5 of the best original games of 2012

Who says originality in gaming is dead? Well, a lot of people do, actually. Every year, it seems store shelves are bombarded with licensed games and triple-A sequels, especially during the holiday season. Only 195 titles released on consoles and handhelds this year weren’t based on existing franchises, according to a recent article from Penny Arcade Report. PAR says that’s a 35 percent drop from 2011. Luckily, what 2012 lacked in quantity it more than made up for in quality. Here, in alphabetical order, are five brand new, non-franchise, non-licensed video games worth your time and money.

Dishonored

This stylish steampunk action-stealth game borrows heavily from titles like Deus Ex, Thief, and BioShock, but manages to feel fresh thanks to its atmospheric setting. The fictional city of Dunwall — brought to life by a celebrity voice cast (Susan Sarandon, John Slattery, Brad Dourif, and Chloë Grace Moretz to name a few), a soundtrack from Dexter composer Daniel Licht, and the creative talents of industry veterans Raphael Colantonio and Harvey Smith — is as memorable as BioShock’s Rapture or Half-Life 2’s City 17. Toss in an intriguing mission-based storyline of politics and betrayal and an emphasis on player freedom, and you have the beginnings of a bold new franchise.