Pivvot (iOS)

by Whitaker Trebella 

The best games are often the simplest. Get lucky and their titles reflect exactly what happens: Hide & Seek, Kick the Can. Add Pivvot to the list. Drop that extra ‘v’ and you have the entire game: An exercise in avoiding obstacles along a circuitous track as you pivot a ball, tied to the rail, back and forth. It sounds confusing until you have a first go. Your hundredth go will be five minutes later.

Perfect for: Geometry teachers, Super Hexagon addicts, Spelling Bee drop-outs.

Time to play: a couple minutes. Or several hours.

MirrorMoon EP (Windows, Mac)

by Santa Ragione

Supposedly, there was a meteor shower the past few nights, but we didn’t see jack. So we folded up our lawn chairs, unplugged the bug zapper, came in, and played MirrorMoon all night. It’s a glorious puzzle game about rotating heavenly spheres, and the surefire way to discover the mysteries of space.

Perfect for: orrery ovulation, designer spaceship paneling, galavanting Galileos.

Time to play: a good while (read: it’s tough!)

Electronic Super Joy (PC, Mac, Linux via Steam)

by Michael Todd Games

Electronic Super Joy is a high-concept lover’s dream. “It’s Super Meat Boymeets Limbo!” “Take one partVVVVVV, two parts N+, and blend it with the soundtrack to Rez!” Sometimes you don’t need a new idea; you just need to take all the best ones and shake ’em together. Like our favorite cocktails, the mix matters. Good thingESJ chose top-shelf ingredients.

Perfect for: Rave attendees circa 1994, Ghosts ‘n Goblins players circa 1985, indie snobs circa 2011.

Time to play: 8+ hours.