Just as its sister site ModDB picks the top PC gaming mods of the year, IndieDB rounds out the year with a countdown of the top independently developed games of the year. Think of it as a shopping list to help establish your indie gaming cred. How many of the top ten have you played?

Me? I've only gotten around to experiencing half of the ten games voted by IndieDB community members as the best independent games of the year. I've spent a great many hours exploring the world of Bastion, as everyone should. Stephen got me into SpaceChem after raving about the iPhone version of the game. Trine 2 from Frozenbyte was a no-brainer, considering my great love of the original, and Minecraft-meets-FPS Ace of Spades was personally responsible for several near-oversleep situations over the past few months.

As for the number one game, the 2D building, exploring, and surviving action of Terraria...I'm ashamed to say I hadn't played it at all, at least until this morning, when I plunked down five dollars for a copy on Steam. I'm enjoying it so much right now that this post was nearly incredibly late.

Hit up the list to see not only the top ten, but the top 100 indie games of 2011 and beyond, and start building your shopping list.

IOTY Players Choice - Indie of the Year [IndieDB]

This week on the PlayStation store, we've got a bunch of new stuff—the gut-check approved Trine 2 is available as a download, as is the venerable Sonic CD and a digital version of the popular party game Apples to Apples. L.A. Noire joins a hefty list of full-game downloads, along with a ton of updates and bundles for just about every game ever.

Rock Band gets some more Hendrix, which is always a Good Thing, as well as some Alien Ant Farm, which while not as universally accepted as a Good Thing are still a fun band. Plenty of bonuses for PlayStation Plus subscribers as well.

Read the full list below:

Games & Demos for PlayStation 3

Apples To Apples ($9.99)
Trine 2 ($14.99)
Sonic CD ($4.99)
NCAA Football 12 ($59.99)
L.A. Noire ($31.99)
Just Cause 2 ($24.99)
Brothers In Arms: Hell's Highway ($29.99)
Prince Of Persia: The Forgotten Sands ($19.99)

Game Demos

Trine 2 Demo
Scene It? Movie Night Demo
Sonic CD Game Demo
Apples To Apples Demo

Add-ons & Expansions

Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition DLC Pack (Bundle) ($6.99)
LittleBigPlanet 2 Add Ons (x6) ($1.99 – $5.99)
SingStar Bundle Packs (x7) ($6.99 each)
Gran Turismo 5 Course Pack Family Upgrade (free)
Gran Turismo 5 Racing Car Pack Family Upgrade (free)
Gran Turismo 5 Car Pack 2 ($3.99)
MotorStorm Apocalypse Holiday Livery (free)
WHITE KNIGHT CHRONICLES 2: White Knight Chronicles II – LANTERN (10 – 30) ($1.99 each)
Goldeneye 007: Reloaded – Emilio Largo (free)
Need For Speed: The Run – Signature Edition Booster Pack ($2.99)
Ace Combat Assault Horizon Add Ons (x14) (free – $14.99 each)
Renegade Ops Coldstrike Campaign ($4.99)
Renegade Ops: Vehicle Pack ($2.99)
Elevator Action HD – Additional Character 3 – Original (free)
Champion Jockey – Special Pack ($2.99)
Dynasty Warriors 7 Xtreme Legends Add Ons (x3) ($0.99 – $2.99 each)
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine Add Ons (x5) ($2.99 – $9.99 each)
Dungeon Defenders: The Quest For The Lost Eternia Shards: Part 1 ($3.99)
Rocksmith – Free Holiday 2011 Song Pack (free)
Batman Arkham City Add Ons (x3) (free – $14.99 each)
Magic 2012 Foil Add Ons (x8) ($0.99 each)
Magic The Gathering: Duels Of The Planeswalkers 2012 Deck (Pack 1 – 2) ($2.99 each)

Rock Band 3 tracks

• "All Along the Watchtower" – The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• "Gypsy Eyes" – The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• "Long Hot Summer Night" – The Jimi Hendrix Experience ($1.99)
• "Angel" – Jimi Hendrix ($1.99)
• "Dolly Dagger" – Jimi Hendrix ($1.99)
• "Voodoo Child (Slight Return) (Live)" – Jimi Hendrix ($1.99)
• "Freedom" – Jimi Hendrix ($1.99)
• "Courage" – Alien Ant Farm ($1.99)
• "Cry of an Eagle" – Free Spirit ($1.99)
• "Echo" – Dance for the Dying ($0.99)
• "Selkies: The Endless Obsession" – Between the Buried and Me ($1.99)
• "Show Me What You've Got" – Powerman 5000 ($1.99)
• Experience Jimi Hendrix Pack 01 ($10.99) – Build your Rock Band library by purchasing this song game album: Experience Jimi Hendrix Pack 01. This pack includes 4 songs by Jimi Hendrix and 3 songs by The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Game Videos

