Subaeria

Combine a rogue-like action game with some unique puzzle concepts and you have a solid foundation for a good time. Subaeria is not without flaws, but the wry twists make for an entertaining and challenging concept -- especially where younger players might be concerned. First, the player has no weapons. The only tool is the player's brain and his or her drone. Players need to use strategy to manipulate the enemies into a variety of traps or get them to battle and destroy themselves. There are platforms to leap across and lasers to jump over in a colorful, bright world. Intersecting story lines with multiple characters also give the plot nice continuity.

Where Subaeria falters is in forcing a player to use a gamepad to navigate, simply because it's an added expense. It's understandable because both the player and the drone can be controlled separately. There's also a chance that dying requires a complete restart -- which might be frustrating for younger players. The game is easy to understand, but sometimes quick reflexes will save the day over the ability to slow things down and think through to winning solutions. These are minor complaints, though, and Subaeria's concept of no direct violence from the main character scores very big points. This is no run-'n'-gun or hack-'n'-slash; instead, it's a thoughtful action game that's a good fit for younger players.