Are there any modern PC adventure games where the character can roam freely about - similar to the RPG or Action games? Instead of the old-fashioned look-point-click mode of travel I would like to play something where one can wander at will and explore the universe.

Any suggestions would be welcome (and it has to play on Windows 10 also). Thanks

There have been quite a few released, but the only one I played and can recall off the top of my head is The Vanishing of Ethan Carter. If I can jar the rest loose in my head, I'll add more!

Here are a couple of adventure/puzzle games where you can move around freely.
Sometimes you have to find keys to open doors and gates to get a bigger area where you can move around.
They all play on windows 10.

Quern, Undying Thoughs
Lake Ridden
The Painscreek Killings
Obduction
The Initiate 1 + 2
Xing, The Land Beyond
RoonSehv Terra
Myha, Return to the Lost Island

The last game is not yet available - the backers of this game already have the game -

There are more games but these are very good games and it was lots of fun playing them.

Windows 10 isn't the problem.
Any recently developed game will run on Windows 10.

The problem is whether your video card can handle running the game.
Most new computers that weren't built for gaming don't have adequate video cards.

Be sure to check the recommended system requirements of any so-called "free roaming" game from the past few years before purchasing it.


Nearly any recent 1st person game will use 3D movement (except for casual adventures and the Carol Reed games that use photographs). If you want a 3rd person game, The Talos Principle has an option for 3rd person and the Sherlock Holmes games from Frogwares let you switch back and forth between 1st and 3rd person.

Awesome! Thanks for all the suggestions folks - I can't wait to try a few of them out. These are exactly what I was looking for. Sometimes I wish I could get away from using Steam but they seem to be everywhere and about the only "game" in town.

Thanks again!

Some of the games are available at GOG.com
Quern, Obduction, Xing, Ether One, Vanishing of Ethan Carter, Montague's Mount, Lake Ridden, Dear Esther, What Remains of Edith Finch, most of the Sherlock Holmes games, and others are all available at GOG.com

I have really been enjoying lake ridden. Its pretty impressive for the small team that built it.

And as Jenny said, be sure to check the computer spec requirements before you purchase from GOG or Steam or where ever. Some of these games - not all - have fairly hefty video card requirements.