Indie gaming is hard to keep track of these days. When I think back to my own experience, this time last year I had never really dabbled into the indie gaming scene, and after being thrown in at the deep end, I soon delved beneath the surface to find some truly outstanding games.
So I thought it would be great if I could share some of my favourite experiences for each platform.
Today we're taking a look at the PlayStation 3, which has offered some great experiences via the PSN store.
So here's 10 Essential PSN titles for you to grab today!
Journey
This is not only the best game on the PSN, but it could be in contention for best title of the decade. Journey provides an unforgettable experience that will resonate with the player long after the credits roll. Gamers will be treated to an unbelievable soundtrack, backed up by a unique and gorgeous art style, with a story that could be interpreted a million different ways. Thought provoking and almost life changing, Journey is simply stunning.
Costume Quest
Tim Schafer and Double Fine Productions love making interesting games. Costume Quest tells the story of a boy (or girl) who loses their sibling to the goblins while trick-or-treating on Halloween. Turns out that their costume actually provides them with impressive powers as they search for more costumes, more candy and of course, their sibling.
Dead Nation
Top-down zombie shooters don't come much better than Dead Nation. If you're looking for a challenge, then Dead Nation will hit you in the guts with a powerful arsenal of weapons, flesh-eating zombies and co-op combat to boot. If you want to play with friends, you can't go past this gem.
PixelJunk Eden
Ever wanted to unwind from the daily grind? PixelJunk Eden provides a zen-like experience as players move through a series of gardens, collecting pollen to create seeds in an attempt to grow the garden even further. Featuring minimilistic graphics and a banging soundtrack, this should relax even the most stressed player our there.
Cuboid
If you are looking for a puzzle game, Cuboid will fill that slot nicely. Players assume control of a rectangular block, flipping it on its six sides around a grid hanging in mid-air. The objective is to get the glowing blue tile and the slot the cuboid into it. It may sound simple on paper, but in reality it's actually an intense experience.
The Last Guy
One of the most unique games we've played in ages! The Last Guy gives players a satellite view of 15 cities from across the globe (including Sydney), and players need to guide survivors to safety from an alien threat. One part Snake, one part Google Maps, this unique adventure is quite challenging.
Flower
From the same studio who brought us Journey, Flower puts players in control of a floating flower petal, with the objective being to collect more petals and open more flowers on each run. It's rather hard to explain, but this one needs to be seen-to-be-beleived. A great game that is well worth your time and money.
Echochrome
Echochrome is a prime example of a title that would maybe be too risky to develop into a fully fledged retail game at this period in time but perfect for the downloadable format. With over 50 levels to get through, this very basic looking puzzler challenges the player to manipulate the path for the character on screen allowing him to progress to the next stage. While the game starts out fairly straightforward, it becomes a much more difficult challenge as you progress, once the ability to tilt and rotate the structures come into play, which can become very addicting in the process. Online options enable you to create your own levels to challenge your friends and foes.
Back To The Future (Series)
Telltale Games have a knack with licensed franchises, and Back To The Future is probably their best effort. This point and click adventure series takes off where the movies left off, offering fans a glimpse into other adventures Doc and Marty could have gotten up to. Featuring the real voice of Doc (Christopher Lloyd) and a cameo from Michael J. Fox, Back To The Future on the PS3 is the only console the game is available for.
Fat Princess
Fat Princess is primarily a multiplayer game for up to 32 players, with the basic goal of rescuing the Princess and bringing her back to the team's base. The players pick up and carry cakes to feed the Princess, which makes her heavier and harder for the enemy to carry back to their own castle. The game contains six character classes (Villager, Worker, Priest, Ranger, Mage, and Warrior) and three downloadable classes (Pirate, Ninja and Giant) each of which contributes to the team's task of capturing the princess in a unique way. If you like cake, you'll love this!
By Stephen Heller - Tweet @Heller_MMGN