I have been over at The Dark Side for approximately the past three years or more and am wondering what has been going on with Adventure games. Are they still the old Point-and-click to move around or have they gone over to the WSAD and mouse format for moving and interacting with things?

Remember the really old games where you got an arrow on the screen that told you where you could move?

I am wondering if anyone could recommend a modern adventure game with the "move anywhere" format that is exciting/intrigueing or just plain fun. I am not sure about the cartoon (animated?) games like Sam & Max or that sort but would be interested to hear what else is out there.

Thanks for your help.

Dead Reefs

More adventure games in which you can move freely (3D environments)

80 Days
Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened
Myst Online: Uru Live if you like an MMO -- if you prefer single player, try Myst Uru: Complete Chronicles
Dreamfall
Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon
Mysterious Journey 2: Chameleon
Myst V: End of Ages
Sentinel: Descendants in Time
Shadow of Destiny

Some of these games offer more than one control scheme -- you may want to go into the Options Menu and tweak the interface when you start the game.

Penumbra Overture - it's more of an action/adventure, but it was very good! I liked the freedom of movement - excellent! Reminded me of Indigo Prophecy.

I really liked
Broken Sword 3: The Sleeping Dragon--and I used a gamepad