A creepy cabin, a sinister figure... and a game of cards? Inscryption is a deck-building survival game stuffed with surprises. Collect beast cards – wolves, bullfrogs, even stink bugs – to use in head-to-head battles against your eerie host. Do enough damage to tip the scale of pulled teeth (ew!) in your favour and you win the match. Between rounds, explore the ominous cabin to solve escape-room-style puzzles and discover hidden creature cards.

What we love: Just when you think you’ve got Inscryption figured out, it hits you with another jaw-dropping jolt. First you’re facing a new boss with wildly tricky tactics; next you’re discovering fresh gameplay twists like buying cards with the bones of your fallen critters or assembling a totem that gives you powerful buffs. And you won’t believe what awaits in Act 2!

Quick tip: When facing the Angler boss, pay attention to what he’s saying. If he’s after fresh fish, he’s going to steal the last card you play, so be sure it’s one you can afford to lose. Battling the deceptively tough kingfisher, which can attack over your defenders and then dive into the water, rendering it untouchable? Counter with cards that can block flying attacks, like the grand fir tree.

Meet the creator: Daniel Mullins is the indie developer behind the weirdly wonderful Pony Island, about escaping from a possessed arcade machine, and The Hex, a delightfully twisted murder mystery adventure. He lives in Vancouver, British Columbia.