Any good PC adventure game for a small boy?

[Khelavaster]

As my 7 year old son is quickly outgrowing his edutainment selection (which provided him with many an hour of delight), I'm looking for good games to introduce him to the wonderful world of digital adventuring.

He's a rather brilliant child with a passion for swashbuckling action (he loved watching me play Pirates! and got a kick out of the new geography & history knowledge he later applied to his own pirate toys), cool stories and rich environments. I decided to test waters with the old Sierra classic Eco Quest (thanks DosBox!), and he found it absolutely captivating -- he's enthralled by this whole notion of using items to solve different problems and being rewarded by having new areas open for him to explore. The puzzles are moderately challenging without being frustrating, and as a plus he identifies completely with Adam, the resourceful boy with the can-do attitude and sunny disposition.

I'd like to follow up with something more updated but I'm having trouble trying to come up with modern PC games that share the traits of these old adventures. Specifically what I had in mind was games with a focus on exploring and discovery; aimed at a young audience, without being patronizing or relying only on cartoonish characters and hip humor. Preferably real world settings, if it has to be fantasy maybe it could be harmless fare like the old King's Quest series. Anything goes re the interface; written dialogue is not a problem as he is by now an accomplished reader. He seemed to like Myst clones.

I could go through the Sierra catalog -he sure doesn't seem to mind the dated graphics- but I'm curious about the state of this niche today. I still dig the adventure genre but most of the titles that get published cover subjects more appropriate for teenagers or adults.

Any recommendation or suggestion will be greatly appreciated.

[Warning]

My sons loved Telltale's recent Bone games. I think there's two of them out.

[Stroker Ace]

I liked text adventures at his age, not that I was able to really solve them. ("WTF is Ulysses?" says 7 year old me)

[Misguided]

Though there's a bit of violence/emotional intensity (rated T) to it, I'd say Trace Memory on DS would otherwise be a good choice. Not the best adventure game on DS by any means, but decent, and two children (one a ghost) feature prominently in the story.

[Rob_Merritt]

Have you tried any of the Humongus adventure games? Like Spy Fox, Freddi Fish and Pajama Sam?

[Cat Master]

Most any LucasArts adventure game (Grim Fandango, Monkey Island, etc). Not exactly a real world setting, but what adventure game is, really? An added bonus is the inability to get stuck or die, which for a kid is a big plus. Personally, I don't like Sierra adventure games because a lot of the puzzle solutions don't make sense (I'm looking at you, Gabriel Knight). That said, I haven't played any recent adventure games, so I can't help you there.

[Houngan]

Alien vs. Child Predator?

H.

[Alistair]

...Grim Fandango...

This has utterly impenetrable puzzles.

[Rogen]

Yeah, I loved Grim Fandango but I never finished it because at the time I was too proud to look up any solutions. It gets pretty tough later in the game.

[Khelavaster]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I will look into Humongous (whoa, Ron Gilbert!) and Bones.

As for Lucasarts, I'm actually saving those for later since most of the humor would go over his head at this point. But they're not forgotten -- after all, Maniac Mansion and then MI are guilty of having hooked me into PC gaming from a tender age to this day.

@Stroker: He was given a book for Christmas, my first Larousse of myths and legends or something, and devoured it. He's psyched about all things mythology now. I was surprised to see how well he received the old Harryhausen movies (though Medusa definitely scared him).

[DoomMunky]

Man, I loved Greek mythology when I was that age. My mom would read me stories out of this big book we had right before bed, and I'd always beg for more than one.

[RichardC]

If you want a pretty light kids' adventure from Sierra, Pepper's Adventures In Time is okay. Willy Beamish too, maybe, if he's got a high pain threshold - it's a vicious game, but a pretty fun one with it.

[McBain]

I really enjoyed those old Sierra parser adventure games when I was about that age, but I was also a really fucking weird kid. The Quest for Glory series might be worth a shot if you think he can handle the complexity.

[Hanacker]

I really enjoyed those old Sierra parser adventure games when I was about that age, but I was also a really fucking weird kid. The Quest for Glory series might be worth a shot if you think he can handle the complexity.

The point and click ones would probably be good. Not sure I'd want to subject a kid that age to the text parser ones.

[Shadari]

If it weren't for a tad bit of adult content, I'd recommend Psychonauts.

[DTG]

My kids loved the old Oregon Trail adventure game. Also, the Carmen Sandiago ones.

[McBain]

The point and click ones would probably be good. Not sure I'd want to subject a kid that age to the text parser ones.

It really depends on the kid. I learned to type playing Space Quest 2. I was eight.

thor
thrwo
throw ri
throw rock
throw rock at j
throw rock at hi
throw rock at humt
throw rock at huntre
throw rock at asfdkljhasdf
throw rock at
FUCK YOU
throw rock at hunter

I loved it.

