10 Essential Indie Games Every Gamer Should Play

The third title from DrinkBox Studios Guacamelee was first released on PlayStation 3 and Vita before being ported to Sony's latest console with additional levels and bosses.

The game opens with Mexican farmer Juan being murdered before awakening in the land of the dead. There, he meets a luchador who gifts him a mysterious mask that returns him to life and grants him special powers. Throughout the game players discover new powers, including the ability to transform into a chicken or jump between the living and dead world, making for a 2D platformer that is very much structured in the Metroidvania mould. Guacamelee is far more than just a quick copy and paste job however.

The 2D graphics are fantastic with incredibly smoothly animation, and this is complemented by a deep combat system that allows for an impressive variety of different moves and chains of attacks to be utilised against your enemies. Just as things start to become a little predictable around the midway point of the game Guacamelee throws a curveball by introducing enemies that can only be defeated using specific moves thus requiring the player to master the games intricacies in order to succeed, simply button mashing will do you no good.

The platforming itself also requires a great deal of dexterity providing an additional layer of challenge that, thanks to the tight controls, never becomes frustrating and side rooms that contain boxes granting the player items (such as extra life) even have puzzle solving elements to them. As an added bonus an equally good sequel is now available!