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

5) Transistor

Every year, there’s always seems to be that one title that comes along and simply blows you away. For me, that title was Transistor. Supergiant Games’ sophomore effort — following up on the critically adorned Bastion — bore certain similarities to its next of kin, including the isometric camera angle and silent protagonist, but the studio’s latest is arguably a more refined package that its spiritual forebearer.

Chronicling the poignant story of Red, the game takes place in the cyberpunk city of Cloudbank — a city controlled by a benevolent breed of artificial intelligence known as the Camerata. All of this is portrayed in one of the most visually astute art styles of the year, and Supergiant has created a protagonist that is as interesting as she is mysterious.

Couple this with a wonderful, almost haunting soundtrack that perfectly reflects the environments and a combat system so deep you’ll have to explore the new game + mode to truly unearth all of the possible permutations, and you have an indie title that earns its title of a beautiful and compelling RPG. It’s unique in a genre renown for grinding and repetition. Its battle system is as bold experiment that pays off in droves, and Supergiant’s wonderful art style helped cement Transistor‘s reputation as a game that we won’t be forgetting anytime soon.