Best Of Indie Games: Time4IndieGames

[Every week, IndieGames.com: The Weblog editor Tim W. rounds up some of the top free-to-download and commercial indie games, plus notable features, from Gamasutra's sister 'state of indie' weblog.] This week on 'Best Of Indie Games', we take a look at some of the top independent PC Flash/downloadable titles released over this last week. The goodies in this edition include two time-bending arcade games, a strategy game themed around eskimos and igloos, a freeware version of the kakuro numbers puzzle, a new commercial release from adventure game developer Dave Gilbert (no relation to Ron Gilbert), and a strategic typing game. Game Pick: 'Cursor*10 2nd Session' (nekogames, browser) "A follow-up to Yoshio Ishii's popular mouse clicking game, where players have to once again collect all pyramids in each of the sixteen floors with only the ten cursors they're allowed to use as lives. You will direct the action of every cursor, one at a time, with events beginning to loop once the allocated time for that cursor runs out." Game Pick: 'Avalancher' (Sinister Sea, browser) "A strategy game involving lots of snow and a fearless eskimo. Players are invited to choose a spot for our freezing hero and then given the chance to build a small igloo around him before unleashing the avalanche. The game follows the recent trend of 'physics is cool', so expect the little guy to go a-tumbling about when the snow hits." Game Pick: 'Typomagia!' (Sol Games, freeware) "A typing game in which you quickly enter words on your keyboard to build up magic power, which can then be used to conjure creatures to battle enemies. While not exactly unique, it's presented nicely and even has a Story Mode, as well as the option to choose the types of words so you can practice specific sets." Game Pick: 'Time4Cat' (Megadev, browser) "Time4Cat is the story of a stray feline who accidentally discovers a time-controlling collar. With its power, he sets out to do what he does best - eat leftovers off the street. Utilizing a unique gaming mechanic to make time seem all bendy, the player must collect food whilst dodging the people walking around. However, no-one will move a muscle unless the cat does." Game Pick: 'Kakuro Nichiyou' (MK2K, freeware) "A freeware implementation of the kakuro numbers puzzle. Similar to crossword puzzles, you are given clues about the sum of the numbers that are found in any given row and column, and from this you must deduce what number appears in each entry on the grid. The game also features a fairly robust solver and a puzzle creation utility." Game Pick: 'Emerald City Confidential' (Wadjet Eye Games, commercial indie - demo available) "A 1940's film noir take on L. Frank Baum's classic Wizard of Oz. The story follows Petra, Emerald City's only detective, as she tries to solve the case of a missing person. Of course, things are never as simple as that in an adventure game, and she is soon immersed in an epic tale of crime and magic."