Reverse Child Catcher: Offspring Fling

Kyle Pulver, superior veteran of a thousand gamejams, has expanded a riff on the theme of motherhood that emerged from his brain last year, making it into a full release for PC and Mac. It's a platform game, with puzzles made up of switches, blocks and infant forest animals deflecting around the levels. The clue as to your maternal ability is in the title: Offspring Fling. As the mother of a sizable brood of cuddly critters, your method of transporting them to safety is to balance them on your head and then lob them out of harm's way. Of course, as you progress through the 100+ levels throwing your kids around the place becomes increasingly hazardous, as they begin to act more like soft, organ-filled pinballs than living, dying creatures. Watch.

It's very jolly, despite the risk of losing your litter, but it also becomes jolly difficult. Things are simple at first. Carrying kids decreases the height of your jumps and the early levels tend to play with that idea, forcing you to chuck the children into a suitable position and then carrying them to the exit. Later, chains of action require speed as well as forethought.

The price is $7.99 for a DRM-free copy. There's also a short demo that's playable through your browser on the game's website, unless your browser hates the idea, in which case there isn't. Mine was fine with it.

Thanks to John Polson for the tip.