Transistor Reviews

Transistor is ranked in the 95th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
90 / 100
Jun 4, 2014

While it has the capabilities, it probably won't appeal to those looking for twitch-action or puzzles. Still it deserves a chance to steal your heart, just as it stole mine. The only thing missing is more content.

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9 / 10
May 19, 2014

Transistor is an absolute triumph: a stunning sensory experience that buoys its lofty ambitions on a rock solid strategic core. It spins a tale of love, technology, and political and social unrest that speeds confidently towards a magnificent crescendo. What's more, the razor sharp combat remains thrilling throughout, and the visuals and music display an almost superhuman level of polish. While niggling complaints can certainly be levelled at the gorgeous indie, a trip to Cloudbank comes highly recommended.

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9 / 10.0
May 24, 2014

The enticing narrative, interlaced with gripping story-mechanics, all culminating in a fittingly poignant finale make Transistor a game that deserves to find its home in as many PlayStation 4's as possible.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 24, 2014

Transistor is one of my favorite games of the past year, easy. Without being weird and unrecognizable as a video game, Transistor turns many video game tropes on their heads—subtley. It also features an excellently written and likable narrator, a fully realized and meaningfully motivated female protagonist, a twist on the tired old tech tree of yore, a soundtrack that's integral to the storytelling fabric of the game, and a complex enemy composed of cowards, contemporaries, and anything-but-bloodthirsty rivals. There's not a note, pixel, or line of dialog out of place.

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9 / 10
Nov 12, 2018

Transistor is easily one of the finest works being made available in the Nintendo Switch catalogue. Fans of action games and of turn-based combat games will be delighted at this work, which will keep players very well entertained for a long time thanks to its long-lasting lifespan and to its fantastic soundtrack.

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9 / 10
Oct 30, 2018

Supergiant Games outdid itself with Transistor, providing an engaging ARPG experience that managed to improve upon its predecessor in many ways while adding in distinct new elements that help to define its identity. It's another welcome addition to the Switch library, and is the epitome of a modern RPG classic, with its fusion of cyberpunk elements, unconventional storytelling, and dynamic gameplay make for a game that you won't want to miss out on. We'd give Transistor a high recommendation to anybody looking for another great RPG for their Switch, or for someone who just wants to hear a good story.

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EGM
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
May 20, 2014

Transistor falters near the end by giving players access to a few game-breakingly powerful abilities, but the anticlimax is more than made up for by its touching story, gorgeous presentation, and imaginative take on the action-RPG formula.

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9 / 10
May 28, 2014

From it's intelligent game design to it's breathtaking art direction, Transistor brings the player into a world bursting with creativity. I found myself immediately entering New Game Plus mode after the credits rolled because I didn't want to leave the world of Cloudbank. Transistor is a game that isn't afraid to go outside of typical video game tropes resulting in a refreshing and fun experience. This is easily one of the best games on the PS4 and one PC gamers should consider.

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4.5 / 5.0
May 20, 2014

Though it can be vague, strange, and inaccessible, Transistor is one of the strongest games of 2014 so far. Its unique take on standard video game practices make it feel undoubtedly fresh. With strong combat, great enemy design, and a lovely story, Transistor will reward those who put in the time. Its parts are solid, but as a whole, it's a wonderfully sound, beautiful RPG that will stick with players for a considerable amount of time.

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9 / 10.0
May 22, 2014

Supergiant Games established itself as a remarkable, highly creative studio with the release of 2011's Bastion, and its sophomore effort proves that the development team isn't running short on worthwhile concepts.

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GameZone
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
May 31, 2014

When all is said and done, it's a perfect combination of gaming elements done right that you'll want to play again, all the while debating the realities of Cloudbank, its citizens and the Transistor.

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4.5 / 5.0
May 20, 2014

Like Bastion before it, Transistor is a lovingly crafted game by a dedicated and tight knit group of developers who strive not only to present us with a technically polished title, but one that keeps us interested throughout the entire journey. Though I personally would have liked more of a two-sided relationship between Red and the Transistor, I acknowledge the direction the designers were aiming for. Beyond that, the combat system is the most flexible and empowering I have seen in any game. Having dashed through the story in a mere seven hours, the New Game+ mode called Recursion allows me to keep my level and Functions intact, which is a good thing because there are still dozens of different combinations I'm eager to test out on the newly updated and tougher Process before me. At a bargain twenty dollars, Transistor is a refreshing and original adventure that every gamer should experience.

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9 / 10.0
May 28, 2014

Is Transistor worth your time? Well, I'm here to say that yes, it absolutely is. Stunning visuals, heart-breaking but well-written narrative (with a few rushed bits here and there), brilliant sound design, and a fun and rewarding battle system are some of the things you'll be signing up for if you purchase this game. And for a paltry twenty dollar pricetag (or your regional equivalent), you could do a hell of a lot worse. Transistor is a moody, atmospheric, tragic love story, and it's absolutely wonderful. A few pitfalls keep it from being perfect, but I'd still recommend it to anyone who loves games.

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9 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2014

Transistor is a beautiful, absorbing and well thought out game that encourages you to get creative with its system and carve out your own approach to defeating your opponents. Want superb aesthetics, compelling backstory and tactically engaging gameplay?  Look no further.

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9 / 10.0
Oct 30, 2018

But it's so damn short. Red's epic lasts just a few hours. New Game + promises to carry over my progress and beef up the Process accordingly, and the Sandbox still hides challenges, so there's replayability here. Still, I want more time with Red and her endearing sword. Transistor is too good to end so soon.

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May 21, 2014

Transistor is masterful. You'll come for the astonishing art direction and thoughtful storyline, but stay for the sensational combat that continually offers new opportunities and challenges long after your first playthrough comes to an end.

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9 / 10.0
May 20, 2014

If you'd told me five years ago that a game of this scope, and this level of polish, would come out of a twelve-person indie studio, I'd have thought you were nuts…but here we are. Transistor is easily one of the best things I've played so far this year, and in a field of games made by hundred-person teams and with hundred-million-dollar budgets, that's an extraordinary feat.

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9 / 10.0
Nov 1, 2018

Between the somewhat different way that its story and details reveal themselves, the terrific music and visuals, and the custom-catered abilities you’ll use in challenging combat Transistor is a satisfying cyberpunk romp. No matter how powerful you may feel the Process continues to send new enemies and scenarios at you so you’ll need to experiment and adapt, keeping everything engaging throughout. While the story feels like it’s over a bit too soon it’s a satisfying ride and if you want even more challenging combat you then always have the Sandbox and New Game + to indulge in.

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May 31, 2014

Supergiant Games has done a great job with their follow-up to the acclaimed Bastion by putting out a unique take on the strategy RPG genre that we haven’t seen since Valkyria Chronicles infused third-person shooter controls into the traditional strategy RPG mechanics.

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90 / 100
Mar 25, 2019

Transistor is a short game, but intense and very fun. Its playable proposal hooks and its duration is just so that it does not get heavy, although if your combat system catches you (which is very easy to happen) you will be wanting much more. The narrative is very good and is perfectly integrated into the development of the game, sometimes very evident and other times very subtle. It is an excellent game with few buts and really hard not to recommend. It compensates for its short duration with the intensity and quality of its hours.

Review in Spanish | Read full review