FEZ

Fez is a casual platformer with a unique perspective-shifting puzzle mechanic and 100+ levels to explore and find secrets in. The platforming puzzles are fairly easy but never repetive, and the world feels [b]fun to explore[/b]. The non-platforming puzzles (rooms with secrets/riddles) range in difficulty from fairly easy, to satisfyingly difficult to nobody-on-the-internet-has-solved-it-yet. The good thing is, you need to complete very few to progress. While the game provides some excellent tools for the platforming/exploration part (a very handy tree-style map with lots of markers), it doesn't provide any tools at all for the non-platforming puzzles. There are multiple languages to decode, but apparently no in-game translation tool to capture and translate text using your guesses. So [b]the whole translation thing becomes less of a puzzle and more of a chore[/b] after you have figured it out. Moving beyond gameplay, the game features some [b]great pixel art with lots of variety across areas[/b] - which really drives you to explore the world. The soundtrack is also good enough, but the story is not particularly remarkable. Anway, I wouldn't expect an indie game from 2013 to excel at every aspect. Overall, would recommend buying on sale. But don't hesitate to use guides after 40~48 cubes to prevent this otherwise fun game from turning into a chore just for the sake of completion.

Totally worth the money. Really well-thought-out level design, it's amazing to see an indie team put into this cozy puzzle game the complexity of a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ Metroid game level-design-wise combined with such unique and genius gameplay mechanics as they did. It's kind of like my relationship with Franz Liszt; I probably won't spend another second on it, but I recognize such exquisite craftsmanship when I see it.

If you liked Tunic, Animal Well and other Knowledge based games, this is one of the pioneers. When I heard that I thought this would be a bit inferior to the newer titles and with less interesting mechanics but really is not. Well well designed