Nova-111 (PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Playstation 3, Steam, Xbox One, Wii U)

AS curious as it is quirky, Nova-111 is a great example of what we can come to expect from the flourishing indie games scene.

Just in the last couple of years the barriers to entry for small studios and bedroom developers making console games have greatly dropped.

And without the pressure to make games in a certain way for the mass market, indie games are generally more inventive.

With much smaller budgets, being creative and taking risks is also key.

With Funktronic Labs and Curve Digital's Nova-111 that risk has paid off because not only is the game fun and easy to play it feels different to everything else that is out there.

No mean feat when there are hundreds of indie games all competing for your attention.

With vibrant cartoon-like graphics, Nova-111 sees you play as a little rescue vessel as you navigate alien planets and take on bizarre astrobiological creatures.

Created by former Q-Games developers Eddie Lee and Kalin, whose previous work includes the PixelJunk series, Nova-111 is technically a turn-based game where you can move forward, back, up or down in a grid pattern.

It might remind you of classic boardgames in that respect.

But the turn-based and real-time worlds have collided because the action is as fast paced as you choose to make it, giving the game a platform adventure feel.

The gameplay will feel alien to some but the developers have introduced a steady learning curve with numerous power-ups to try and keep on-the-fence players engaged.

DAVID MORGAN