This was an unexpectedly exciting year for adventure games. Competition was fierce, especially amongst the staff here at RPGFan. While Telltale's The Walking Dead is a fantastic storytelling experience in its own right, we believe that in the end, Zero Escape Vol. 2: Virtue's Last Reward, with its mind-bending puzzles and engrossing story, is the true king of the adventure genre this year. With a vastly improved presentation, less repetitious story flow, and even more devious plot twists, VLR doesn't just live up to its esteemed predecessor — it arguably surpasses it. VLR is a thrilling ride that won't soon be forgotten, and represents the absolute best in what visual novels and adventures have to offer.
Adventure titles typically have a certain "safe" quality to them. Even those set in a horror atmosphere lose their edge with the relaxed, traditional point-and-click gameplay that comes with the genre. However, The Walking Dead challenges those expectations with an essence uniquely "zombie apocalypse."
