Your companion has been kidnapped by shadowy creatures – time to make evil taste steel! As Wild Wind’s fleet-footed hero, leap through the air to hack giant mosquitos and flying squids to shreds. Swipe to vault skyward, then slow down time as you line up your attacks – chaining together awesome combos as you soar to save your pal.

What we love: The stylish graphics. From sprinting through grassy plains to riding on the backs of giant geese, every scene is brought to life with a slick, painterly aesthetic. Inky-black enemies move with astonishing fluidity; you might need to remind yourself to stop staring and start slicing!

Quick tip: Once you complete the game with the male hero, you can replay it with the roles reversed. The female warrior’s grappling hook can cut through enemies at any distance – a powerful tool for huge combos.

Meet the creator: Originally from Taiwan but now based in Seattle, indie developer Ian Chiao built a procedural animation system to make Wild Wind’s adversaries feel organic and unpredictable.