There's game out there that features what we as sports gamers love (deep gameplay, loads of statistics, free agency, a college league and draft, team customization, etc.), yet is most likely unknown to a large percentage of OSers.

Frozen Cortex wasn't even on my radar, until it's latest update introduced Manager Mode. Now, it just got done eating up most of my weekend gaming time. What is Frozen Cortex, and why is it so good?

Gameplay

Frozen Cortex is the latest from indie developer Mode 7 games, and is similar to their first big hit, Frozen Synapse. Both of these games feature the same core concept: program movement for a group of individuals while an opponent does the same. Once the commands are locked it, the computer carries out those orders to either your benefit/detriment. Frozen Synapse used this idea to recreate a tactical shooter; Frozen Cortex replaces bullets with a ball.

The sport in Frozen Cortex is so simple, yet exceedingly deep and difficult to master. As the offense, your goal is to move the ball south into the end zone by running or passing. You have three forward passes, but once the ball carrier runs, you forfeit any remaining passes. You can never move the ball backward.

Impeding your progress is a defensive team, as well as obstacles which can block runs and throwing lanes. Stationary players will stun players who move into their area. Passes can be intercepted and the ball carrier can be tackled for a turnover.

Should you get it into the end zone, you earn seven points, plus bonus points for carrying the ball through highlighted zones. Once either team scores, the teams switch sides -- even if a defense touchdown was scored -- so that the starting defensive team now has possession of the ball.

All of this is broken up into turns, of indeterminate length. Turns tend to end with an important game event, like an interception or loose ball turnover. Once you issue commands (which are essentially move and/or pass), they'll execute until the end of a turn.

If this sounds at all confusing, it's my explanation that's lacking. Frozen Cortex couldn't be any simpler (especially thanks to a competent tutorial). However, the strategy required to choose commands while predicting what your opponent will do is excruciatingly deep. Any success feels like a huge accomplishment; failure will have you saying "How did I not see that coming?!!"

Manager Mode

While the game was released in February, it's recent update last week is what really should put this on your Steam wishlist. Manager Mode adds all that stuff I mentioned before, and does it with flair and creativity.

The context of this game is a future world where human sports have been outlawed. Instead, humans (or sometimes computers) commanding robotic athletes is the new entertainment. As you play, the management screen is set up like a computer desktop, with a standings widget and event row always present. News footage describes league history and perhaps brewing controversy.

Other teams have personality and individual histories, from the a team sponsored by the armed forces to a team of robotic separatists. Their managers have names and faces too, and will often call to do a little trash talking.

Between each game, you'll have the opportunity to bet on any of the upcoming games (including your own), or bid on free agents. You'll need to manage a basic salary, as well as set lineups and handle injuries. You can follow the college schedule and even fill out a bracket. After the season, a short draft takes place--hopefully you were paying attention to those college box scores!

Final Thoughts

In all, you get a very creative and well-thought out management game, even if it's not as deep as a full text sim, like Out of the Park or Football Manager. It's probably not even as full featured as some console games, like FIFA or Madden.

But with the support of the excellent and very thinky gameplay, Frozen Cortex is as much fun as any of those bigger titles. I haven't even tried online verses a human; in fact a beginner mode -- which lets you see the computer's moves -- is proving to be a nice challenge.

If you like the thoughtful side of sports, as opposed to jockeying a joystick, you need to try Frozen Cortex. Halfway through the 2015, it's among the best games I've played this year.