Seattle is known as a hub for independent game developers, so it might seem impossible to pick “the best”; however, I’m going to take that leap and say that Spry Fox deserves the title. Spry Fox has proven itself time and time again, creating games that are both beautiful and fun. They’re the brains behind hits like Triple Town, which was infamously copied, leading to a lawsuit; and Highgrounds, a deck-building game without cards. Although Spry Fox has created a multitude of games since its formation in 2010, it’s about to release its most intriguing title yet, the puzzle game Road Not Taken, out August 5 on Steam (PC & Mac) and Playstation 4. It’s not only breathtaking but thought-provoking; you’re only given one life, and no matter what, you’ll die (since, like IRL, life is limited). Go read more about Road Not Taken and watch the gameplay to see how Spry Fox is stepping up the standard for freemium and social-media games, which will in turn make the gaming community better as a whole. spryfox.com

Read all of our picks for Shops & Services, and explore the rest of this year’s edition of Best of Seattle.