In the ever-expanding gaming world, countless new titles are available every day. Some games go viral instantly, and others bloom in popularity over time. With thousands upon thousands of choices, finding the absolute best games can be a bit daunting. For instant and free fun, look no further than Transformice (also available on Steam).

In the same vein as Agar.io, Transformice is a new type of multiplayer game. Completely free to play, you can join thousands of other players around the world in seconds. As soon as a new round begins, you will be thrust into the intense action. There are literally zero registration hurdles for first-time gamers. Those who prefer anonymity can play as a guest. If you desire eternal glory, create an account and make a name for yourself in the cheese-gathering world.

The objective in Transformice is simple: grab the cheese and bring it to your mouse hole. Each map is different, which partially evens the playing field for novice and experienced gamers. You will encounter 2D levels reminiscent of Super Mario World and Sonic the Hedgehog. There are bodies of water, frozen mountaintops, and moving platforms. In addition to the basic environment, each level is completely modifiable with additional props and traps.

Upon first glance, the Transformice interface is a bit intimidating. There are tiny buttons, a bunch of icons, and rapidly changing stats along the bottom of the screen. After some exploration (i.e. random clicking), the buttons in Transformice should begin to make sense. You can chat with others during each game, view the scoreboard, and see how long each player lived. The chat room doubles as a command-line interface, allowing you to quickly create and join other rooms.

There are pros and cons to the gameplay of Transformice. The action appears fast and hectic, although each character moves relatively slowly. Mice crawl, glide, and slide around the obstacles in each world. The shaman, or leader, of each room can spawn a plethora of objects at any time. This keeps the action fun and fast, since many items fling the mice around like weightless ragdolls. As for replay value, there are 8 game modes, all of which offer unique features. Beginners will benefit from Vanilla mode, and advanced players can experience truly challenging action in Bootcamp mode.

Regardless of genre, every addictive game has one key feature: shared experiences. Back in the 1980s, kids and adults competed for the high score on arcade games. In the 90s, video game consoles allowed friends to compete against each other at home. And in the 2000s, the Internet took over. From World of Warcraft to Call of Duty, the most popular games in the universe involve people playing against other people. Whether you just want quick entertainment or desire to become a cheese-hording champion, Transformice is a multiplayer game worth trying.

This is a guest post contributed by Joep van Duinen.