I’ve been meaning to start this column for quite a while now, and finally got around to figuring out what I wanted to call it. Gems in the Greenlight Gutter is a series of pieces I have planned looking at games that pop up in the Steam Greenlight list, with a twist.

Rather than looking at the bad games, as has become easy content fodder from various websites (including my own), I’m going to focus on those that showed promise. This is specifically dedicated to games that have been removed from Greenlight, as in pulled by the developer or refused approval by Valve.

Before anyone asks, there are no links to these games because they have been removed from Greenlight. Their pages no longer exist.

1. Recession

I like Recession because the concept of the game is ridiculously unbelievable. The idea of the game is simple, it appears to be a cross between Evolve and Payday 2 where four players take on the role of robbers going around doing robber things while one player plays the heavily armed cop who gets sent out to stop them because the cops can only afford to send out one guy at a time.

Recession is an amazing concept and a reminder that the Unity engine is capable of more than just releasing asset flips. This is one of those games that I really hope sees its way to completion and finds its way back on Steam.

2. Stellar

Stellar could be the modern day reboot of Asteroids, bringing very simple gameplay to a more fast paced modern audience. The fact that you seemingly can’t slow down or stop your craft forces the player to constantly be thinking on their toes.

Forget Steam Greenlight, the developers of Stellar should be trying to put this on actual arcade machines to stick in bars.

3. Running Clones

It is far too easy to dismiss Running Clones as a Thomas Was Alone clone based on the similar graphical style, but after watching the trailer I have to say this looks like a very inventive game. The whole concept revolves around freezing clones of your character to use as stepping stones in completing puzzles. It is a pretty unique idea and, once again, the minimalist design works perfectly in context.

4. ReBound

ReBound is a minimalist puzzle game where the player places arrows to guide his piece and collect all of the things on each level. Judging by the levels shown in the trailer, the game gets pretty complicated and requires a lot of forethought and presumably trial and error in order to complete.

5. Staccato

I’d like to use Staccato as an example for the Digital Homicides of the world, just to show you the difference between uninspired Unity asset flips and a game that are made with creativity. Staccato is proof that critics have no issue with games using Unity assets, they are there for programmers who can’t hire artists.

But instead of making some lazy hack and slash, Staccato is a rhythm game that allows the player to insert their own music. An Audiosurf clone, yes, but one that has a unique feel to it. If this game popped up on Steam for $5, I’d buy it hands down.

6. Pongara

Want to know the easiest way into any gamer’s heart? Nostalgia. Putting a new twist on an old concept is the new form of porting Doom to a calculator, and people (especially gamers) suck up nostalgia like it’s going out of style.

But to be completely serious, Pongara looks like an awesome concept. Seemingly not content with just creating Pong and adding a few gimmicks to it, the creator has gone as far as throwing all kinds of new game modes around what is a very simple premise.