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Scarabaeus manages to scrape its way into this roundup on the strength of its puzzling subgames. The game itself is a golden oldie, now available on compilations, which casts the player as the explorer of the three labyrinthine levels of an Egyptian tomb populated with energy-sapping ghosts and spiders.

Treasures and aid are available by entering alcoves (the tomb is displayed in 3D perspective) and activating puzzles each consisting of an array of flippable blocks which bear varying hieroglyphics on one side and a common one on the other.

By selecting a tile on an outer rim, a whole line of blocks can be made to flip over to show their other face; by strategic spinning, the player must get all the blocks to show the same glyph.

Scarabaeus also has a minimal maze-solving element to add to the puzzleability, but these features aren't as prominent as the unrivalled presentation of the action which creates a superb atmosphere for the game. This, and the fantastic soundtrack and effects are reflected in our overall rating.