[From now until early January, IndieGames.com: The Weblog will be counting down the best independent and freeware games of 2008, with descriptions, screenshots, and links of the best games in each major category.]

The fifth of the 2008 Best Of Features here on the IndieGames.com blog, we're proud to present ten of the best freeware remakes released in 2008.

From upgraded remakes with painstakingly redrawn and recolored graphics, to the most retro of downscaled remakes with blocky pixel art and noisy chiptunes, IndieGames.com has rounded up ten remakes of classic games that you should not miss the second time around.

Here's the top freeware remakes (and demakes) of the year:

Best Freeware Remakes 2008

  1. Soundless Mountain II
  2. Voxelstein 3D
  3. 3D Starstrike
  4. Left 4k Dead
  5. Guru Logic Champs
  6. Rock Boshers
  7. Ultimate Bruce Lee
  8. Kung Fu 2
  9. The Eggyard
10. Scramble

[Got feedback? Reasons to disagree? Post a response and we'll do a special 'best of reader comments' round-up at the end of our chart countdowns.]

Links to some of the recent interviews with prolific or high-profile indie game developers of today:

The Reticule: 2D Boy Interview (text)
Kyle Gabler and Ron Carmel talks about a missing sixth chapter called "The Moon", among other things discussed in this two-parter. (part 2)

GameCyte: Declarations of Independents, Lugaru and Overgrowth (text)
David Rosen quizzed on the subject of Black Shades, Lugaru, Overgrowth and future plans for Wolfire Games.

GameZone: First-Person Action/Fighting with Zeno Clash (text)
More on ACE Team's unique first-person fighting game, Zeno Clash.

GameSetWatch: Building IncrediBots With Some Grubby Geezers (text)
"Everything is made from basic ideas and simple visuals, but IncrediBots has proven popular enough to overload three servers since its beta launched in November."

GameSetWatch: On Creating XBLA's First Claymation Videogame (text)
A special feature with just about everything you need to know about TunaSnax's upcoming XBLA release, Cletus Clay.

Gamasutra: Tom Fulp and Dan Paladin Cry Out (text)
Both Tom Fulp and Dan Paladin were interviewed for this five-page article on Gamasutra.

GameTunnel has revealed their picks for the best indie games released this year. Recommended reading.

2008 Top 10 Games of the Year
2008 Special Awards
December 2008 Indie game Round-Up

The annual Experimental Gameplay Sessions is now open for submissions. Selected developers will be invited to give a short presentation on their respective games, prototypes and ideas to an audience during GDC (this coming March 2009).

All submissions should be sent to workshop2009 [a] number-none.com, before February 16th 2009 for consideration. (source)

The Experimental Gameplay web site
GDC 08: Experimental Gameplay Sessions
GDC 08: Nuances of Design

[IndieGames' sister console digital download info site GamerBytes has been following the Xbox 360's Community Games project since its launch in November, and is proud to present the Top 10 XNA games of 2008, in association with independent site XNPlay.]

For the first time ever, a major console company has allowed hobbyists to create peer-reviewed console games, and publish them directly onto the console for worldwide download.

Thus, Microsoft's launch of its Xbox Live Community Games service in November 2008 has already brought nearly 100 free time-limited, pay for unlimited-play independent games to the service -- and a distinct need for critics and reviewers to seek out and showcase the best.

For this year-end countdown, GamerBytes is handing over the reins to Robert 'Oddbob' Fearon and his staff from XNPlay, an independent website dedicated to bringing you news, views, reviews and previews of games featured on Microsoft's Xbox 360 Community Games program.

Here's their picks for the top XNA titles released onto the Xbox 360 in 2008, all currently available for download from the console's Community Games section:

screenshots

Update: version 0.98.1 released.

Spelunky is the new procedurally-generated 2D platformer from Derek Yu, developer of several memorable freeware games and co-creator of the award-winning Aquaria. In it, players assume the role of a treasure hunter who ventures into the Colossal Cave in search of gold coins, gems, golden idols and damsels to rescue.

Areas are randomly generated whenever you start a new game, and the money you've acquired can be used to trade for items in shops. To proceed to the next level, simply search for an exit which is usually placed somewhere at the bottom of every map. You can carry dames towards the exit for an extra health bonus, while golden idols award more money than coins and gems although you would have to watch out for the boulder trap that awaits thieving archaelogists. By lending money to the tunnel man, shortcuts to levels five and nine can be built for quick access from the start menu. (Let's Play Spelunky)

Name: Spelunky
Developer: Derek Yu
Category: Platform
Type: Freeware
Size: 10MB

[From now until early January, IndieGames.com: The Weblog will be counting down the best independent and freeware games of 2008, with descriptions, screenshots, and links of the best games in each major category.]

The fourth of the 2008 Best Of Features here on the IndieGames.com blog, we're proud to present twenty of the best freeware arcade games released in 2008.

Action games usually involve players assuming a certain profession and carrying out the task they have been assigned with - whether it is taking out bad guys, rescuing cute little creatures, saving the world from certain doom, or even stealing treasure from cave dwellers, we can guarantee that you'll be having a whale of a time doing it.

Here's the top freeware arcade and action games of the year:

Best Freeware Arcade Games 2008

  1. 8bit killer
  2. Rescue: The Beagles
  3. Aether
  4. Calamity Annie
  5. Destructivator
  6. Thrustburst
  7. You Found the Grappling Hook
  8. You Have to Burn the Rope
  9. ROM Check Fail
10. Samurai Railroad Mansion
11. Virtual Silence
12. Cubes
13. Facewound
14. Pro Killer Man
15. Skullpogo
16. Night of the Cephalopods
17. Karateka Mania
18. Devil Ronin
19. Ropor
20. I Was in the War

[Got feedback? Reasons to disagree? Post a response and we'll do a special 'best of reader comments' round-up at the end of our chart countdowns.]

More top ten lists from Bart Bonte and Edmund McMillen, plus nominees and winners for GameTunnel's 2008 RPG and Adventure Game of the Year awards.

2008 Top 10 Web Games (www.bontegames.com)
The Top 10 Edmund McMillen Releases of 2008
2008 RPG of the Year (Game Tunnel)
2008 Adventure Game of the Year (Game Tunnel)

Out soon on iPhone and iPod Touch for only $4.99. The scheduled release date is January 2009, although the game itself could arrive as early as next week. (source)

[From now until early January, IndieGames.com: The Weblog will be counting down the best independent and freeware games of 2008, with descriptions, screenshots, and links of the best games in each major category.]

The third of the 2008 Best Of Features here on the IndieGames.com blog, we're proud to present ten of the best browser arcade games released in 2008.

Fancy a 100-metre sprint event? Hit Benzido up. Thinking about dino racing? Get acquainted with Pixeljam Games.

Or itching for some sword action? Babarageo has just the thing for you, in this special round up of the best links you could possibly have as your favorite browser bookmarks.

Here's the top browser-based arcade games of the year:

Best Browser Arcade Games 2008

  1. Cursor*10
  2. QWOP
  3. Top Spinner
  4. Dino Run
  5. Ginormo Sword
  6. Minotaur China Shop
  7. Gravity Hook
  8. Rose and Camellia (Shockwave version)
  9. Maverick
10. Robokill

[Got feedback? Reasons to disagree? Post a response and we'll do a special 'best of reader comments' round-up at the end of our chart countdowns.]