Not many games can boast an honest-to-goodness architect on the development team. But then few games are as cleverly constructed as the point-and-click adventure Lumino City. As young Lumi, you’ll solve puzzles as you search for your kidnapped grandpa in a marvelous, literally handcrafted town. Track down a pair of trousers for a gentleman living in a ball of twine, free a toy-size boat and her crew wedged in a waterwheel – you’ve never played (or seen) anything quite like this.

What we love: The stunning blend of CGI and live-action video. Though Lumi and the quirky characters she meets are computer-animated, the city itself is a 10-foot-tall physical model that took years to design and build. Tiny lights, working motors and all manner of intricately detailed materials were used to create one of the most innovative and beautiful game worlds ever.

Quick tip: Lumi’s Handy Manual acts as an inventive hint system when you’re stuck. Check the table of contents, then solve a simple math problem to figure out which of the book’s 900 (!) pages to consult. For instance, the bash lock’s clue is “No. of buttons on the lock x 10.” The lock has five buttons, so flip to page 50 and voilà – there’s a diagram you can use to crack the puzzle.

Meet the creator: Game studio State of Play likes to incorporate handmade elements in its games, which include Kami, Apple Design Award winner INKS and Lumino City predecessor Lume. London–based architect Catrina Stewart won a BAFTA Award for artistic achievement for helping design and assemble the Lumino City model.