Max: The Curse of Brotherhood Credit: Mitch Wallace This niche genre doesn’t get solid games very often, so if you missed it the first time around, definitely give it a go. The mysterious writing utensil from Max’s previous game, Max & the Magic Marker, is used to solve puzzles in inventive ways, requiring drawing and erasing to progress through various obstacles. Max dives into the portal and what follows is a series of 20 interconnected, imaginative stages filled with brainteasers, dynamic camera angles and strange, quirky creatures. The chance incantation results in his annoying younger brother Felix getting pulled from their suburban home into a supernatural gateway by a giant, furry claw. In it, you assume the role of the prototypical punk Max who naively recites the words to a dangerous spell.

This excellent 2.5D puzzle-platformer from 2013 is strongly reminiscent of other sidescrolling adventure classics like Another World, Heart of Darkness, Oddworld: Abe’s Oddysee, Pandemonium! and perhaps even the stop-motion and ever-hilarious Skullmonkeys.

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