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

So while we've long heard of Far Cry 4's greatness, the fact that Destiny is, for all intents and purposes, a flawed masterpiece, along with Mario Kart 8's excellence, it's time now to usher some of 2014's more unassuming and, perhaps, lesser-played releases into the limelight for your consideration. Those pleasant surprises that stole our free time and, ultimately, deserved more attention that they got in the first place.

5) Transistor

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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.