Game 70: Doeo

Raitendo seems to have a sort of warped sense for the absurd. Put together a cute little hilltop scene, with a nice lake, and blue skies. Then throw Doeos at it until they are popping literally everywhere. If you don't know what a Doeo is then SHAME on you. They're those pink, dog-squares from... err... from... the recesses of Raitendo's mind, I suppose?

For each level, the maddening, yet addictive, voice will tell you how many Doeos you have to get (and by 'get' we mean pass the mouse over) and how long you have in which to get 'em. They will then appear all over the place and you just whirl your mouse around until it's time up, and hope that you got the blighters. The final level is the Doeo King, but we'll let you find out how to take him on.

Game 65: Scarygirl

Scarygirl is the sort of game that we dream about. It is enormous. It is hours long. It is at least five games rolled seamlessly into one (and that's before you take into account the eight classic console games you can unlock!). It has amazing graphics. It has an incredible intro. It is easy. It is difficult. It has replayability. It is innovative.

This is a platformer, in which you play the scarygirl of the title. You must jump about the pretty cartoon worlds picking up gems and fish, and beating enemies. You have to find your friends and gather information, build a motorbike, drive it around and all this in some of the most fabulous surroundings you can imagine. Think about if Tim Burton made a game... then make it better - then you have this. Astounding.

Game 57: The Blue Beanie

The Blue Beanie; A Samorostian, headwear-saving adventure from a new kid on the block.

Daphne Lim has made this adventure game with such a lovely mix of care, delicacy and humour that it's difficult not to fall for it. The plot begins with a happy family of white blob people living in a tree and washing their clothes.

Then the youngest has his beanie hat stolen by a big bird and so begins a quest with some nice interfaces, simple puzzles, cute music and pretty settings. If you liked Samorost, you'll like this. So help the little guy out won't ya?

Game 56: Whack Your Boss

"Finally, a place to manage your anger without harming a soul."

With the help of Whack Your Boss, telling your boss off has never been so much fun, or so brutal. Get creative with office supplies and you boss' final, bloody moments. Don't worry about the mess, that's what the Cleaner is for.

This game contains a LOT of blood! Be warned.

Game 54: The Impossible Quiz 2

The Impossible Quiz 2 is the sequel to one of the most challenging quizzes ever. Featuring more crazy questions, more absurd minigames and best of all, more insanity! Need I say more..?

Be patient when loading this one, it's a biggy.

Game 47: El Laberinto Esférico

Barcelona's Nacho Rodríguez puts his award winning flash animated character, Mr. Coo, in his first game, an adventure puzzler called Mr. Coo: El Laberinto Esférico ("The Spherical Labyrinth").

El Laberinto Esférico has a fun animated style like Pink Panther meets Ren and Stimpy, and a surreal imagination along the lines of Bill Plimpton with a bit of Salvador Dali.

The game starts out in an endless labyrinth, where you start the moment Mr. Coo falls to his death—but then he has a dream that turns into a "choose your own" path style of point-and-click adventure. You have several paths you can take, and each path has several different versions you can experience depending on a choice you made earlier. You usually wind up back where you started, and must repeat again. And so the game goes, a bit in circles, but finding a new path, puzzle, or a new ending is part of the fun.

Remember to click "English" at the start if you can't read Spanish!

You only have to watch the first scenes twice, from the 3rd time you die you get a shortcut version.

Also if you enter any correct password, you get this shortcut path.

Game 43: The Goat in the Grey Fedora

I give you, The Goat in the Grey Fedora. A strange and offbeat point-and-click adventure with a black and white film noir atmosphere. This is a superb 3D type graphics mystery, with tremendously atmospheric audio (from the moment "a dame walks in and asks you something totally bizarre"). The downside is that it takes ages to load and the first two real puzzles are bit complicated compared to everything else. That aside, it really is a fantastic game. In my opinion, this is best played full screen, so hit that little ol' maximize button.

Mouse click to select items or menus (or click the "Use" symbol of an item in the inventory then drag it onto the main screen).

The game gives every item three options (usually "Look at/ Examine", "Take", and something else) for a reason - make sure you don't miss any.

Game 42: Sunny Day Sky

Here in Madrid the sun is shining, as it is in the twee world of Ferry Halim, home of Orsinalgames, where the sun is always shining brightly.

In Sunny Day Sky, your task is to fly through the air clutching a small umbrella. Opening and closing your brolly shoots your little bear higher and allows him to soar further. Collecting magic apples increases your air time, but watch out for the flying ducks, which will make your teddy plummet to the ground.

The more cars and buses you pass, the more points you collect. And if your umbrella runs out of steam, a well-timed jump onto a passing car will give your bear time to recover - ready for another flight.

Controls are easy; just mouse click to open and close your umbrella.

Remember, longer flights mean higher scores, so aim for the apples to really boost your score.

Game 41: Grow Tower

The latest in one of the greatest series of browser games ever conceived is not a disappointment. This time you have to pick five different items to stack on top of one another, with the ultimate aim being to turn the sun on... a long way up above you. You've got a plant pot, a piece of turf, a sideways cauldron, a box with a button, and some bricks.

