Forma.8

In space — on Mars, Venus, the Moon, and even asteroids — there are numerous probes used to explore these distant realms. If you imagine these machines harboring even a hint of life, they seem dreary and lonely. After playing forma.8, a game by Italian independent developers MixedBag, famous for the indie shooter Futuridium, it becomes clear that space probes truly have it tough.

This 2D and partially 3D arcade adventure tells the story of a robot who lands on a planet that turns out to be inhabited. Civilization once existed there. A powerful energy source even remains. The probe must find it. To do so, it must venture into an inhospitable dungeon. Luck is slim — there's no clue as to the location of the required apparatus. The various plants and animals certainly won't give the tiny robot any clues — they're bent on destroying it. And what about it? It can only run, as the engineers haven't equipped this interplanetary explorer with weapons.

The player's task after he decides to download a torrent Forma.8 — control the probe to avoid danger. It's not easy, but it's very interesting, and it creates a sense of realism. The developers were able to achieve a lot thanks to the excellent Unity engine. They spent two whole years working on forma.8! They should also be commended for the availability of versions for almost all major platforms, except for Microsoft consoles.