13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

It's been years since I, a transhumanist, have seen a decent audiovisual science-fiction story that is not a fantasy masquerading as one. What I couldn't hope to expect is this, a biblical-scale secular epic about nature & struggles of conscious beings that is both incredibly optimistic and existentially horrifying.

It tackles similar themes and on the same grand level (or more) as Metal Gear Solid 2, NieR: Automata and Outer Wilds. Also has music just as good as legendary superb soundtrack of N:A.

It heavily references famous works of fictions all throughout 20th century: literature, VNs, anime and films such as Neon Genesis Evangelion, Steins;Gate, Madoka Magica, Ghost in the Shell (first 2 movies and SAC), Pacific Rim, All you need is kill / Edge of Tomorrow, The Alien Machine / This Island Earth, Star Wars, WALL-E, Men in Black, Terminator 1/2/3, Total Recall, Sixth Day (unfortunately), Back to the Future, WarGames, fiction of Arthur Clarke, H. G. Wells, Isaac Asimov.

There is only 3 "flaws" in it: the fact that it was made with a shoelace budget and that not a single point about it's story could be told or shown without spoiling a major revelation. Even START menu visual transition, name of main musical theme and first minute of prologue's intro are endgame spoilers with some context. With all that, it is a massive >30-hour heartbreaking story of tens sympathetic characters.

The 3rd flaw is that difficulty modes "Casual / Normal / Intense" should be more aptly called "Absentmindedness / Casual / Easy".