There's been a huge eruption of indie games in the past few years, at least on the PC. Its the easiest platform to make games for, and the cheapest, making it ever so easy for budding new developers to get out there and make a game/mod to let people know that they can make great games, so, naturally, indie developers FLOCK to the PC.

I just want to talk about two goddamn GEMS that i found the other day while surfing the interwebz: Coil, and You Have To Burn the Rope.

But first, I just want to mention that BRAID is coming to PC...because I don't own an XboX 360, I never got a chance to play it (however much I wanted to) but now it seems like I'll get a chance. It won all kinds of crazy-ass awards and was supposed to be SUPER-awesome, so I'll be one of the first to download it when it hits. (braid-game.com)

ANYWAYS:

Coil

This is one of teh most incredibly poetic and deep games imaginable, at least in my opinion. In between levels, you'll be treated to a story that's written with the kind of shakespearian tongue that would be more fitting of a book of poetry, rather than a game. The story alone, even tho it only appears between levels, is fantastic.

the gameplay itself is a very unique mix of oddly, entertainingly abstract puzzles where you actually have to figure out WHAT to do, not so much HOW to do it.

There's a sense of continuity as the creature you "create" through the puzzles grows and matures...its surprisingly like a fetus. In fact, that might just be what it is.

I'm not going to spoil anything, except to say that whether or not you followed the story, the last level is very sad. Very, sad.

find it here.

You Have to Burn the Rope

This is, however short, pretty much the ultimate indie platformer. In fact, its probably the shortest game ever. Honestly, you can beat it in about 15 seconds if you're REALLY good at it. If you're not REALLY good at it, you can beat it in about 45 seconds. But, believe me, its some of the most fun you'll ever have sidescrolling.

The premise is the title - there is a rope, you must find it, you must find fire, and you must burn it. The results will save the world. Seriously.

The song at the end of the game is longer than the actual game, and is pretty funny. Not "Still Alive" funny, but funny nevertheless.

BTW, there's even achievements, so that you can play it again...and again...and again. I don't know how they added achievements into a 30 second game, but at least they've got big enough balls to try.

Find it here.

that about wraps it up. Have fun in the indies!