Freeware Garden: Lightyear

From the moment you open your in-game eyes in Lightyear by Jim Bruges, to find yourself inside a manned space telescope crafted by text and choices and bits of Twine, you'll also start to wonder whether this is a horror game, a technological thriller, an attempt to simulate living in space, or a story about loss and loneliness.

Lightyear may be openly space-y and futuristic, you see, but it wisely doesn't immediately make its themes apparent. It allows you to take your time and discover them as you play.

It seems only fair that I don't spoil them, given how short the game's running time is. Things will soon start making more sense anyway as you search for coordinates, desperately try to communicate with other people and fiddle with the telescope's computer systems as descriptions of the artificial air you keep breathing and your uncomfortable sleeping habits help build a sense of disorientation and isolation.

Looking for more free games? Check out our round up of the best free PC games that you can download and play right now.