9) Within a Deep Forest

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More 8-bit looking action, as you navigate a bouncing ball through a forest. You’ll navigate around gusts of wind, and unlock ever bouncier balls. Even though this is a fairly ambient and relaxing game, that draws you in with its rhythmic bounce, there’re still speedrunning videos on YouTube. Is there anything those hardcore buggers won’t speedrun?

8) Trilby: The Art of Theft

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Nothing would provide more satisfying schadenfreude to victims of his harsh reviews, than Ben “Zero Punctuation” Croshaw’s stealth platformer turning out to be shit. But this gem validates his internet rants, by proving he’s not all talk and no tits. Had it been released 20 years ago, Trilby would be regarded as a classic.

7) Prototype

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There’s a fine legal line to tread when recreating the genre-defining R-Type, and Prototype walks this line expertly by being just original enough to stand on its own two legs. Providing shooter action on par with its 80s progenitor, this side-scrolling classic both looks and plays beautifully, emulating the retro mechanics and sprawling alien landscapes with newfound finesse.

6) rRootage

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Kenta Cho sits about his living room in nothing but a housecoat and some sock-suspenders, having established himself firmly in the shoot-’em-up genre. He makes freeware games seemingly for his own amusement, and rRootage is his way of doffing his cap to that all-time great, Ikaruga. It’s also the greatest shooter the man has ever created.

5) Toribash

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Plucking a new genre out of thin air like it’s honestly no big thing, Toribash is like Claymation Mortal Kombat - a turn-based beat-’em-up in which you control every joint and limb of your fighter’s body in 10-frame bursts. Original and genius, the game even allows you to tear off your own head and hurl it at your competitor - over the internet.

4) N

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Recently launched on Xbox LIVE! Arcade, N is a visually unimpressive and unabashed old-school platformer. However, the perfect combination of subtle stick-man physics, community-created levels, and demanding wallplay make this a long-standing classic and an unwavering freeware favourite around the office.