We Got This Covered’s 12 Most Surprising Games Of 2014

9) Child of Light

There’s no doubting that Ubisoft, as a studio, experienced a turbulent end to the year what with Assassin’s Creed: Unity and, to a lesser extent, Far Cry 4 running into an array of launch issues right off the bat. But a disappointing conclusion can’t undermine the eye-catching arrivals of Valiant Hears: The Great War and, crucially, Child of Light earlier in the year, which showcased a much more diverse side of the French publisher.

Infused with a rich strand of JRPG sensibilities, Child of Light was released as a passion project from one Patrick Plourde — creative director of Far Cry 3 — and told the story of Aurora, a flame-haired young girl hoping to reunite with her mother. It’s a touching, coming-of-age story made all the more powerful by the serene fairytale aesthetic that encapsulates it seamlessly. Told entirely in rhyme, Ubisoft’s avant-garde title taps into some of the core tenets of the genre and yet introduces some new-fangled features that fit perfectly into its lush, watercolor-styled world.

Chief among those is the combat system. Balancing the active timed battle system found in Final Fantasy and its ilk with dynamic, turn-based features that allow players to interrupt enemies (and vice versa), the encounters within Child of Light are much more challenging than you would expect. In fact, the tactical combat system is one filled with depth, meaning that the small amount of grinding that you are required to do is more fun than chore.

Since release, there have been murmurings that Ubisoft are exploring the option of a sequel to Child of Light coming off the back of excellent sales. Whatever the outcome, the publisher has laid a gorgeous foundation along with a colorful cast of characters — not to mention the wonderful Igniculus — and we’re cautiously optimistic to see what the company does next with the gorgeous UbiArt engine.