PixelJunk Eden

PixelJunk Eden was Q-Games' third PixelJunk game, coming out in 2008 for the PlayStation 3. The hypnotic electro soundtrack and trippy artwork were the work of Japanese artist Baiyon. In Eden, you control a 'Grimp' who jumps from plant stalks and fronds to abstract shapes with the help of a thread of silk that can be deployed and spun around on for momentum. The aim is to burst open pods and collect the pollen that come out, forming new plants.

By doing this you can ascend higher and higher into the level, growing the garden and providing pollen for special Spectra flowers before your timer runs out. Meanwhile you must avoid ever more aggressive enemies and avoid falling all the way back down to the bottom of the level. Although you can collect crystals to refill your time, it takes some time to make your way back up the level. You can continue without restarting even if your timer runs out, but you won't get credit for beating the level this way. As you complete levels, new and more difficult gardens are generated.

Each garden level revolves around a particular color scheme and trance-y music that combine with the unique visual style and gameplay physics for a video game experience that is both relaxing and tense at the same time, due to the time pressure. Overall the game is super fun and addictive, especially when played with others. You can play with 1 or 2 other players, all playing cooperatively to move through the level. This requires teamwork and coordination to stay together and keep each other from falling to the garden floor, but definitely adds to the fun of the game. Because the Grimps can stick together if they collide, you can catch a falling buddy and throw one another to higher places. You really have to play it in order to get what this game is all about, but I highly recommend it, especially if you are looking for a cooperative multiplayer challenge. It is available for PC as well.