Was that the last but one, level 11? Because up to that one everything went okay for me but when I tried that one yesterday, I frustratedly aborted it halfway through, as it seemed to be annoying on purpose and took way longer than I thought it would. My issue with that was that you not only have to survive all the enemy encounters, but you also have to schlepp certain object with you in order to destroy the four statues, which means you can't use your beam for climbing at the same time, and the level is designed in a way that you absolutely need to use your beam or your jetpack to reach the according areas, and my jetpack fuel is always low or out although I hardly ever use it. Try to carry these damn things with you under these conditions, argh. So you're right, up to this point it could have been a one-day game, but it might well evolve into one of those that you never finish, or only years later, due to the last two levels. ;)

Unfamiliar with Da New Guys, will check it out for inclusion. Does anyone else have an opinion on the length of Emerald City Confidential?

I have Insecticide but am loathe to add incomplete games. I've not played it yet though, so if it is in fact complete within itself, then it should be fine to add, even if no other episodes will be made. (Designers creating an "episode one" game and then never anything else are a bête noire of mine.)

6 Days a Stranger is a freeware game though; if you want to include them, I could name you several dozens, but I guess exactly fo rthat reason you might want to exclude them? ;)

It was either that one or the one where those repulsion-field priestesses appear, unless that level was both of them. I do remember carting objects with great frustration, but even more I recall being walloped by the priestesses over and over. Even when I worked out the best way to deal with them, timing the shots was a real pain and almost impossible to pull off against every single one of them before they damaged me enough to end the level.

I'm not adverse to freeware per se, since I have a few on there already, but yes, I'm trying to stick to games from established studios. If I add every Game Maker title out there, the list would be the size of an old phone book. :)

Meanwhile, I did add Da New Guys to the list, as it looks like a good fit and Wadjet Eye is a known quality.

Actually, I ballsed that up and will edit the post now. It's 5 Days a Stranger, 7 Days a Skeptic, Trilby's Notes and 6 Days a Sacrifice (in release order). I meant the first one. The second is short and good as well; I'll probably finish the other two later this year.

EDIT: It also turns out that I mentioned the game about a month ago already. My brain just isn't firing on all cylinders today.

3-4 hours, maybe less.

Yeah, I've bookmarked this one. Sometimes I just want to knock out a quick game and not get bogged down in something that's going to be a weeks-long experience. I've found quite a few on the list that I already own, so this is going to give me a great reference to choose a short, satisfying game for those times when I'm not in the mood for something more involved and in-depth.

You can buy it here, but not sure if it is DRM-Free - http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/5080/emerald-city-confidential/index.html

Yes, I saw that too, and it's nice that I can get it for $3 as a new buyer. This one thing concerned me in the requirements however:

Game Manager System Requirements:
Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later

Sounds like it may need a co-running client, which I am opposed to. I will do some research though and find what this really means.

EDIT: Ugh, web searches indicate it's a pretty invasive client. Ah well, perhaps the game will eventually make its way to GOG or Desura.

Portal is really short and has the added benefit of being totally awesome.

I have not played it myself but Dear Esther is supposed to be quite short, only a few hours in length.

I can confirm that, I played through it in one sitting (if you'd call that "playing", that is ;) )..

To be honest, I'd be amazed if you can spend "a few hours" on a playthrough. It's less than ninety minutes on the first go, probably forty or so if you always know where you're going next. Replayability and meticulously studying everything are different matters.

Just a heads-up that Trilby's Notes can be finished in one sitting, which should come as a surprise to nobody. I didn't even need a walkthrough this time. I'm assuming that the last game in the series will be pretty short as well.

The quadrilogy is abandonware, by the way, so getting your hands on the games can be a bit of a hassle.

Just completed The Critter Chronicles. Took me ~10 hours on Hard.