Do you wake up every Christmas morning and hope to find a mint condition Day of the Tentacle triangle box from 1993 under your tree? Well chances are it isn't happening this year either (sorry!). But there are several classic and new adventure gaming gifts that you can add to your Christmas list right here! Whether you're buying for yourself, or have been directed to this post by your retro gaming obsessed other half, these gaming goodies are sure to bring a smile to all those who grew up with Monkey Island, Space Quest and more.
This huge hardback book is exactly what it says, a love letter to all things point and click! With the 2nd issue containing a whopping 500 pages, this nostalgia bomb will be a constant source of joy. Not only does it include gorgeous hi-res art and information from hundreds of games spanning almost 40 years but there are dozens of interviews with people like Tim Schafer (Grim Fandango), Gary Winnick (Thimbleweed Park) and Al Lowe (Leisure Suit Larry) amongst others.
Bitmap Books also ships worldwide in the sturdiest packaging the world has seen! I love this book so much that I have TWO copies. I also have several more books by them. If you love retro games then have a look also at their catalogue. The Commodore Amiga: a visual compendium is another of my favourites. This one delves into the history of the Amiga and all the classic games it featured.
Is there a better way to show your love of adventure games than a subtle pin? Canvas Quest has you covered, literally! Tom creates stunning enamel pins featuring the most beloved characters from adventure game history and beyond.
What I love personally is that there are constantly new releases, and they're always surprising. From Guybrush and King Graham to Earthworm Jim and Oddworld. Each backing card is also designed to fit the specific pin.
If you're not a pin person then you can pick the same design up but as a magnet to stick to your fridge. Not only that but there's a great selection of canvases too. I spent over an hour going through the entire Canvas Quest collection and picked this Herman Toothrot pin as my personal favourite.
Pretty much the entire Lucasarts catalogue has been covered and a tonne of Sierra too, so no matter which way your persuasion takes you, there'll be something to proudly pin to your faded denim jacket.
Canvas Quest sells via Etsy and is also an adventure game fan to get to know on twitter too.
Take your time and browse these amazing nostalgic pins, then buy more again next month!
It's difficult to find fully licensed retro game T-shirts these days, so thankfully the guys at Seven Squared are here to help! Since 2018 this small band of uber fans have created stunning retro T-shirts that are 100% licensed meaning the quality is guaranteed. And I can absolutely agree to that!
Over a year ago I received my (awesome) Simon the Sorcerer T-shirt and it's seen a *lot* of usage, but now today (as I'm actually wearing it writing this) it's just as bright and sharp as day one. The quality is there, and so are the designs. Constantly updated with classic games, Seven Squared is my go-to T-shirt provider. If 90's retro game are your bag (you've read this far so I'm hazarding its a yes!) then Seven Squared get's my vote. As a bonus to you, get 10% off everything on their site just by using my affiliate link here. Win-Win!
These days it's rare for a game to be released physically, unless it does well on initial release, so the majority of games are digital download. Well why not get your adventure loving friend a game? One of my favourite stores is GOG.com as they are DRM free, which means once you purchase (or gift) a game, then you don't need to constantly be running a program in the background and it can be played offline.
They specialise in classic games too (GOG stands for Good Old Games). They don't serve just adventure gaming fans though, but every genre! Humble.com is also a favourite as they sell game codes for Steam, and in the process share profits with a chosen charity.
>GOG.COM<
Sonia's designs caught my eye last year as my Instagram timeline started to be populated by beaded Guybrush, LeChuck and Zak McKracken. There's a simple delight in seeing the pixels we grew up with stand upright (I currently have Guybrush on my shelf guarding my precious Lucasarts book).
Sonia creates beaded versions of our favourites using Artkal Beads and has so far made the entire Maniac Mansion crew as well as a host of other Lucasarts fan favourites. But there's more! Sonia can also create bespoke designs too. My little YakWaxLips logo stands pride of place on my shelf. Appriaching Christmas Sonia has also made some great Christmas tree baubles too!
Head over to Sonia's Etsy or visit her instagram and grab her in the DM's to get your very own slice of beaded joy.
Over lockdown we all did something different. I laid a lawn for the first time for example. Well the founder of classic adventure game developer Sierra Online, Ken Williams, wrote a book! It's a delightfully candid look at the start of the company, the frugal investments, the giant hits and the massive lows that ended in disaster.
There's no holding back from Ken and it's a wonderful read. It's also available on audiobook from Audible so how about an Audible membership? You can try it completely free and STILL get to keep the book. If you want something substantial then there's the paperback available as well.
That's right, I also spend part of my day coming up with my own adventure game inspired designs for t-shirts, bags and more. The best seller on my site is my Gabriel Knight St George's Book Store T-shirt. It's simple and so so niche, and that's what I love! Another best seller is my design of Mêlée Island as a large print, perfect for any game room.
I'm always adding stuff too with a list longer than my arm of games I'd like to try to design for. As you've read this far it's only fair too that I give you a secret discount, so just add wallyismyhero for 10% off.
I also have an adventure game review BOOK! If you review games, then grab this handy notebook, made just for adventure games.
I hope this list helps you pick up the perfect present. If you create adventure game designs then get in touch!
Michael
Disclaimer: Some links are affiliate links which means if you purchase anything from my link, I will receive a small commission.