Hyper Light Drifter

Hyper Light Drifter is a top-down action adventure telling the story of an ailing wanderer traveling through a decaying world full of remnants of an ancient catastrophe. The game contains no dialogue or explanatory text whatsoever; the story is conveyed through visual vignettes, wall murals, and the places you pass through, so you fill in much of the narrative yourself. The structure is simple: from a central town you set out in four directions, each with its own environment, enemies, and boss, and along the way you collect modules to upgrade your gear as well as a number of well-hidden secrets.

Combat is fast and unforgiving. You wield an energy sword, a ranged weapon with limited ammunition that you recharge through melee hits, and above all a dash that can be chained into very brisk movement. Enemies die after just a few hits, so you're expected to read their attacks precisely and stay in constant motion. Upgrades noticeably change your playstyle, whether through stronger charged attacks, longer range, or the ability to deflect projectiles back. The game never holds your hand and relies on you exploring the map and its hidden paths yourself.

Audiovisually it's a striking title: pixel art graphics complemented by rich neon colors, strong contrast, and gentle blur, so the result doesn't feel retro so much as a modern illustration. On PC the game runs smoothly and supports a gamepad, which is clearly better suited to its fast combat. Ambient electronic music is a crucial part of the atmosphere, quiet and melancholic in open spaces, oppressive during fights. The project came to life after a highly successful Kickstarter campaign, and after release it earned praise for its style, atmosphere, and combat system. Today it ranks among the titles that influenced an entire wave of later independent top-down action games. Anyone wanting to see everything must explore passages the game never points out in any way, since a significant portion of the gear and story vignettes lies entirely off the main path.