake or sequel for the Switch

I think the game on Switch is a remake, and it includes both "Another Code / Trace Memory" for ds and the second title originally released on the Wii. I played both titles on original consoles, so I can't say anything on the remake; in my opinion the sequel was weaker than the first ds title, BUT it gives more depth into the story told in the ds game, so it probably depends on you: if you think you're ok after finishing "Trace Memory / Another Code", or if you think you want to know more about Ashley's parents.

 

[UnDubious]

The two best menu-based Japanese adventure games I played were Snatcher (Sega CD) and Famicom Detective Club 2 (SNES). Private Eyedol on the Turbo CD is a cool game too, it's an anime-style detective game - start light and goes into the main story, which is a murder investigation - but it's top down and you can walk around, like a RPG.

 

[Raidou Kuzunoha]

HOTEL DUSK AND 999 MENTIONED

Thing is, they're both super unique, to the point of where I'm having trouble trying to recommend something. I'll throw my two cents here and say Ghost Trick and Another Code: Two Memories (also known as Trace Memory). Both are for the NDS, and Another Code in particular was developed by Cing, so it's the closest to Hotel Dusk.

No one seems to have mentioned Time Hollow yet, that one is also worth checking out. Also on the NDS.

And I will always, always shill Nanashi no Game (Me). NDS Japan-only game but an English patch is available (here on the repo, too). Easily the most unique visual novel I've ever seen. Go in as blind as possible, that's the best way to experience it.*

*"Me" is the sequel; the first Nanashi no Game is also translated, but you'd have to patch it yourself

https://www.romhacking.net/translations/1654/

 

[moonbits]

ghost trick

 

[UnDubious]

HOTEL DUSK AND 999 MENTIONED

Thing is, they're both super unique, to the point of where I'm having trouble trying to recommend something. I'll throw my two cents here and say Ghost Trick and Another Code: Two Memories (also known as Trace Memory). Both are for the NDS, and Another Code in particular was developed by Cing, so it's the closest to Hotel Dusk.

No one seems to have mentioned Time Hollow yet, that one is also worth checking out. Also on the NDS.

And I will always, always shill Nanashi no Game (Me). NDS Japan-only game but an English patch is available (here on the repo, too). Easily the most unique visual novel I've ever seen. Go in as blind as possible, that's the best way to experience it.*

*"Me" is the sequel; the first Nanashi no Game is also translated, but you'd have to patch it yourself

https://www.romhacking.net/translations/1654/

How does the sequel compare to the original? I beat the first game and it had its points, but I really hated the ghost-dodging gameplay and the conclusion didn't live up to the build up to me.

 

[Big Finger Jim]

I've played ALL the mystery VN stuff and this is still at LEAST in the top 3 I've played, only one that beats it out is Great Ace Attorney 2.

 

[Skunkobot]

The DS was certainly a great platform for those like you and me who love their point anc click games, or adjacent puzzle + story games. The touch controls instictively made it ideal for a small revival of the genre and I had a lot of fun with many games on it, 999 and Hotel Dusk definitely being stand outs.

As others have pointed out, those games had sequels that you should try. Last Window : The Secret of Cape West is the sequel to Hotel Dusk and is as good if not better. 999 had 2 sequels, Virtue's Last Reward and Zero Time Dilemma that are both available on 3DS and PS VITA. A collection of the 3 games called The Nonary Games is available on Steam, VITA and PS4. The Danganronpa series of games from the same developper are their spiritual successors but I couldn't really get into them. I like the Zero Escape series a lot more.
I will also re-iterate on both Ghost Trick, which is a fantastic tile and a very original take on the genre with unique gameplay mechanics, great art style and animation and fun characters, and Another Code : Two Memories (aka Trace Memory in North America).
The latter has seen a recent remake on Switch along with its Wii sequel that I havent played (Another Code : R), but from what I gathered it lost some of its charm in the conversion process, and also I remember some of the puzzle were really designed around the DS's features, specially one that blew my mind back in the day and can't be reproduced on switch, so I'd recommend playing the OG version on DS.

Beside those, the 2 big DS franchises of Ace Attorney and Professor Layton are well known and regarded, and definitely scratch that P&C itch. The series have ups and downs but overall are all quality games and will alone provide 100s of hours of entertainment. AA is a bit more visual novel oriented while Prof Layton is more puzzle focused but both are great, and they even joined forces on a crossover game on 3DS I really recommend. Note that in the AA series, the Miles Edgeworth : Investigation games are the ones that are the closest to a classic P&C feel as the navigation is from the third person POV, but unfortunately are not the best in the series (in my humble opinion)
All the AA games have been remasterd and re-released on pretty much every modern platform. The Prof Laytons are all stuck on DS/3DS still.