All you have to do is pick them in the order you think they should go, and let the game do the rest. There is only one right way, and this will reward you with the most elaborate animation, but each different combination yields an animation of its own that is great in its own right. This is the best visual game I've seen in a while. 

Tip:

Throw logic out the window and just have fun, but make a note of what you have and haven't tried, or you'll be frustrated by repetition.

Note:

The game may not load properly the first time you click, instead you may see a webpage. If this happens, just close the window and try again. Some weird bug I can't figure out, sorry!

Game 33: The Animator v Animation Game

The Animator v Animation Game takes the fun, desktop battlefield antics of the Animator v Animation episodes and turns it into a fully interactive fighting game! 

You can play as either the animator or animation (after unlocking the latter), each trying his best to eliminate the other player. Your arsenal is composed of common drawing tools found in the animation environment. Each tool has a slightly different effect depending on which character you play. For example, the line tool allows the animator to fire "arrows", but if the animation grabs it it becomes a staff. As the animator you control the cursor and have two objectives: torture the stick character, and preserve the timeline at the top of the screen. Your arsenal is weak compared to the animation's weapons, but they're flexible and give you a wide range of freedom. As the animation, your goal is to attack the cursor and, secondarily, the timeline. The stickman's moves are much more destructive than the animator's, though your target is much more difficult to hit. Playing as the animation can be overwhelming at first, as this character uses a dozen keys for movement and attack. With a little practice, however, it becomes second nature.

The Animator v Animation Game preserves the grin-inducing fun of the episodes and makes it completely interactive. It's any desktop warrior's dream come true!

Game 32: Shopping Cart Hero

If you've never taken a ride in a shopping trolley then you can probably quite accurately imagine what it would be like. Here you can take that dream to the edge, where the line between endless glory, and blood soaked disaster is a thin one.

Build your speed, pick you moment and nail you landing. There's the requisite 'extras' in the form of big effing rockets for extra speed, and stunts for extra style. Great game... yip yip.

Hold the right arrow to get running, hit 'up' as close to the flag as possible to get into the trolley, and then again at the lip of the jump for the best elevation. When in the air, use the left and right arrow to steady yourself for a safe landing.

Performing a successful flip in the air wins points, as do the prescribed tricks you can buy. Be careful when you've got passengers; if you don't land safely, you have to pay for more.

Game 30: The Impossible Quiz

If there is one golden rule to every quiz, it is that you have be able to win it. That rule has been broken into tiny pieces by The Impossible Quiz. As the name suggests, this quiz is quite impossible to win. Why? Because neither question nor answer are as simple as they look. On the surface, it looks like any other quiz; you are presented with a question and four possible answers, you then pick your answer and move on to the next question. But when a typical question asks: 'Can a match box?' and the answer is: 'No, but a tin can' you have to stay extra focused. Frustration will run high so be warned, but at least you will pick-up some funny questions you can annoy your friends with!

Game 27: Climate Chaos

Rabbits are blue and red, seals enjoy sea shells, and foxes make successful hotel owners. Those are just a few of the lessons we learn from Climate Chaos, an adventure game set on a group of small islands. The main character is Blue Rabbit, who, like your average rabbit, equipped with a digital camera, sets out on a quest to help the natives of the various islands to solve their problems with the local weather. Upon your arrival on the island, you are greeted by the island's hotel's owner, who advises you to check in. You can take that advice, or you can talk to the locals first, to get a feel for the game. Some people will only appear after you have checked in, so don't forget to do that. From there, it's up to you to follow the storyline. 

A brief tutorial at the beginning introduces you to the intuitive controls as well as to the nicely done symbolic language that is used throughout the game. With just 3 icons, Dancing Seal tells you that he loves the sea. The system is vaguely reminiscent of Tork, though it aims to make communication easy as opposed to making it part of the riddles. Give it a go, I'll bet you enjoy it!

Game 25: Haluz

Haluz is a game of the point-and-click variety that contains several scenes and a variety of simple puzzles that must be solved to advance.

What do you do when a very large bird makes off with your rooftop satellite dish? Well, use the resources around you to your best advantage and get it back of course.

Haluz is a beautiful game within its class and the closest I've seen come to the stunning imagery seen in Samorost, which is without a doubt the inspiration behind this game. Although similar in appearance, the puzzles here are sometimes more awkward and confusing than in Samorost. Still, if you love games like this you will definately enjoy Haluz, too. 

Game 24: fl0w

flOw is a mesmerizing game of primordial life, evolution and survival. Dive deep into the wild blue to seek out and consume other organisms on your path to simple cell nirvana. Begin life as a microscopic multi-cellular organism with a semi-circular shaped 'head' for feeding and for locomotion. The organism moves by following the mouse cursor, moving as it moves and always in pursuit. Click and hold the mouse button to accelerate its movement, though doing so will make it more difficult to steer and to make sharp turns.

