Best 2D Game engine

Looking to make a DM-esque platform game.  I was just wondering if there's a freeware indie game engine that you don't have to pay for.  I've already looked at spritecraft, and I tried to use it for a while until I realized it was bullshit in it's complexity; looked at PTK, and was amazed by it's simplicity in comparison.  However, you have to pay for it, like, 200 dollars.  This is a hobbyist game, I don't want to sell it or have to pay to make it. 

So, any response?

SERIOUSLY, IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING, FROM
LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file 'uuid.lib'

TO THE MOST FUNNEST OF ALL:
error C2440: '=' : cannot convert from 'INT_PTR (__stdcall *)(HWND,UINT,WPARAM,LPARAM)' to 'DLGPROC'
        This conversion requires a reinterpret_cast, a C-style cast or function-style cast

I'm using their project files, their examples that they provide.  They should just be able to open up in visual studio and go.  But they don't.  What the fuck.