Cthulhu isn’t usually my go-to guy when I’m vetting global saviors. Elder gods are pretty infamous for decending from the stars, driving men mad, and then consuming the world to slake their unknowable hunger. Still, Cthulhu Saves the World makes a compelling counterpoint, though that may just be the madness talking.

Content is overwhelmingly visible in games. Mechanics, art assets, narrative, and design spring to salience because those are the interactive parts. Really, what else matters? Bastion is a rare game that answers that question, and it’s a revelation. You owe it to yourself to play this game because it can change the way you look at others.

Flower is less game than toy, but it will be one of your favorites. Its freeform flight and elegant design make it a flight sim with sandboxy undertones. You won’t find love here that makes your heart race, but something more soothing and companionate.

Costume Quest is just another RPG, but it comes as rain to the desert XBLA. It doesn’t hurt that the game brings an accessible and compact play experience to a crufty genre, and is funny to boot. Still, Costume Quest doesn’t offer the genre-bending experience that courts the broadest possible audience, so your interest in the game will be largely determined by your tastes.

Although it’s a 2D platformer, LIMBO is a horror game, so come prepared. Whether you’re fleeing a giant spider or succumbing to brain worms, the game is stark and disturbing. That makes it incredibly compelling. Add that to the black and white silhouette art, vivid animation, and precision platforming, and you have a great game. It’s just not for the faint of heart.

Infinity Gene makes a lot of noise about evolution, but its real strength is adaptation. Specifically adaptation to the iPhone. Outside that, it delivers a fairly straightforward shooter with snappy pacing and an unobtrusive tutorial. The occasional cheap death chafes a bit, but there’s more than enough good stuff here to gloss over a few minor flaws.

Are you passively suicidal, but just don’t know how to take that single step to go pro? Dejobaan Games has found a way to literally do just that. Share their Reckless Disregard for Gravity by stepping off future superstructures without the inconvenience of permanent death. Wrap that up with the highest tier comedy writing, and this game will delight casual and hardcore gamers alike. So throw yourself off something tall. It’s fun!

There haven’t been a lot of direct sequels to Super Mario games since the late eighties, so Mario’s latest outing is something of an oddity. However, Mario hasn’t lost that sequel magic and comes through with a game that feels comfortable and novel at the same time.

Rocketbirds Revolution! plays it straight. Between the deadpan retelling of cold war action flicks to the run and gun platforming, you could almost miss it when the game winks at you. Just remember that subtlety is a sign of refinement and you’ll find that Rocketbirds is an elegant and compact example of its genre.

Bonus news bit: Developer Sian Tan let us know that Ratloop Asia is hard at work on a port for Rocketbirds to PS3. They’re still early in the development process, but hopefully we’ll hear more details soon.