It's not very well known yet but Treasure Adventure Game might just be the best 2D platform game you've never played. Made by one-man studio Robit Studios, who describe the game as a  'mash-up of Super Mario Bros 2 and Wind Waker', it's a genuinely sweet and really addictive adventure that perfectly replicates the atmosphere of 80s and early 90s gaming.

It's got mystery, simple gameplay that will challenge you, and lots of lovely touches in its 8-bit graphic style. For a free indie title, it is huge. If you enjoyed the now classic Cave Story or DistractionWare's VVVVVV, Treasure Adventure Game should be a no-brainer.

My only criticism of it is that there's no help in the game when you're stuck, but that just shows what a spoiled modern gamer I've become! Of course, if you do get stuck - get on the internet, and you'll find someone who knows the answer! There's a great forum for the game here, where you can find questions and answers about the adventure.

Download Treasure Adventure Game now!

Good Old Games is offering the popular strategy game Empire Earth free until 10.59 GMT (02-59PST) on December 14.All you have to do is sign up for a free account here, and you can download the game immediately, DRM free.

The game hails from 2001, but still holds up as an engrossing strategy title today, even if it is aging graphically. You have to guide your population through 500,000 years of history, so you can't argue with the scope of Empire Earth - it's huge.

GOG is a site that offers old PC games, made compatible with modern Windows PCs. Its catalog goes right back to Ultima and Zork from the 80s, although it's far from a complete history of PC gaming at the moment.

Which games from the past would you like to see resurrected?

Back in October I came across Ace of Spades, a neat little online FPS that mixed Minecraft mining with fast competitive action. The game was recently updated to version 0.7, with a raft of new features that make it much easier to get into. Watch the video below to watch me getting shot over and over again!

The game now asks for your name, so you don't have to open the configuration file and manually change it, and in game you are notified about headshots. The other big improvements are that enemy locations have now been removed from the radar, while bullet tracers are now shown. This makes it easier to find the action, while making it possible to hide from the opposition.

Ace of Spades is tons of fun. Despite still being in beta it's really playable, and the mining aspect makes for an unusual FPS game. You can host your own server, or play on one of the many public ones. The environments are really varied - there are some tight maps for intense fighting and other strange ones, like the huge monolith riddled with tunnels mined by players. You'll never see that in Call of Duty!

My favorite indie release from last year, VVVVVV just got a big update to version 2.0. Creator Terry Cavanagh has completely rewritten the game in C++, meaning it should run better and faster. Great news for Macbook users, as they should now run a lot cooler while playing the game!

The biggest change is the new level editor, meaning you can now make your own fiendish platform puzzles. It's not the easiest thing in the world to use, but it works well. Best of all, ten new player levels created by other developers have been added. These include a level by the Souleye, composer of VVVVVV's soundtrack and the legendary Notch, creator of Minecraft!

VVVVVV 2.0 is currently being sold as part of the latest Humble Bundle, a collection of indie games that allows customers to pay what they want and choose how their purchase is divided, between developers and charities. It will soon be available to buy again from the game's homepage, for Windows, Mac and Linux . The VVVVVV demo is available on Windows and Mac.

Last year I wrote about the excellent Corporate Climber and now we have Nano Ninja, which takes the same one-button idea to create another really fun game. You have to reach the top of a building, going floor by floor and avoiding the obstacles on each one. The one-button control does different things depending on the level. On one level, the button might make you dash, and on another, jump or even pause. The biggest difference with Nano Ninja is that it's a bit easier and shorter than Corporate Climber. However, that's not a disadvantage, as it adds a ghost mode so you can race previous selves to complete the game. Nano Ninja, in time-honored tradition, is avenging his master, and you'll need some quick thinking and accurate tapping to make sure he succeeds.

Play Nano Ninja at Newgrounds, requires Flash.

Emulation software is too often hobbyist in design, with arcane interfaces that are really awkward. Boxer aims to change that. This native Mac app built on DOSBox makes playing those old DOS games beautifully simple.

Boxer looks good, and even includes a library bookshelf for your game collection, similar to the the iBooks app on the iPad. The best thing about it, though, is that you really don't need any prior knowledge of DOS at all. Boxer walks you through installation and running files, meaning you really won't make a mistake. I was going to write 'how to play DOS games on your Mac', but Boxer is that tutorial! Just download it, install and you'll be playing classic 90s PC games in no time. The nice thing about retro PC gaming, unlike say Commodore 64 emulators, is the controls we have today are just the same as back then. You won't miss having a joystick, as the chances are you never used on with your old PC either.

Check out Boxer's homepage for more information on where to download DOS games.