There were a number of very interesting cooperative experiences at IndieCade 2011, but one of my most memorable of such experiences was a puzzle-platformer called Way, which I played with a complete stranger. The person controlling my character's in-game companion was someone who I neither saw, nor spoke to, until after we had completed the game. As the credits rolled, I stepped away from the mouse and keyboard, and was compelled to cross the room, locate my new-found compatriot and shake his hand for a game well-played. It was that kind of experience.

Read more: Making friends with strangers

One of my favorite finalists at IndieCade 2011 was a surreal first-person puzzle game called Antichamber, developed by Alexander Bruce. Set in world of which M.C. Escher could have been the architect, the game presents players with puzzles that challenge many preconceived notions of perception, and even raises some philosophic questions. Visually, the game isn't quite like anything I've seen before, and the modified engine on which it's running is not one I would have guessed.

Read more: 'Everything looks like an Unreal Engine game!' »