While the judges at IGF have already named their nominees/finalists, we at DIYgamer are still sifting through the list. Last year, we began a countdown to the Independent Games Festival. The way this works is easy: we simply select games at random from the lengthy (306 total) list of IGF submissions and discuss what they’re about and how they play. For this week’s column, I played through two original puzzle-platformers, both free and ready to go when you are: ride your bike to save your life in Icycle and prepare to play with colors in Color Symphony.

Before starting this I want to emphasize that this is only meant to give you my impressions and perhaps that extra kick to try out some of the IGF submissions, whether they be these or any of the other 306. I assure you, you will discover that there is something unique about each and every game. And hey, if you’re lucky, some of them are even playable for free! All right, without further ado, here are this week’s picks.

“Who Left the Fridge Open?”

That’s a quote taken straight out of one of my favorite movies of all time, Tropic Thunder. That being said, it’s cold in Icycle. While this is easily attributed to the fact that your character is naked and attempting to survive an ice age by cycling, the ever-changing climate makes him prone to danger. Don’t believe me? I died more than 30 times in the 8 levels of Icycle. Trust me, this shit is challenging.

It works just as any other platformer: simply control your character by using the arrow keys and jump when prompted to do so. After playing through the game, you will gain bonus items and are welcome to input your high score onto the leaderboards. I was hooked within the first few seconds because of the mix of gameplay and incredible art style. Icycle is gorgeous and runs smoothly throughout your entire experience. That’s a good thing because the game needs your full attention 100% of the time; you can die at any point. But its distinct art style and ridiculous concept certainly allow this game to stand out in the mold of so many platformers.

You can find the title right here at UK studio Damp Gnat’s website.

Now You See Them, Now You Don’t

Color Symphony is the work of Korean indie developer Spring Games. The title is available for full download completely free in either English or Korean. Pick the one you actually understand and prepare to enjoy an entirely unique gameplay mechanic which–while reminiscent of the same formula in Closure–adds a refreshing take to the puzzle-platformer genre. Specifically, I’m talking about the ability to overcome obstacles by making them disappear; this is done by simply changing colors.

You can pick between three colors and all of the obstacles you will encounter can easily be avoided by changing the background to the matching one. Sometimes, changing colors may bring you to discover new areas and platforms. The game’s controls are again like any other platformer’s except you will be utilizing the Z, X, C, and V buttons to change colors. Color Symphony is truly a difficult and trying game that one can pick up and play instantly.

Get Color Symphony for free at the developer’s website.

That’s it! Another installment of our IGF Submission Picks brings you two awesome free-to-play platformers that–assuming you have free time at the moment–you should be playing after finishing this article. Again, DIYgamer enthusiasts, make sure to browse through the full list of IGF entries so you can find some golden titles yourselves! Until next week, happy Martin Luther King, Jr. day, all!