The name Gamma Bros sounds like a platformer but it is in fact a shooter. Use the W, A, S or D key to shoot in any of the four directions. Collect coins to purchase upgrades or health, and get close to an enemy to fire rapidly. You can change characters by touching your partner's ship when it appears on the screen.

A password save function is available, allowing players to continue from the last stage attempted. Access it by pressing the arrow keys while viewing the main menu. There's a Mac version as well.

Name: Gamma Bros
Developer: Pixeljam Games
Category: Shooter
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB

Ratmaze is a decent Flash game in which your objective is to guide a rat as it attempts to collect all the cheese hidden in a labyrinth. Use the arrow keys to move, and press space to turn music on or off.

There's an additional button which is only revealed in a certain area, while another secret room offers an easter egg. Pretty fun to play but only for the first try.

Name: Ratmaze
Developer: Pixeljam Games
Category: Action
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

Warning: Contain strong language.

The Heist is a short adventure game made for the fourth One Room One Week competition. Featuring animated 3D graphics and several action sequences, your objective is to break into a mansion and steal some valuables before making a quick escape.

Items can be bought with the money stolen from unsuspecting park visitors. Multiple solutions exist, and different cutscenes are shown depending on your approach to solving each puzzle. Press the tab key or click on the arrow pointing downwards to access your inventory.

Videos require the installation of a DivX codec, which is a minor hassle considering the rewarding gameplay on offer. Instructions can be found in the text file zipped together with the executables.

Name: The Heist
Developer: AJA and Mad Reizka
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB

Warning: Contains graphic scenes.

A Gunshot in Room 37 is another short adventure game made for the fourth One Room One Week competition. Trapped in a hotel room with a crime lord, you must quickly think of an escape plan before the local police arrives.

Interaction choices are limited, and most of the puzzles are logical. Good effort despite it's length.

Name: A Gunshot in Room 37
Developer: Ishmael
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Warning: Contains nudity and graphic scenes.

The Loathesome Man is an adventure game made by Anarcho for the fourth OROW competition. The story is one of despair with no happy ending.

Nice graphics but difficult to recommend due to it's subject matter. A worthwhile download nonetheless.

Name: The Loathesome Man
Developer: Anarcho
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 5MB

Heartland is another short adventure game made for the fourth OROW competition, in which you arrive at an apartment to investigate the disappearance of a man.

There are plenty of clues in the room, hinting at a larger story line but never explored further in this episode. Won an award for best writing.

Name: Heartland
Developer: LimpingFish
Category: Adventure
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

Invisible Vision is another excellent game from keim, developer of Nomltest FS and Sky Swimmers' Heaven. A departure from the rest of his efforts, it involves engaging sea battles with enemy submarines while avoiding mines and surviving the occasional boss encounters.

Wireframes are used to replicate the surroundings of a dark ocean. With careful observation, it's quite easy to detect enemy ships based on the ripples caused by their movements.

The arrow keys can be used to move your ship around. Controls can be slightly awkward to learn at first but the effort will be rewarded with an amazing gameplay experience. Press the Z key to launch a torpedo. Every missed shot costs three seconds, and the game is over when you run out of time.

If green is not your favorite color, there are two other executables to start the game in gray or blue. It's quite unfortunate that the fun only begins after the tenth level.

Naval simulation at it's best. Seek and destroy.

Name: Invisible Vision
Developer: Kei Mesuda
Category: Action
Type: Freeware
Size: 1MB

Saints and Sinners Bowling is basically the sequel to RocketBowl, although this time the action takes place in bowling alleys instead of wide open spaces. The addition of special charms is an interesting angle, providing a slight advantage over your competition when used correctly.

Each opponent has a distinct personality, and usually you're both joined by a spectator interested in watching the proceedings. Their banter is amusing to read, providing a distraction from the actual task in hand.

It's amusing to see computer-controlled bowlers attempting bribery, by offering you money to make a poor throw or two. Too bad you couldn't do the same as well. There are plenty of tournaments to join, bowling balls to unlock and charms to earn from defeated adversaries.

Name: Saints and Sinners Bowling
Developer: Large Animal Games
Category: Sports
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB

HAMU is a Breakout game by Thin which bears some resemblance to Nurium Games' BreakQuest. Hitting blocks with the ball will cause them to spin out of their places, simulating gravity to a certain extent.

Levels are not numbered, instead named according to it's general theme. Missing power-ups and slightly erratic animation are two minor drawbacks to an otherwise decent effort.

Name: HAMU
Developer: Thin
Category: Breakout
Type: Flash
Size: 1MB

Hammer Heads is the latest release from PopCap Games, which is basically Whac-A-Mole with better graphics. First updated by Eyezmaze, this version sees the furry little creatures replaced by gnomes of all things.

Health, hammer upgrades, traps, coins and shops have all been replicated in this release. Trophies and bonus rounds are some of the new additions not originally from ON's Flash game. Fun to play at first but quickly becomes a rapid button-clicking exercise which can be very painful to the wrists after a while.

Name: Hammer Heads
Developer: PopCap Games
Category: Action
Type: Demo
Size: 10MB

Base Invaders is basically a different take on the popular 'defend the base' strategy game, developed by Seventh Sigma as another DigiPen project. Your objective is to repel enemy waves by building walls and placing elaborate traps around your tower.

There's a proper tutorial to help new users familiarize themselves with the controls, and each level introduces a new weapon or two instead of offering the entire selection immediately at the start and baffling players in the process.

Much like Dungeon Keeper, you can pick up the Invaders and throw them to inflict damage as well. The game includes a challenge mode and the excellent Invaderpedia, which offers inside information on every enemy type.

Name: Base Invaders
Developer: Seventh Sigma
Category: Strategy
Type: Freeware
Size: 30MB

Spherious is a decent puzzler by UnderDog Productions, a team consisting of DigiPen students. It plays a bit like an arcade classic entitled Money Puzzle Exchanger, in which a sphere changes color when other similarly colored spheres are placed in the same line.

The number of spheres required for each transformation is inscribed on each sphere. You can rotate a block of four spheres at any time, and green spheres will disappear when six of them are placed in a straight line.

The playing field can be rotated by moving the target past the sides of each edge. Spheres can be levelled by pressing the D key, although you will lose some health in the process. An original idea with plenty of potential.

Name: Spherious
Developer: UnderDog Productions
Category: Puzzle
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB

Within a Deep Forest is a rather difficult platformer by Nicklas, not helped by the unfamiliar character controls. Most times you control a bouncing ball made out of different materials, always in perpetual motion throughout the entire game.

Starting off with the basic blue, your jump height will change depending on the type of ball in use. A comprehensive tutorial provides all the information you need, while solutions to most puzzles can be found in the forums. Being likened to the legendary Seiklus is the highest praise that anyone can give.

Name: Within a Deep Forest
Developer: Nicklas Nygren
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 20MB