We played lots of XBLIGs this year, and these are our favorites. The criteria are subjective, each game is unique and on this list for different reasons, so we’re not going to rank them. Here they are in alphabetical order.
All The Bad Parts:
I had this one on my to do list since the Indie Games Summer Uprising, but only got around to playing it recently. It has the polished look of a creepy cartoon and an unsettling atmosphere to match. There’s also a nice story that pulls you in from the get go.
Dead Pixels:
Everyone loves Dead Pixels, and with good reason. It’s a game that reaches high standards for all around production, from the vaguely familiar 8 bit graphics to the superb grindhouse film filters and soundtrack. Even as someone with no particular affinity for zombies, I could tell this game was a winner from the first seconds I played it. Every XBLIG developer especially should play it, if only so they can see the current benchmark for the platform.
DLC Quest:
A game with perfect pacing. You’re always unlocking something and it never feels like you’re grinding or spinning your wheels. Funny without being annoying, which is harder than it sounds.
Get To The Choppa 2:
Never did make it to the chopper, but I did die trying many, many times. A continuous scroller with a simple concept that produces an amazing amount of fun. Is that a Mike Tyson sample I heard?
Kung Fu Fight:
I think we played more Kung Fu Fight than any other XBLIG this year, both in playtest and with the final product. Another continuous scroller with challenging difficulty, you’ll die often and be ready to try again right away. Sometimes overlooked, but the addictive gameplay and good sense of humor make this a must have.
Tacticolor:
I don’t usually play strategy games, but I liked the polish and simplicity of Tacticolor. Throbbing synth basses gurgle away as players manuever colored armies into skirmishes and ultimate control of the battlefield. I felt like someone had found a 70’s East German board game at a rummage sale and made it into a XBLIG. Good thing all the pieces were there.
Honorable mention: Escape Goat, Volchaos, Battle High: San Bruno, Mute Crimson, Invasion
There were lots of other great games that didn’t make the list, this was definitely a deep year for XBLIG releases. Hopefully 2012 is just as strong!