Other DS games worth mentioning :
- the Touch Detective game series (or Touch Mystery in some European countries) are some very japanese and quirky games. Unique art style but weird pacing and vibes. Not for everyone but worth a try.
- Broken Sword : Knights of The Templars - Director's Cut
The classic PC game ported to the DS. Still a great adventure title but the visuals have suffered a bit from the down sizing.
- Runaway 2 : Dream Of the Turtle
Another PC game port. Decent game from Pendulo studios, but didnt quite re-capture the magic of the first one.
- Exit DS - A lot more puzzle than story but still satisfied my P&C craving.
- Myst DS - It's the original Myst, on DS.
- Flower, Sun and Rain : a UFO of a game, from the unconventional mind of Suda 51. The game is cryptic and trying to figure out what is going on or what you're supposed to do is challenging, even for seasoned puzzle adventure players.

The Wii had a few fun Point and click games too, mostly ports of PC games of the time, like the Telltale game series of Sam and Max, Tales Of Monkey Island and Back To The Future, and playing them with the wiinote made them quite enjoyable on console. One Wii exclusive that really is worth playing is Capcom's Zack and Wiki, which is an early Wii title focused on environemental puzzles that are very reminiscent of classic 90s point ans click. The story is minimal, as the game is presented in stages, but all the puzzles make extensive use of the Wiimote and all of its features, and really showcased the variety of what could be achieved with it. Plus the presentation is amazing. Dont get foold by its childish looks though, the game is smart and can be really challenging. I had a blast with it, a real hidden gem.

Fianlly, I would be remiss if I didnt mention that, if you have or can mod a Wii or DS/3DS, you can run ScummVM on them, which allows you to play all the classic Sierra and Lucas Arts games of the 90s. You can (re)experience Day Of Tentacle with a Wiimote or Space Quest with a stylus, if that sounds appealing to you ;)

 

[Cantarella]

Your Turn to Die on PC is pretty great. Point and click + minigames + social deduction game. Still unfinished, but what I did play had some really engaging writing and unique puzzles.

 

[Skunkobot]

I must add that if you havent yet played Return of The Obra Dinn, drop everything and play it now.
It's one of my favourite gaming experiences of the past few years, and I wish I could forget it and replay it for the first time.

Some of my favourite puzzle adventure games of the past years (on PC or switch) also include :

- The Last Door 1&2 (by the guys who did Blasphemous. You'd never think big ass pixels could get this scary in this Poe meets Lovecraft gothic Horror adventure)
- The Room 1,2,3 & 4 (and The Room VR is also fantastic is you have some VR headset)
- Machinarium
- Return To Monkey Island
- Bulb Boy
- 2064 - Read Only Memories
- Thimbleweed Park (the closest to a genuine lost 90s classic game you'll ever get)
- The Darkside Detective
- Her Story
- 12 Minutes

Special mention to Monument Valley 1,2 & 3, which are pure puzzle with no adventure but are a delight.

 

[Raidou Kuzunoha]

I've played ALL the mystery VN stuff and this is still at LEAST in the top 3 I've played, only one that beats it out is Great Ace Attorney 2.
View attachment 60727

I forgot about about this one! Lots of love for it as well. Unique writing, great characters, lots of japanese folk tales and mythologies which I'm a big fan of. Gen Kobayashi's character art and design (of TWEWY fame) is absolutely gorgeous here, and I can't wait for whatever File #23 is gonna shape up to be (supposedly a code name for a sequel? prequel? maybe? You unlock it upon beating the game as a bonus - read it for yourself and decide :D)

How does the sequel compare to the original? I beat the first game and it had its points, but I really hated the ghost-dodging gameplay and the conclusion didn't live up to the build up to me.

Huge step up in terms of gameplay, it wasn't nearly as frustrating as the first one. The 8bit world and 3D world is more interconnected, making it easier to figure out how ghosts behave and creates some really interesting puzzles. I definitely recommend it, even to people who missed out or skipped the first game due to the aforementioned not-so-great gameplay.

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Speaking of horror NDS stuff, I'd also like to mention Theresia. It has that claustrophobic vibe 999 had, and the visuals look really unique and pretty. Just don't read the back of the box art because it kinda spoils the whole plot lol.

 

[sadasa]

Full Throttle is a GeM

 

[TheWanderer]

I grew up during the heydey of Sierra point and click adventure games. I thought Hotel Dusk and 999 were some of the best modern games in that vein, and I'm hungry for more. Give me some recommendations please - doesn't matter which console, I have access to most of them :)

Oh boy here is my list
1-Danganronpa
2-Ai sominum files
3-Ace attorney
4-The rest of zero escape games
These are VN with some gameplay elements
If you don't mind mostly VN then
1-Paranomasight
2-Raging loop

 

[sadasa]

in gametop there are similar p'n'c games called Hidden Object Games free of charge and are really good (pc only) also free point and click games