29: Game of the Year

What this episode covers

In the final show for 2014, we are counting down our picks for The Short Game game of the year: 3 – Shovel Knight Shovel Knight is an incredible throwback to the NES, but with a modern indie game energy. Arguably the best platformer of the last decade. Available for PC, Mac, Linux, Wii U, and 3DS, and coming soon to PS3, PS4, and PS Vita. 2 – A tie between Threes and A Dark Room These two simple iOS games really captured us, but for very different reasons. Threes is the most perfect, simple puzzle game since Tetris, and A Dark Room begins as a simple text-driven adventure but iterates its way out into a deep emotional journey. Both games are definitive mobile game experiences you shouldn’t miss. 1 – Game of the Year: Transistor Transistor by Super Giant Games blew us away with its beautiful art and deep, fun action-RPG combat. It’s a nearly perfect game that shows you a lot in your first 6-7 hour play through, but rewards dedicated players with a new-game-plus mode that expands on the combat system in really compelling ways. This game is destined to be a classic. Pick it up on PC, Mac, or Linux (Steam) or PS4. Personal Picks We each also wanted to mention a game that we thought deserved special attention, even though it didn’t place in our rankings. Laura – Lords of Waterdeep for iOS This iOS adaptation of the Wizards of the Coast board game shines as a great pass-and-play experience. Nate – FTL: Advanced Edition This free expansion to the incredible FTL: Faster than Light reinvigorated Nate’s unhealthy obsession with this short but infinitely re-playable rogue-like. Shane – Nidhogg Nominally a fencing game, Nidhogg is actually a tool designed to destroy relationships. An accessible one-on-one fighting game like no other. Raygan – Freedom Planet Freedom Planet came seemingly out of nowhere and destroyed my life for a weekend. It’s a pitch-perfect homage to the classic 16-bit Sonic the Hedgehog games, but expanded into new territory. It’s fiendishly difficult too. Don’t let the off-putting anime-styled cartoon animal characters put you off this incredible platformer. (You can turn off the dialogue and cutscenes if you wish.) Also discussed – Crypt of the Necrodancer It’s a rogue-like you can play on a DDR-style dance pad. What’s not to love? You can follow our show on Twitter at @_shortgame Your hosts this week were: Raygan Kelly – @raygank Shane Kelly – @8bitShane Nate Heininger – @natestl Laura Nash – @laurajnash

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