Parents' Guide to Silence

Though shorter than it could be and more depressing than its predecessor, this adventure is still a worthy sequel to 2010's The Whispered World. Developer Daedalic makes the jump to 3D with this one, to great aesthetic effect. With gorgeously-illustrated backgrounds, cool character models, and great music and voice acting, the game enchants you with its delicate, dreamlike beauty, then keeps you spellbound with its clever, emotionally-charged gameplay. Silence is, in many ways, a traditional adventure, but breaks new ground in the way it handles interactivity. Rather than simple clicks, actions -- like balancing, climbing, or lifting -- are completed through directional mouse movements. This adds an element of skill to the mix, making exploration more interesting. Like its predecessor, Silence has an often wicked sense of humor that's more sophisticated (despite the fart jokes) than its kids' book illustration style might suggest, and exhibits a surprising degree of emotional depth. Though that's definitely a plus, its language, drug references, and realistic depiction of grief and loss could be too much for younger players. Still, even with its depressing message, it easily claims its spot among the best, most tightly-constructed adventure games.