Summary
Adventure games are beloved by many players, offering a strong focus on exploration and story while letting participants travel through different environments, discover secrets, and often solve puzzles. In addition, this genre mixes well with others, allowing for varied mechanics that create a unique gameplay experience.
Many of these titles also emphasize realism, either through the mechanics that support a more grounded approach or by telling stories less centered on fantasy, making gamers face challenges that feel plausible. Thus,the best adventure games with a realistic touchachieve a balance between being entertaining without straying too far from believable situations.
In one of the best adaptations of a movie character to videogames,Indiana Jones and The Great Circlestands out in several ways. It keeps the essence that made the archaeologist one of the most cherished characters on the big screen while also presenting many gameplay elements that help players truly feel in Indy’s shoes, including his famous whip.
Even though certain aspects are not fully realistic, the game uses cinematic realism effectively, telling an engaging story and featuringsettings that closely resemble the era of 1937. The game also rewards creative thinking, offering multiple ways to solve problems, and using firearms is a last resort since one shot alerts nearly every enemy in the area.
AlthoughUncharted 4: A Thief’s Endincludes exaggerated moments, with Nathan Drakeclimbing unstable cliffs and getting involved in high-speed chasesthat would be impossible for ordinary people, the world itself behaves in a believable manner. Some details, such as the physics applied to various objects or even the environments, were made to seem genuine.
Despite taking inspiration from the cinematic stories likeIndiana Jones, this action-adventure still tries to maintain a sense of realism by paying attention to small details, much like its source of inspiration did. For those wanting some level of immersion without worrying about a bit of over-the-top action, this is one of the best action-adventure options in the genre.
Although themain storylines of theAssassin’s Creedseries lean away from realism, featuring many fantasy elements like the Apples of Eden, the same cannot be said about the locations and settings of each entry. Before diving more into RPG elements and the myths of each era, the franchise was known for faithfully recreating the cities in each title and their historical personalities.
Even with some initial launch problems,Assassin’s Creed Unitybecame one of the best and most realistic action-adventures by Ubisoft, transporting players to France in the midst of its revolution. Much of this accuracy comes from the extensive records of that historical period, allowing players to explore the delicate politics of the era and interact with important figures such as a then-young Napoleon Bonaparte.
Long before theYakuzaseries gave players the freedom to explore the Japanese settings and enjoy a variety of minigames,Shenmuehad already established those ideas. It neveraimed for a massive open worldbut rather offered a unique and immersive action-adventure with plenty of realistic elements.
Although comparisons withYakuzaare expected, theShenmuetitles also delivered stories that felt more down-to-earth, without exaggerated narratives and characters. Perhaps due to this approach,Shenmuedid not achieve broad commercial success, but it remains perfect for those seeking an in-depth simulation within a more grounded narrative.
Although the story is not entirely realistic, placing players in the midst of a zombie apocalypsecaused by a fungus called Cordyceps,The Last of Us Part 2offers notable realism in its other mechanics. The game depicts, with accuracy, how far each character is willing to go during its narrative.
Additionally, the realism ofThe Last of Us Part 2can be found in other details, such as a faithful representation of Seattle, with the primary difference being the city’s abandoned condition. Combat is also brutal:, where gunfire and other attacks leave permanent marks and may even cause dismemberment of enemies that Ellie, Abby and the other characters face along the way.
Rockstar invested considerable effort into bringing quality and unique mechanics toL.A. Noire. Set in 1947, it puts players in theshoes of a detective investigating the various crimes plaguing Los Angeles. This is a slightly different approach from what the developer usually offers, but it proved successful.
What truly stands out in this action-adventure, however, is not just the portrayal of Los Angeles but the facial animation quality, which remains impressive even compared with other modern games. These expressions were so well crafted because they were vital to gameplay, requiring participants to analyze suspects’ faces to determine whether they were lying.
Despite its blend of RPG and action elements,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2also includes traits of the adventure genre, allowing participants to explore a 15th-century Bohemia recreated with attention to every detail. So, for those seeking animmersive journey and wanting to feel part of this setting, the game does not disappoint.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2takes great care in how each mechanic affects gameplay, always focused on achieving the highest level of realism. Besides the slower, more dangerous combat for Henry, participants must also watch out for factors that other games disregard, such as staying clean when talking to NPCs or checking if any food item has gone bad.
Along with having one of the best stories ever created for a video game,Red Dead Redemption 2is lauded by many players for its high level of detail and immersion. Rockstar did a remarkable job implementing various mechanics, even the simpler ones, that make the realistic world shine.
Beyond mechanics and visuals, another noteworthy element ofRed Dead Redemption 2is its NPCs, which make that world feel more alive. Most of them have individual personalities, and as the story progresses, changes become visible - such as a house under construction early in the adventure that is finished a few chapters later.
