exploration posts

Welcome to Freeware Friday, a weekly column showcasing excellent games that you can play free of charge!

Sometimes, the length of a game can hurt it severely. In other cases, it can make it even better. Games with short play sessions are well-suited for gaming on the go and at work, and it is with this in mind that Strange Adventures in Infinite Space was developed. It may be short, but it has a surprising amount of depth and replayability for a game in which you can finish an entire session in less than 10 minutes. Length does not necessary denote depth, and Strange Adventures in Infinite Space is the proof behind this.

Some of the best games that one can play are the most peaceful. This is especially true of William and Sly, a gentle exploration game with very simple gameplay and endearing characters. Interestingly enough, it is made by the same person of the hectic Ether War. In his own words, he made it because "most of my flash games have been too complicated for my family to play."

William and Sly is extremely easy to learn. You control with the cursor keys and shift: cursors move you and jump, and shift brings up help and the map. The game world is quite expansive, and the goal is to activate all of the runestones located across the forest. A daunting task, but the game is not difficult by any means. The vaguely painted graphics and peaceful music lend to the serenity of your surroundings, and help to craft a truly fantastic browser game.

When developers get together, it's always a beautiful thing. Savior of Lapratan is no different. A platformer and shooter with absolutely stunning pixel artwork, it's a great reminder of the sort of genre that games like Cave Story and The Underside belong to. Featuring artwork by Teknogames (better known for his Portal-inspired platformer Gravortex), code by Jellyfish, and music by OvrKllr, the game is to feature significant exploration elements, an epic sci-fi story, and great shooter gameplay. You can check out the demo over on the site and make an evaluation for yourself. We assure you that you won't be disappointed in what you find.

[Via IndieGames]

More art than game, The Jackyard is a new experimental art game by Richard Hofmeier. Taking place in what appears to be a mansion, the player must navigate their way to the conclusion of the game. Nothing is really told to you, and you must continually explore to find out what your goal is. You can move, jump, and examine objects. That is all you can do. It appears as though it was created more as a showcase for Hofmeier's art than as an actual game. We're not complaining much though, as the game is absolutely stunning. And not in the super-realistic 3D way. Check out the official site for more info.

[Via IndieGames]

No doubt the cousin of Professor Science, the Jetpack Brontosaurus has been eagerly awaiting to explore the stars with his trusty thruster. The much anticipated browser game of his adventures has finally entered alpha, allowing anyone to step into his over-sized dinosaur boots. Featuring a few missions, there's not much to it at the moment, but it is an alpha. Check it out at the official Flashbang Studios site. You'll need the Unity Player installed on your browser to play, and remember to fill out the feedback form!

[Via IndieGames]