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Bound (PlayStation 4)

BY PLASTIC STUDIOS & SIE SANTA MONICA STUDIO

Rhythm games may use dancing animations to show a beat, but not many games engage with dance as an artform. In Bound, the beauty of the ballet takes center stage. The platformer casts the player as a faceless dancer who must defeat a nebulous monster by pirouetting across each fragmented level. With abstract landscapes and an irresistibly graceful protagonist, Bound is a feast for the eyes. The surreal story and level design paint an allusive picture, but the incredible performance by dancer Maria Udod (and choreographer Michal Adam Góral) ground the game in a tactile elegance.

Perfect for: Dancers, ballet snobs, surrealists

Playtime: 2 hours