AVGs

AVGs is an abbreviation commonly used to refer to adventure video games, a genre defined by narrative focus, exploration, and puzzle solving rather than action-driven play. The term is used in various gaming communities to distinguish story-centered experiences from more combat-oriented genres.

The roots of AVGs lie in early text-based adventures of the 1970s and 1980s, such as interactive fiction on mainframes. Graphic adventure games emerged in the 1980s with titles from Sierra and LucasArts that combined textual or minimal dialogue with visual interfaces and inventory-based puzzles. The 1990s featured landmark releases like Myst and The Monkey Island series, which popularized point-and-click mechanics and cinematic storytelling. After a period of consolidation, AVGs evolved through hybrids and renewed indie interest, expanding across PCs and consoles and reaching mobile platforms in the 2010s and beyond.

Gameplay in AVGs centers on telling a story through exploration, dialogue, and puzzle solving. Players typically investigate environments, collect items, and use logic to progress, often with branching plotlines or multiple endings. Inventory systems, environmental clues, and nonlinear progression are common features, while combat, when present, tends to be minimal or optional.

Subgenres and related forms include graphic adventures, text adventures, and interactive fiction, as well as newer formats like visual novels that emphasize narrative choice and character interaction. AVGs continue to influence game design by prioritizing storytelling, atmosphere, and player agency, even as graphic fidelity and interface ideas continue to evolve. Notable examples span classic titles such as King’s Quest and Monkey Island to contemporary indie projects and interactive storytelling experiences.