Downwell

At first glance the game doesn't look like much, though simplicity is this action game's strong suit. It's clearly intended to be a throwback to older arcade games, and it succeeds wildly in that regard. It has flashing colors, fast action, and lots and lots of failing and trying again. But rather than feeling frustrated, each time you lose you feel like you've learned a little more about how you play, how the game works, and how to get a bit further next time. It's this pattern that makes the game more challenging than straight-up frustrating -- though it's doubtful you'll "beat" it without weeks and weeks of practice.

In the game, you're constantly falling. You can only shoot your gunboots a few times before they need to be "recharged," which is done by landing on any flat surface. You can bounce off enemy heads or environmental objects such as candles and pots, but doing so won't recharge your gun, leaving you defenseless and falling. So, simple as it sounds, that is really part of the challenge. This is one of those games where "one quick game" can melt into playing for an hour, like an addictive iPhone game or, really, any well-constructed game. And since the maps are randomly generated for each area, there's never a way to get muscle memory and just steamroll your way through. The game requires constant attention, constant strategy, and constant, well, falling. It's a lot of fun and tough to put down.