Need For Speed The Run Signature Edition Booster Pack (Trailer)
Yakuza: Dead Souls – How To Kill A Zombie Trailer
Pulse 12/20 Edition
Starhawk From Warhawk to Starhawk
GT Academy USA Episode 1-5
Dew Tour 2011 – Las Vegas (1-5)
Dew Tour 2011 – Salt Lake City (1-4)

Themes, Wallpapers & Avatars

Crazy Taxi Static Theme (free)
Sega Bass Fishing Static Theme (free)
Sonic Adventure Static Theme (free)
Space Channel 5 Part 2 Static Theme (free)
Dynasty Warriors 7 – Custom Theme Wang Yuan Ji (free)
Dynasty Warriors 7 – Lu Xun Theme (free)
Dynasty Warriors 7 – Xiahou Dun Theme (free)
Destinations: Madagascar Paradise Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Utherworlds: Aadyasha Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Utherworlds: Reckoning Day Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Utherworlds: Language Of Fear Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Utherworlds: Christmas Town Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Utherworlds: Cohabitations Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Honey Badger Static Theme ($1.99)
Dynamic New Years Theme ($2.99)
Earth View Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
A World Of Moving Shapes Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Burgerbrained Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Charlie's Awfully Big Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Cosmic Pencil Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Fantasy Mountains Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Eyelevator Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Flicker Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
If You Go Down To The Woods Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Lake Of Sorrows Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Play Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Spawn Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Superfeierbend Dynamic Theme ($2.99)
Armageddon Riders Merry Xmas Wallpaper

PlayStation Store for PSP

Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 (Digital) ($19.99)
Cars 2: The Video Game PSP Demo
Patapon 3 Mission Pack 3 (free)
Orbit – Minis ($3.49)
P.O.W. – Prisoners Of War ($2.99)
Prehistoric Isle ($2.99)

PSP Bundles

101-In-1 Megamix+Fading Shadows Bundle ($13.99)
Arcade Essentials + Arcade Essentials Evolution Bundle ($6.99)
Jewel Keepers + Urbanimix Bundle ($5.99)

PS one Classics

Centipede ($5.99)

Sales, Price Drops & Bundles

Street Fighter III: Third Strike Online Edition Complete Pack ($19.99)
Dragon's Lair Trilogy Bundle ($19.99)
L.A. Noire Complete Edition Bundle ($34.99)
Just Cause 2 Ultimate Edition ($29.99)
Section 8: Prejudice – Holiday Bundle ($10.49)
Sonic Adventure Bundle ($11.99)
Resident Evil 5: Untold Stories Bundle (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $12.49)
Alpha Protocol Gear Pack (Sale) (now $5.99, original price $14.99)
Section 8: Prejudice Blitz Pack (Sale) (now $2.09, original price $ 2.99)
Section 8: Prejudice Overdrive Map Pack (Sale) (now $2.79, original price $3.99)
Section 8: Prejudice: Frontier Colonies Map Pack (Sale) (now $2.79, original price $3.99)
1942: Joint Strike (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Age Of Booty (Sale) (now $2.99, original price $4.99)
Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $14.99)
Bionic Commando: Rearmed (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Final Fight/Double Impact (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Flock (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Resident Evil 5 Gold Edition (Digital) (Sale) (now $19.99, original price $29.99)
Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Wolf Of The Battlefield: Commando 3 (Sale) (now $2.99, original price $4.99)
Grandia (Sale) (now $5.99, original price $9.99)
Blokus (Sale) (now $1.99, original price $4.99)
Earthworm Jim HD (Sale) (now $2.99, original price $9.99)
Modern Combat: Domination (Sale) (now $2.99, original price $7.99)
Bomberman Ultra (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Trine (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
L.A. Noire (PS3) (Sale) (now $31.99, original price $39.99)
L.A. Noire Complete Edition Bundle (Sale) (now $34.99, original price $49.99)
Red Dead Redemption Digital And Undead Nightmare Collection Bundle (Sale) (now $34.99, original price $49.99)
Daytona USA (Sale) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
Renegade Ops (Sale) (now $11.99, original price $14.99)
Sega Bass Fishing (Sale) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
Sega Rally Online Arcade (Sale) (now $5.99, original price $9.99)
Sonic The Hedgehog 4 Episode I (Sale) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
Space Channel 5 Part 2 (Sale) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
Armageddon Riders (Sale) (now $6.99, original price $9.99)
Homefront (Sale) (now $19.99, original price $29.99)
Cuboid (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Interpol: The Trail Of Dr. Chaos (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Magic Orbz (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $6.99)
Mahjong Tales: Ancient Wisdom (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Wakeboarding HD (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Hamsterball (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Ricochet HD (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Far Cry 2 – Digital (Price Change) (now $19.99, original price $29.99)
Activision Hits Remixed (Sale) (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Bakugan: Defenders Of The Core (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Cabela's African Safari (Sale) (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Cabela's Dangerous Hunts Ultimate Challenge (Sale) (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Cabela's North American Adventures (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Crash Bandicoot: Mind Over Mutant (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $29.99)
Crash Of The Titans (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Crash Tag Team Racing (Sale) (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Gun: Showdown (Sale) (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Monster Jam: Path Of Destruction (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Rapala Pro Bass Fishing (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Rapala Trophies (Sale) (now $7.49, original price $14.99)
Swat: Target Liberty (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Doodle Pool (Price Change) (now $0.99, original price $4.99)
Retro Cave Flyer (Price Change) (now $0.99, original price $4.99)
Zombie Racers (Price Change) (now $0.99, original price $6.99)
Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Capcom Classics Collection Remixed Umd Legacy (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Capcom Puzzle World Umd Legacy (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Darkstalkers: Chaos Towers Umd Legacy (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Fate Unlimited Codes (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Mega Man Maverick Hunter X Umd Legacy (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Monster Hunter Freedom Unite Digital (Sale) (now $9.99, original price $19.99)
Power Stone Collection Legacy (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
Street Fighter Alpha 3 Max Legacy (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $5.99)
Ultimate Ghosts N Goblins Umd Legacy (Sale) (now $4.99, original price $9.99)
5-In-1 Arcade Hits (Sale) (now $0.99, original price $3.99)
Blimp: The Flying Adventures (Sale) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
Minisquadron (Sale) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
One Epic Game (Sale) (now $0.99, original price $1.99)
The Impossible Game (Sale) (now $0.99, original price $2.99)

