15 Best Indie Video Games Of 2016 (So Far)

3. The Witness

It's not very often you come across a game that genuinely feels as though it was crafted by a genius. Now naturally, such a label is hyperbolic - as I'm sure creator Jonathan Blow would attest - but the very systems that make up The Witness are nothing short of remarkable, teaching you an entire language of cognitive processes without uttering a single word.

See, every puzzle on the mysterious island that makes up The Witness is comprised of a grid - your goal being to guide a beam of light from one side to another. Simple.

Except there are hidden rules relating to which symbols appear on the more advanced grids you'll come across. What they mean is explained bit by bit, but only if you can find the requisite clues, and realise what's being asked of you. Come the close of the game you'll be processing multiple formulae and rulesets, essentially making you fluent in a language that has no words, learning simply through action and repercussion.

It's one hell of an achievement, and the single reason that despite its difficulty level and pretentious backdrop as an art piece, The Witness remains one of 2016's finest.