This was mostly a thing in the PS1 and PS2 eras. The first genre was the point and click PC adventure game, ie the thing we still think of when we hear the words “adventure game” to this day. The second definition was much less well defined and encompassed games like Tomb Raider, Shadow of the Colossus, the Ubisoft Prince of Persia games and Soul Reaver.
I think it was just used as a catch-all term for any kind of console third person 3D action game with platforming elements that couldn’t be easily classed into other genres
Adventure games… games were you had to “find” something to progress to the next screen/level/plot beat.
Right up there with Text adventures in my ability to completely suck at playing them even though I REALLY wanted to play/enjoy them.
You have been eaten by a grue
Tried playing Hitchhikers Guide… couldn’t figure out the vending machine at the start of the game.
I will always love Grim Fandango but I haven’t played too many others outside a couple 90s classics I’ve gotten off GoG. Maybe I should give the Blade Runner game a go