Thomas Was Alone is a jumping and puzzle-solving platform game where you control different-coloured rectangles. It sounds boring and derivative but each of the distinctly coloured shapes comes to life in the game as a character embroiled in this escape story about friendship, curiosity and sacrifice. Like any platform game, you jump, run and use special abilities to complete levels. As you do so, you get to know each shape’s personality through the storytelling of the quipping narrator.

The simplicity of design makes this an ideal first platform game, while the novel narration makes it a good introduction to how games make you care deeply about even the simplest of characters.