In this dark cloud known as the Global Economic Meltdown, it's hard to justify spending 60 bucks on a new video game.

But the best games for the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii aren't necessarily those for sale in stores.

Some of the most inventive titles are downloadable games, small chunks of digital fun that cost only $5 to $15 apiece.

That's because they aren't sold in stores in boxes, but purchased and downloaded from gaming networks owned by Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo. And because they aren't big blockbuster titles that cost tens of millions to develop, the game designers can take risks to produce something different. Sometimes, the payoff is glorious. Think of them as the equivalent of Sundance movies for video gaming.

You can buy these games directly from the PlayStation Network, Xbox Live Arcade or Nintendo's Wiiware. (To access these networks, you consoles must be connected to the Internet.)

World of Goo (Nintendo Wiiware, $15) » One of the Wii's best titles is a physics-based puzzle game in which the player tries to build a bridge of goo across two points while trying to keep it from collapsing.

It's like those physics bridge-building contests in high school -- only more cute and fun. It's also better than about 90 percent of the games available for the Wii and cost a third as much.

PixelJunk Eden (PlayStation 3, $9.99) » The fact "PixelJunk Eden" is difficult to describe or categorize is part of its charm.

The player controls a small tick-like insect connected to a silk thread in a virtual garden. This small creature jumps onto blossoms and pollinates other flowers as they grow.

It sounds uneventful and esoteric, but it's truly one of the most inventive and addictive games out there.

Echochrome (PlayStation 3, $9.99) » Imagine M.C. Escher in a 3D space and you get the gist of this mind-bending puzzle game.

The player controls a stick figure across a series of platform boards that can change dimensions by just turning the environment. It's fun, devious and rewarding at the same time.

A Kingdom for Keflings (Xbox 360, $10) » Ninja Bee, an Orem video game developer, has created this gem that's a cross between a real-time strategy game and "The Sims."

The player controls a god-like avatar that helps build and maintain a village of "Keflings," tiny humans that do your bidding. It's a fun and colorful diversion that allows you to build at your own pace.

Portal: Still Alive (Xbox 360, $14.99) » One of the most inventive first-person games ever comes to the Xbox Live Arcade.

The player tries to escape a series of levels by creating portals or holes in walls, and twisting and turning the environment. It's a thinking-person's 3D-shooting game, except there's nothing to kill.

Super Stardust HD (PlayStation 3, $9.99) » This "Asteroids"/"Geometry Wars" clone is more exciting and adrenaline-filled than those overhead shooters.

The player controls a small ship and zips around the outer orbit of a planet, blasting asteroids and alien ships into space dust. It's an explosion of color, music and sound that's hard to resist.

Wipeout HD (PlayStation 3, $19.99) » Sony's futuristic racer zips its way into high definition for the first time in this downloadable version that shows off the speed and graphical prowess of the PlayStation 3.

The game is stunning to look at and easy to control (especially after a new patch that makes driving the hovercrafts much easier). A racing game has never looked or played better.