The starting location is at the top of a very deep pool, 20-levels deep. The top level is indicated by the game's "flOw" logo, which can be seen when the game begins. On the top level you will also find another organism with a small red dot "." in its middle. This organism can be found on all but the deepest of levels, since eating it will take you down one level. There is a similar organism with a blue dot "." on all but the top level; consuming it will take you up one level. If either of these two creatures ever leaves the screen of the current level, small ripples, in corresponding red or blue, will appear along the edge in the direction that it can be found. Just follow the ripples as it is also an indication of where there may be food as well. To eat another organism as food, for example one smaller than you, simply navigate your creature so that the 'food' comes within its circular 'mouth' and it will consume it. In later levels where there are even larger organisms, steer for the bright circular shaped cells within the body cavity. When an organism (including your own) loses all of these life-giving cells, it will perish.

Continue your advance deeper and deeper to discover what lies in waiting within this absolutely magnificient piece of interactive art.

Game 23: Fancy Pants Adventures: World Two

The second chapter in Brad Borne's epic tale of a man with righteous pants is here, and it is spectacular. Fancy Pants Adventure: World Two is a platform game focused on high-speed acrobatics, like a hand-drawn Sonic the Hedgehog. Twice the size of the original, World 2 is one of the most ambitious flash games out there, bursting with thrills, imagination, and whimsy. It even comes with its own motto — "Be fancy" — and that is probably the best advice you'll get from a video game this year.

Easy to play, difficult to master. The controls are simple; Move left and right with the arrow keys and press [S] to jump. Press [down] to slide mid-run or roll down hills. You will encounter big black spiders and snails, and these can be dispatched by bouncing on their heads or sliding into them. But enemies are rare. Most of your time will be spent charging around in a gleeful trance, exploring the exaggerated physics of the Fancy Pants universe. So go on, have a go, and enjoy playing the Zaphod Beeblebrox of stick figures!

Game 22: Questionaut

Step into another surreal world created by Amanita Design (creators of Samorost). Commissioned for BBC's Bitesize series, with eight totally separate environments, Questionaut feels like stepping into a story book and becoming one of its characters. And thanks to Questionaut's powerful imagery, it feels like a living universe that continues to exist even after you've shut down your browser. Just delightful.
I know what you're thinking. "Oh no, not another game where your friend's hat gets carried away by a bubble, and you have to chase after it in your hot air balloon fueled by pure knowledge! When will game designers come up with some new ideas?" I understand. I'm sympathetic. But give it a chance, as despite the fact that the target audience for Questionaut is primary school students, there is enough wonder and imagination here for gamers of all ages. As usual, Amanita has loaded its game with soothing mossy textures and rickety mechanical systems. Each level is a self-contained environment floating in the sky, with its own placid inhabitants, surreal logic, and gorgeously quirky music. 

So... Enjoy.

Game 21: Tipping Point

You've been looking for some kind of escape — a vacation to paradise, maybe, but you'd probably just settle for a nap. So, here, you now find yourself sitting in front of this screen once again. But why are you wearing those pale green socks?

Welcome to Tipping Point, a point-and-click adventure with serene, highly detailed graphics and soft music, this game is a break away from the ordinary. 

In the first chapter, you'll find yourself stuck in front of the TV, with nothing better to do than channel surf. This will soon change, as you begin to be followed by great blue herons and answer a call for help. In the second chapter, you'll be scrambling for clues along a deserted beach. Well, deserted except for the herons. They must like you. The third chapter whisks you away to a tropical rain forest with exotic birds and bugs buzzing all around. There is even a treehouse to explore.

Tipping Point is slightly strange, moderately challenging, and intensely beautiful. While the storyline is little odd and surreal, the puzzles are straightforward and logical; most can be solved just by exploring and clicking around, so don't be afraid to do a little hunt-and-clicking. As soon as the game starts to seem too simple though, you may suddenly find yourself stuck, and pushing towards your own Tipping Point!

Game 18: Samorost 2

Samorost 2 is here, the sequel to the amazing and immersive experience of the original Samorost; undeniably one of the greatest casual games ever to have graced the Web. In the first chapter, the main character from the original game loses his puppy when a couple of aliens trespass on his little planet and dognap his pet. Your mission is to rescue the puppy from its captors. The second chapter is a pay-for-play download (€4.00/£3.50/$4.99) that continues at the point of the first chapter's cliffhanger ending. What you receive is a zip archive of the entire game, including both chapters, for a seamless interactive experience. I highly recommend buying this as it is well worth it, though it is also widely available to download for free accross the internet.

By virtue of a "2" in its title, there exist expectations for this sequel, and I am pleased to say the game does not disappoint. The artwork again is both gorgeous and surreal, but where Samorost 2 surpasses its predecessor is in its size and its soundtrack. There are more animated environments to marvel at, more puzzles to solve, and more interactive elements to click. 

All things considered, this second game of the Samorost series lives well up to the huge expectations set by the first. It is altogether a truly exceptional work of interactive art.

Game 13: Fly Guy

A surreal and interactive animation, Fly Guy isn't exactly a game; it's more a wonderful dream-like toy. It's not a very big world, but to fully explore it you should go back into it a few times.

I find Fly Guy to be a mood enhancer; if you're happy it makes you happier... If sad, it makes you melancholy.. Still sad, but in a nice way!

So check out this little dream-like world, you’ll be glad you did.