It is always an easy target, especially after some of the incredible success that their games have had, but Valve have made a number of mistakes in recent years, but almost all of them have been in aid of making Steam, and PC gaming in general, a better place. Steam Greenlight was Valve’s attempt to limit, or at least improve the quality of, games getting released on Steam. The idea was that these games would face a vote on Greenlight from the community; those with overwhelmingly positive votes would make it onto Steam, those without would linger until they improved their showing.

That was the idea anyway. Instead we had games from recognisable developers and publishers being forced through Greenlight, while other games, extremely rubbish ones, that used Valve’s proprietary engine would skip the process. Steam Greenlight has taken a back seat on Steam recently though; with games coming out and being filtered into “New Releases” and “Popular New Releases.” Steam’s problems continue.

Thomas Was Alone is the charming tale of Thomas. A coloured square. A coloured square who is trying to break free and live his life outside of an oppressive computer programme. It sounds bizarre, and creator Mike Bithell has a reputation for making off the wall and unusual games, but the game is relatively straight forward. You play as Thomas and along the way you recruit other shapes of various colour and sizes, each with their own unique ability. Some can jump higher, one floats, one is heavier etc all in the name of solving the game’s many puzzles.

The game features, among other things, a famous actor doing the voiceover. It can get a little smug at times (such is an advantage of being English) but overall the story, writing and voice work are all really strong and add to what is, already, a really good game. Mike Bithell has already started work on his next game, Volume.