FEZ

In spite of the reputation that this game had due to the personality shortcomings of the creator (And the state of early 2010s internet) the game is genuinely one of the most creative Indie puzzle games. 3D in a 2D world is fantastically and expertly done.

I wish I could wipe my memory and relive this game for the first time again. Everything is peak from the pixel art visuals, the chiptune soundtrack, to the puzzle design and even the lore. The platforming gets a little stale after awhile, (just find the best way up), but the main puzzles come from keen sense of ingame surroundings and logic. One of the few games that made me excited to bust out a sheet of paper and take notes.

While the creator of Fez got himself into quite a bit of hot water in the world of game development, Fez does remain a personal favorite of mine (so much so, that when I came to PC from console, I knew it had to be in my library). Fez is one of the most unique and memorable indie games I’ve ever played. The art style is absolutely beautiful, with charming pixel graphics and a world that feels peaceful, mysterious, and alive at the same time. The rotating perspective mechanic is incredibly creative and makes exploration and puzzle-solving feel fresh the entire way through. What really stood out to me was the atmosphere. The soundtrack is amazing and perfectly matches the relaxing but curious feeling of exploring the world. Instead of rushing you, the game encourages you to slow down, look closely, and appreciate all the little details hidden everywhere. Some of the puzzles are genuinely mind-blowing, especially later in the game, but solving them feels incredibly rewarding. Even when I was confused, I still wanted to keep exploring because the world itself was so interesting. Fez is the kind of game that sticks with you long after you finish it. If you enjoy puzzle games, exploration, or creative indie games with personality, this is absolutely worth playing.