One of the best things about travelling to shows like PAX East and the Game Developers Conference is the chance to check out titles from off-the-beaten-path, independent developers. While shows like E3 are overwhelmed by the presence of multi-million dollar booths from huge publishers, the early-in-the-year shows make a point of highlighting some of the most original and promising game ideas from game makers without big contracts or salaried positions behind them. Freed from the financial responsibilities of the major AAA publishers, these are the titles that are most likely to truly break new ground in gameplay, aesthetics, and subject matter.

Here, we've collected 25 of the most entertaining indie titles we got our hands on recently. Some of these were being shown for the first time, others have been around the trade show circuit a few times now. Some are even already available for purchase or download. Regardless, all of these should at least be on the radar for anyone seeking new and entertaining gameplay experiences.

140

Developer: Jeppe Carlsen

Platforms: Windows, Mac

Available: 2013

Website

The next game from Limbo designer Jeppe Carlsen couldn't actually be less Limbo-like. In this abstract rhythm-platform game, you control a morphing shape that rolls as a circle, jumps as a triangle, or pauses in place as a square. The appeal is in the way levels change themselves in time with the music (which hums along at the titular 140 beats per minute), featuring blocks that disappear and reappear on the beat or deadly areas of static that move in time with the harmony. As the game progresses, these syncopated, complementary beats layer on to create some devious platform puzzles along with some extremely infectious tunes.

At the end of each level, the game takes a turn for the surreal, transforming your abstract character into a spaceship or a gun-toting defender to mix up the gameplay a bit. Much like Limbo, this one is shaping up to be a short-but-sweet experience that sticks with you long after it's done.

—Kyle Orland

Barabariball

Developer: Noah Sasso

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux, PS3

Available: Summer/Fall 2013

Website

If you recognize this game's odd name, chances are you helped push the Sportsfriends Kickstarter campaign past its funding goal. Barabariball is probably the least publicized of the four games in that package, set to launch later this year, but it's also perhaps the most deserving of the “Sportsfriends” label.

The game recalls the mid-'80s ethos of NES sports games, both in its 2D pixel art and in raw gameplay. It combines the speed and responsiveness of Nintendo's Ice Hockey, the positional battling of Super Smash Bros., and the rules of American Gladiators' “Powerball” event. Teams of two jump around an arena floating on water, scoring points by throwing the ball into their own side of the water. Double-jumping and kicking dominate the mid-air ball-control battles, and as such, you'll need to carefully manage your energy meter, which only recharges when you land. It's a level of abstract-sports bliss you probably haven't enjoyed since 1989.

—Sam Machkovech

Beat Buddy

Developer: Threaks

Platforms: Windows

Available: Now (Demo)

Website

What do you get when you combine an adorably blue, bouncy protagonist with a danceable beat? You get Beat Buddy, a music-based action-adventure game. Your job is to maneuver your Beat Buddy along the path, while the game integrates music in a non-linear fashion. You’ll start off with basic bass drum sounds before different elements of the background song come in gradually in layers as you progress. Eventually, Beat Buddy’s interactions with different objects and obstacles will contribute to an overall chorus of instruments.

Beat Buddy isn’t just enjoyable to play; it’s also pleasing to look at. The developers behind Beat Buddy hand-painted all of the backdrops for the game, and each of the animations move in rhythm with the sound they emit.

—Florence Ion

Cannon Brawl

Developer: Turtle Sandbox

Platforms: Windows, Xbox 360

Available: Now (alpha demo)

Website

Worms, StarCraft, and Combat collide in one of the best new action-RTS game designs in years. Two players battle on opposite sides of a 2D map, managing resources not just to build new weaponry and turrets, but also to plant bases. These bases are crucial in controlling the limited build space on Cannon Brawl's maps. Thanks to the simplicity of the 2D battlegrounds, strategic placement is key to staying intact.

Cannon Brawl, a PAX 10 winner in 2012, doesn't deliver the asymmetrical genius of StarCraft. But its straightforward management of resources and object creation does a good job of distilling the intensity of a StarCraft firefight without requiring a stupidly high actions-per-minute count from combatants.

—Sam Machkovech

Cart Life

Developer: Richard Hofmeier

Platforms: Windows

Available: Now

Website

Fans of classic games like Lemonade Stand will enjoy Cart Life, a noir-style retail simulator for Windows that lets players control the lives of street vendors in an urban setting. Your mission is to complete specific goals for each playable character while using their special traits and additions. You’ll need to secure expensive permits before you can have a successful retail operation, all the while meeting the demands of your various customers.

The game features a monochromatic color scheme that suits the noir feeling well. While the storyline is a bit more open-ended than traditional simulators, players can’t veer too far off from the intended plot line. You’ll also have to keep track of minor physiological needs (like sleep) for each playable character.

The game is available free of charge, or you can pay $5 for the “Everything Edition,” or anywhere from $40 to $60 for the “Delux-o” edition. That last one includes three books and an original cartoon by the author in a collector’s tin.

—Florence Ion