Best Indie Game 2011
Minecraft
Ah, the creative imaginarium that we know as Minecraft. It barely needs an introduction as one of the most popular indie games of all time, it is indeed an icon of the age we inhabit. Without a huge budget or mass marketing team behind it, Minecraft used the wonder of social networking and introduced alphafunding on to unsuspecting gamers. Its building blocks gameplay has carved the way for players to create some outstanding projects - whole cities, the Starship Enterprise and art murals have been constructed in just one game. Taking over the internet and soon the world, Minecraft is a phenomenon that cannot be compromised, although its ideas can be recycled it seems.
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Runners Up
Bastion
Bastion’s ‘holier than thou’ narrator is just one of the aspects that make it stand out from the crowd. Crushing enemies with a sledgehammer in a stylish environment rarely turns out to be a boring activity. Bastion’s upgrading and customisation options are aplenty, guaranteeing a very high replay value.
Trine 2
Trine 2’s stunning, living visuals provide a fantasy-filled background for the return of its three heroes. Indeed, the wizard, thief and knight once again need to work together to solve the many puzzles that stand in their way. A sequel in every way, the game’s unique approach to platforming is still a sight to behold and an experience to be had.
Orcs Must Die!
What an odd but wonderful blend! We’ve seen Tower Defense games trip over one another these last few years but Orcs Must Die changed our perception, literally. Moving away from the genre’s traditional top-down view, it presents its challenges in third person view instead. The game’s frantic nature is only a tiny part of its enormous fun.
To The Moon
There are a few places videogames haven’t gone, but going into a dying man’s memories to make him totally believe that he was an astronaut in his life is a premise I can’t say I’ve seen before. A jRPG-style adventure with SNES-era graphics, To The Moon is as wonderful, mature, meaningful and beautiful as any film, play or book. Get it now.
