A Boy and His Blob

I've been totally loving WayForward's remake of A Boy and His Blob, which is kind of funny because it's completely different from the original NES title in almost every way. The only thing they really share is the core gameplay mechanic: the blob eats jelly beans which let him transform into objects like anvils, ladders, and portable holes.

They've removed every controller-tossing aspect of the original: the game has distinct levels rather than a huge map with little direction, you have unlimited jelly beans, the blob can't get lost, and there are automatic checkpoints and infinite lives so making a mistake isn't that big of a deal. The emphasis has shifted from playing perfectly to playing around, yet the game never feels like it's hand-holding you or, God forbid, "kiddie", because the puzzles are still decently challenging.

The original game may have capitalized on frustration and turned it into gameplay, but I think it worked despite its challenge, not because of it. This isn't a sequel; it's the game A Boy and His Blob always should have been.

It's also gorgeous, and there's a dedicated Hug Button.