Fun Rating: Really Fun

In a Nutshell: Wake up on an island, punch trees.

Developer: Markus Persson

Website: http://www.minecraft.net/

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Verdict: absolutely brilliant

In a Nutshell: This is one of the best side-scrolling platformers I’ve seen.

(from the game’s website)

“Trine is a physics-based action game where three characters allow clever solutions to challenges created by hazardous puzzles and threatening enemies. The gameplay is based on fully interactive physics – each character’s different abilities and tactics can be used to invent new ways to overcome obstacles and save the kingdom!”

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Verdict: lots of eye candy

In a Nutshell: This is an advanced and very shiny version of Breakout.

(from the publisher’s website)

“Shatter is a retro-inspired brick-breaking game that merges familiar action with unique twists and a modern crafted production approach. Innovative controls, physics effects, power-ups, special attacks, and boss battles which combine to provide an experience that is always interactive.”

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Verdict: Not Bad

In a Nutshell: This is a time and resource management game wrapped around a casual “swap” game.

(from the game’s website)

“Welcome to World Train Royale! Join Lyria and her crew as they cross the continent expanding the Train Royale Company!
Search for new resources, meet strange and amazing hidden wonders. Create the best strategies in order to become the greatest Train Baron of All Time! “

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Verdict: interesting

In a Nutshell: This is a first-person shooter/puzzle and was one of the 2009 PAX 10.

(from the game’s website)

“Tag: The Power of Paint, a first-person platformer created by seven RTIS and BFA students at DigiPen, was chosen from ten IGF Student Showcase Finalists as winner of the Best Student Game Award.”

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Verdict: delightful

In a Nutshell: This is a point-and-click adventure about a robot trying to save his girl and the leader of the city and was one of the 2009 PAX 10.

(from the game’s website)

“Machinarium is an independent puzzle / adventure game developed by the makers of popular web-games Samorost and Samorost2. A little robot who’s been thrown out to the scrap yard behind the city must return and confront the Black Cap Brotherhood and save his robot-girl friend. The game takes place in a strange rusty metallic city populated only by robots. The story is about a little robot who has been unjustly thrown out to the scrapyard behind the city. In the game he returns to the town where he meets the bad guys from Black Cap Brotherhood – they are just preparing a bomb attack on the central tower where the town ruler has residence in. Of course our hero must stop them and also rescue his friend robot-girl.”

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Verdict: soooo relaxing

In a Nutshell: Physics game about cell-like creatures and was one of the 2009 PAX 10.

(from the game’s website)

“Enter the ambient world of Osmos: elegant, physics-based gameplay, dreamlike visuals, and a minimalist, electronic soundtrack.

Your objective is to grow by absorbing other motes. Propel yourself by ejecting matter behind you. But be wise: ejecting matter also shrinks you. Relax… good things come to those who wait.

Progress from serenely ambient levels into varied and more challenging worlds. Confront attractors, repulsors and intelligent motes with similar abilities and goals as you.”

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Verdict: not bad

In a Nutshell: This plays like a puzzling variation on pinball but with a rag doll and was one of the 2009 PAX 10.

(from the game’s website)

“CarneyVale: Showtime is a vertical ragdoll platform game for Xbox LIVE Community Games. In the game, you play as Slinky, a circus acrobat trying to rise up the ranks by performing acrobatic tricks and death-defying stunts through increasingly complex arenas.”

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Verdict: spooky

In a Nutshell: I can’t describe it any better than the website can.  The still-being-developed, second installment of Closure was one of the 2009 PAX 10.

(from the game’s website)

“A creepy puzzle about darkness and the unknown.”

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Verdict: more please

In a Nutshell: Puzzle game involving a tree spirit and captive bears. This was one of the 2009 PAX 10

(from the game’s website)

“Puzzle Bloom is the innovative action-puzzle game where you control the tree spirit Canotila in her quest to bring back life to her island. Canotila needs the assistance of the island’s native creatures to get past the rigid machines of the world. She flies from creature to creature and uses her powers to guide them. New life will bloom into the world for each time Canotila breaks a machine, bringing Canotila closer to her ultimate goal of a return to nature.”

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