Qore

Qore Episode 43: December, 2011

PlayStation Plus

Co-op platformer Trine was one of my favourite games of 2009. Judging by the cult following it's developed since then, I'm not alone in my fondness.

Two years later, the game is back for a sequel, one that, on the surface at least, promises to add very little to the formula already laid down by the first game. Who can say whether this makes it worth your time and money? Our guts can, that's who.

Luke Plunkett, who loves Trine 2 more than Trine 1: Oops. Kinda giving the game away there with that opener. Ah well, who needs suspense in an informal appraisal when your heart is so full of love and admiration for the little platformer series that could?

While other games have been technically more impressive in the visuals department in 2011, none for me can match how beautiful Trine 2 looks. It's an over-saturated wonderland that is often the game's fourth character, stopping you dead in your tracks to admire a bleeding sunset or a swinging lantern or the swirling mists of a shimmering, emerald jungle.

Not much has changed, granted, aside from the welcome jump to three-player online co-op. You're still controlling the same three characters who have largely the same toolset at their disposal. You play as one of them (or co-operatively you can team up), and have to juggle who is best for which particular situation or challenge. But the core concept of Trine was never its problem. It was a solid foundation, one that allowed for both freedom and organic puzzle-solving and that helped the game stand out.

Trine's only problem was that first time around it felt a little cheap in places. Not so second time around. There's a level of polish and professionalism to Trine 2 that gives its gameplay the accompaniment it deserves, your globe-trotting tale much better-told, the characters much more elegantly fleshed-out.

Trine 2 has come out at a time of year when it's in danger of being over-looked while people sink hours into Skyrim, Battlefield or Modern Warfare. Which is a shame. Because if you appreciate a little thinking with your platforming and some of the best-looking visuals around, you should be sinking some hours into Trine 2 as well. It's a definite Yes.

Starting tomorrow, you'll be able to play Batman: Arkham City on your iPad. No, not Arkham City Lockdown. The real one, the big-boy PC version. It's happening courtesy of OnLive and it's impressive enough to make you consider trading in your Xbox 360 or PS3 for Apple's lightweight tablet.

You know OnLive. They're the company that lets you play AAA and indie games in the cloud, meaning you don't need an actual disc or high-end PC to run heavyweights like the original Crysis. Last year, they launched their MicroConsole, an iPhone-sized device that brought the same cloud-gaming functionality to garden-variety HDTVs. A nifty trick, even if it requires a wired Ethernet connection to pull it off. But OnLive's latest feat may be its most impressive, as it turns iPhones, iPads, Kindle Fires and a slew of other smartphones into places where you can play the latest blockbuster games. The video above shows off OnLive's app and new Universal OnLive Controller in action as I play Trine and Batman: Arkham City over the wifi connection at Kotaku Tower. What I can't show yet is L.A. Noire. OnLive's integrating touch controls for many of the games they offer, including Rockstar's hit detective release. The tweaking's still happening to make L.A. Noire playable via fingertips, but it will work with a controller when it hits the OnLive marketplace.

Still, a development like this is enough to make you forget all about the just-announced Arkham City Lockdown. For the $49.99 price of the new controller and a free app download, you can play hits Assassin's Creed Revelations wherever you please. The new OnLive app launches tomorrow and the Universal OnLive Controller will be available soon. We'll have more on OnLive's app and new tablet initiative tomorrow.