Maru

Maru is a compact and wonderfully odd little platform game from Jesse Venbrux, built around the kind of simple idea that can keep you playing far longer than expected. The presentation is deliberately minimal, but that is part of its charm: there is no giant manual, no cinematic universe and no committee meeting to explain what you are supposed to do. Instead, you get a focused challenge and plenty of room to experiment. The controls are straightforward, while the level design gradually introduces situations that demand better timing and a little more patience. It feels like a homemade arcade game in the best possible sense, with enough personality to make its modest size surprisingly memorable.