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.