The AAA Space Needs a New Point-and-Click Franchise

gamerant.com:

With the introduction of adventure games in the mid-to-late 1980s, the narrative potential of video games grew. However, the limitations of the hardware meant the gameplay had to be similarly restricted. This proved a challenge for developers to overcome, but a solution was found in what would later become the point-and-click genre. The simplicity of clicking the screen to select prompts, move a character, or interact with NPCs allowed developers to craft experiences that stand the test of time. Adventure games have changed greatly, but the tried-and-tested formula has yet to go out of style.

The point-and-click genre has yielded some influential titles, and many like Full Throttle or Revolution Games' Broken Sword series are as good as they've ever been. This doesn't mean they enjoy much popularity in the AAA space though, as frantic action and precision shooting has dominated the market for what seems like forever. As the years roll by, the point-and-click genre is becoming more niche, so the absence of any notable high-budget game in the genre is an error that should be remedied.

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The last great point-and-click games that gained significant traction were the offerings of Telltale Games. With critically acclaimed properties like The Walking Dead, Tales From The Borderlands, and Batman: The Telltale Series, fans were given experiences that offered great stories with a gameplay loop that is innovative, yet nostalgic. The explorative aspects of these games were carried out using an advanced version of traditional point-and-click mechanics, but in times of action the gameplay shifted to be more in-line with modern titles.

With the company's closure in 2018, and surprising relaunch not long