LIMBO (2010)

Limbo is a side-scrolling puzzle platformer set in a sinister, monochromatic world. The player controls The Boy, who enters Limbo in search of his sister, though the story can also be read as a metaphor for searching for companionship and finding a way in a new environment. The game begins immediately, with no cut-scenes or clues at the start.

The Boy is vulnerable and has only two buttons for jumping and performing actions, combined with movement. He can explore, hang from ledges, slide down slopes, push objects, pull levers, and cling to ropes, but progress often depends on using the environment and physics-based elements.

The world is rendered in 2D with layered depth and divided into 24 chapters that flow into one another. It moves from a forest to an abandoned city and then an industrial zone. Challenges include obstacles, dangerous creatures, and a gang of children setting traps, with brief and rare encounters with other humans.

Music and sound effects are minimal, and there are no on-screen health indicators. Every misstep is fatal, and death reloads the game before the current puzzle. Most encounters are puzzle-based, with a single path through the levels and generally a single solution to each problem.