In an oversaturated gaming market, the place each week brings a minimum of a number of new releases, it is commonplace for even the most popular titles to take pleasure in solely a quick surge of recognition earlier than consideration shifts to the subsequent huge factor.
Nevertheless, even nice video games from established studios generally fail to realize traction, with low participant engagement and recognition regardless of excessive scores throughout the board.
In lots of such circumstances, it isn’t laborious to see why sure nice video games are neglected at launch — whether or not because of launch timing, restricted advertising and marketing, technical points, controversy, or just being overshadowed by larger titles. Over time, a few of these video games are thought-about hidden gems with a devoted fanbase, however not each underappreciated launch is that lucky.
Beneath are examples of high-quality video games from the previous few years that deserved way more recognition however, for varied causes, are hardly ever mentioned at this time.
The video games listed had been launched throughout the final 5 years and are sorted chronologically from latest to oldest, with no extra rating.
Hell Is Us
Actually Ought to’ve Been Moved to One other Date
Hell is Us is a primary instance of a promising recreation launched beneath very unfavorable situations. The sudden launch of Hole Knight: Silksong, coupled with a number of different huge hitters launching across the similar time, comparable to Borderlands 4, makes it straightforward to see why Hell is Us went virtually unnoticed, with little dialogue and a participant peak of beneath 5,000.
And that is a disgrace, as a result of Hell is Us provides one of the crucial distinctive and engaging sci-fi universes in latest reminiscence, brimming with originality and mystery. With its optimistic reception throughout the board, it is simple to think about the sport gaining way more curiosity if it had been launched earlier or later, throughout a quieter interval. Maybe, as soon as the mud settles, Hell is Us will get a second probability at broader recognition.
The Alters
One of many Most Distinctive Sci-Fi Titles in a Lengthy Time
The Alters was luckier than Hell Is Us, releasing throughout a quieter season with little competitors. Nevertheless, that did not assist the sport spark a lot dialogue or draw many gamers, peaking at solely about 18,000. The controversy surrounding the use of generative AI throughout growth in all probability did not assist both, contributing to the sport dropping steam rapidly and shedding 90 % of its participant base in lower than a month.
Once more, with its unique sci-fi idea and daring mix of survival mechanics with a wealthy, character-driven narrative filled with morally complicated themes, The Alters deserved a lot better. It stays a straightforward suggestion for any sci-fi or survival fan.
South of Midnight
Audiovisual Masterpiece With Basic Gameplay
South of Midnight is one other hidden gem of 2025, largely ignored by gamers for no obvious motive. An audiovisual masterpiece, with a one-of-a-kind take on American bayou aesthetics and a artistic soundtrack by Olivier Derivière, it already provides loads of causes to play by means of, even when the gameplay itself lacks comparable creativity.
It is curious why South of Midnight flew thus far beneath the radar, particularly given how usually gamers ask for shorter, story-driven action-adventure video games. South of Midnight offers precisely that: an enticing story in a novel setting, which will be executed in about ten hours. It definitely deserved higher than a peak of only one,500 gamers and being forgotten virtually instantly.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
A Prolonged Journey Centered Round Nice Characters
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is one other prime instance of the high-quality, story-driven adventures gamers declare to crave, but its release was so quiet it is virtually puzzling. February is historically a busy month for gaming, however given the restricted competitors in its area of interest, Banishers peaking beneath 4,000 gamers is unlucky.
There was hope that Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden would achieve appreciation later by means of heavy reductions, however that by no means actually occurred. Its strengths — nice story and characters, prolonged marketing campaign, haunting ambiance, unique setting, and stable technical execution — by no means translated into wider recognition, leaving it one of the crucial underappreciated titles in Do not Nod’s portfolio.
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown
Prince of Persia Has By no means Been in Higher Form
Prince of Persia: The Misplaced Crown is particularly curious, given how lengthy gamers had been craving a brand new Prince of Persia recreation and the general prime quality of The Misplaced Crown, usually named one of the best metroidvanias in years. Regardless of that and its glowing critiques, the discharge went surprisingly quiet, and at this time hardly anybody talks about it.
Maybe the rationale The Misplaced Crown failed to realize the recognition it deserved was the final negativity surrounding Ubisoft on the time, which, coupled with the shortage of a Steam model at launch, hampered the title’s potential to turn into a significant hit.
Hello-Fi Rush
A Good Really feel-Good Journey for Music Lovers
At launch, Hello-Fi Rush briefly made headlines, principally because of being shadow-dropped with little to no advertising and marketing. However regardless of its glowing critiques and distinct, playful tone paying homage to a high-quality animated movie, the sport went largely underappreciated. Releasing it in such a method was daring, and the chance did not fairly repay.
Peaking at simply 6,000 gamers, Hello-Fi Rush stands as a primary instance of an unique recreation that by no means achieved the affect it really deserved, with too few gamers discussing the various achievements — from gameplay to visuals and music — that Tango achieved with this one.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Too Authentic for Its Personal Good
Counting on a recognizable, well-established model is normally a secure wager, however generally it isn’t sufficient, as proven by Marvel’s Midnight Suns. Granted, the sport’s mix of tactical card-based gameplay and dating-sim components makes it a distinct segment product that is not everybody’s cup of tea, however extra video games like this — daring, unique, and genuinely enjoyable — are sorely needed.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns’ lack of recognition and dialogue is one other unlucky instance of how dangerous it’s to strive one thing really new in at this time’s gaming panorama, the place even sturdy fight, a prolonged story, and a roster of iconic heroes cannot assure success.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Standing Among the many Most Lovely Indie Debuts
For a debut mission, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is nothing wanting a miracle, providing participating gameplay, a charming atmosphere, stunning visuals, and unexpectedly difficult bosses. Regardless of these strengths, Kena went largely unnoticed after its preliminary PC launch, peaking at solely about 2,500 gamers and by no means sparking the dialogue it deserved.
Launching on consoles two years later was far too late to show the tide or convey the sport into the highlight. Even with its broad enchantment, Pixar-like presentation, and lovable Rot companions, Kena: Bridge of Spirits nonetheless didn’t make an actual splash.
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
No, It Has Nothing to Do With Marvel’s Avengers
In the same but completely different state of affairs to Marvel’s Midnight Suns is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy — a playful, enjoyable, story-driven superhero action game with recognizable heroes that, for some motive, was broadly perceived as a continuation of the live-service failure that Marvel’s Avengers turned out to be.
The sport peaked at solely round 11,000 gamers, a far cry from expectations for a triple-A mission by a well known studio beneath the highly effective Marvel title. Even with glowing critiques, Guardians of the Galaxy by no means managed to shake that misguided notion, with too few gamers keen to present it a strive or talk about it at this time.
Returnal
Maybe Too Ability-Primarily based for a Sony Unique
Returnal is a daring try at delivering a triple-A, hardcore roguelike expertise, and whereas it succeeds in that objective, the very nature of the style makes it area of interest by default. Its unforgiving, fast-paced motion, tangled development, and the necessity to replay the identical sections repeatedly with minimal steering probably discouraged gamers who weren’t anticipating such problem from a high-profile Sony unique.
When it lastly arrived on PC, the place the roguelike style historically thrives, Returnal peaked at beneath 7,000 gamers, the bottom amongst former PlayStation exclusives, reinforcing its area of interest enchantment. Even when it comes up in discussions at this time, too few gamers have skilled it, which is a disgrace.