[Jasper]

Psychonauts had adult content? What am I forgetting?

Recently I've had the best luck with Okami, although it's more like Zelda than an actual adventure game. I tried Kings Quest 3, but my 7 year old son never really got into it, despite playing for a while.

I've been thinking about pulling out something like Syberia or The Longest Journey. Or perhaps looking over Adventure Gamers to see what's come out recently, so we'd both play together; I vaguely recall there were some cool things coming up, but damn if I can remember what they were (or if they were ok for kids).

[Shadari]

Psychonauts had adult content? What am I forgetting?
It was pretty minor, but I do recall the "construction workers" mentioning something or other about large breasts.

[Jasper]

That's not really enough for me to give it an "adult content" label, and I'd say that actually rates less than the cartoon violence. Kids will most likely just go "Huh?!", and move right on.

[Shadari]

That's not really enough for me to give it an "adult content" label, and I'd say that actually rates less than the cartoon violence. Kids will most likely just go "Huh?!", and move right on.
I generally agree, but I just wanted to mention it because I know some people might not agree.

[Draikin]

Blade Runner.

[Bahimiron]

I'd avoid the Sierra games. I'd think most kids would get bored of dying the fiftieth time from some stupid, arbitrary bullshit thing. Or getting to the end of the game only to be unable to beat it because four hours ago they didn't go feed the thief in the bazaar.

Try the new Sam and Max games. There're a bunch of those so far.

[McBain]

I'd avoid the Sierra games. I'd think most kids would get bored of dying the fiftieth time from some stupid, arbitrary bullshit thing. Or getting to the end of the game only to be unable to beat it because four hours ago they didn't go feed the thief in the bazaar.

Try the new Sam and Max games. There're a bunch of those so far.

I see I'm not the only one who remembers QfG3.

[Bahimiron]

I see I'm not the only one who remembers QfG3.

I loved the QfG games and they treated me like an abused spouse.

Also?

I did feed that fucking thief! Fuck you, game! I get that the QfG games were way more complex than any of the other Sierra adventure games due to the different paths and stuff. I loved 'em for it. But shit if they weren't just the buggiest goddam things.

[Jab2565]

This may be borderlining the cute character style but Zack and Wiki for the Wii is a good adventure game imo. It is on the hard side with puzzles but I remember reading somewhere that children had an easier time with then adults. The game lets you buy hints to any of the puzzles and there is a multiplayer option where other players use pointers to help out on solving puzzles.

[Alan Au]

I second the recommendation to go with the old Lucasarts adventures. It seems to me that something like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis would be perfect.

- Alan

[charmtrap]

Just get Gametap. It has all those Humungous games (which my 6-year-old loves), plus Sam & Max and a pretty large list of kid adventure games.

[Jasper]

I'd avoid the Sierra games. I'd think most kids would get bored of dying the fiftieth time from some stupid, arbitrary bullshit thing. Or getting to the end of the game only to be unable to beat it because four hours ago they didn't go feed the thief in the bazaar.
That was exactly the problem. KQ3 was the worst of these, and I must have been wearing some thick rose colored glasses when I thought it would be a good idea.

[Jasper]

I second the recommendation to go with the old Lucasarts adventures. It seems to me that something like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis would be perfect.

- Alan
Good Call. I've been thinking to scrounge up:

The Dig
Grim Fandango
Day of the Tentacle
Monkey Island 3
etc.

Lucasarts used to make all the best adventure games; hopefully they'll still work.

[RichardC]

I see I'm not the only one who remembers QfG3.

Oh, that's nothing. Leisure Suit Larry 2 for the mamafunning lose. It still stuns me that people call unwinnable situations part of the fun, instead of the shit design they absolutely always were.

[jim crawford]

Lucasarts used to make all the best adventure games; hopefully they'll still work.
They do (http://www.scummvm.org/).

[Khelavaster]

Oh, that's nothing. Leisure Suit Larry 2 for the mamafunning lose.
LSL2, Absolutely! There was this boat that the game let you jump in and sail, only to die in the middle of the ocean because you had forgotten to pack some item. I think I remember dying for eating mayonnaise that had been left in the sun for too long -- I had forgotten to bring the ice or something.

I had to replay that part like a dozen times, and yet I kept coming back and eventually beat the mofo. Ahh, the days when everything was new, and patience and free time were in ample supply... :-)

[Dave Long]

It's not PC, but Zack & Wiki for the Wii is the best adventure game no one played in 2007. You can get the whole family around the TV playing it and having a great time. It's point, click and shake!