These games sit and collect dust because most people think they're a waste of time. Well think again! Some of the most underrated games can turn out to be awesome video game experiences. Here we take a look at 10 of the most underrated games that are actually awesome!
10. Bulletstorm
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Kicking green aliens in the face is Grayson's facorite hobby.
Grayson Hunt is the name of the revenge seeking protagonist of this trigger happy shooter. He and his crew were duped by the evil Sarrano and were branded as pirates. The player takes control of a drunk Grayson as he attacks Sarrano and ends up stranded on an alien planet. The game is silly and extremely violent. You are rewarded for being able to dispose of your enemies in creative ways. Kicking is a very important mechanic even though you have access to extremely powerful fire arms.
This game went wrong in advertising. It was made out to be distasteful and over the top before the game's release. So despite strong reviews from critics, the game has gotten brushed under the rug. As far as shooters go, this game is actually really fun and enjoyable.
9. Luigi’s Mansion
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Run little buddy! It's hard not to love Luigi.
While Luigi’s Mansion might be difficult to consider a true underdog in the video game industry, it did receive its fair share of criticism as well. When most people think of their favorite Nintendo game, you will rarely hear them say Luigi’s mansion. The plot is rather simple as Luigi and Mario try to get rid of the ghosts that are haunting Luigi's new home.
The game was fun and had great graphics and design. It featured several ideas which were both new and refreshing for the Mario franchise. If you haven’t played Luigi’s Mansion I suggest you pick it up and give it a shot.
8. Mirror’s Edge
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This looks slightly terrifying, but liberating at the same time.
Like Luigi’s Mansion, Mirror’s edge did have a lot of commercial success. However, the short length of the story and the underdeveloped plot is a big turn off for many players. Don’t let any of that distract you from what really makes the game shine though. The parkour aspect of this game is unique and amazing. You wouldn’t stay away from a racing game because the story was cheesy right? Well Mirror’s Edge is a parkour racing game.
The game takes place in a dystopian world in which you, a runner, run errands above the reach of the law. You have to move quietly and quickly through the urban playground that is the city in order to go undiscovered. The game is fantastic and a must play if you haven’t tried it.
7. The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
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Link came back in a cartoony fashion following the success of the Ocarnia of Time.
This cartoony follow up to the Ocarina of Time turned off a lot of fans and resulted in quite a controversy for the Zelda series. However, the game is actually one of the best among it’s peers and includes a deep and fascinating story.
Link is once again faced up against the evil Ganon. This time though, he needs to gatherthe three pearls of the Goddesses in order to save his friend and defeat Ganon. The plot might seem simple, but there are several overarching adult themes that permeates the game. People still think of the Wind Waker as the franchise’s weakest moments. Those people have probably never played it.
6. Shadow of the Colossus
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No joke, the Colossi really are that big!
This game had commercial success, but is not played by many due to the lack of narrative and action. That is exactly where this game thrives though. The game world is beautiful and massive, and it is up to you, the adventurer, to figure out why you're there and what is going on.
As the game begins you are seen wandering into a huge valley with a dead girl on the back of your horse. Eventually the wanderer reaches a big temple in the valley and lays the girl on the temple altar. A voice is heard from the skies that commands the young man to slay the 15 colossi, and thus the story begins. The colossi are massive and the fights with them feel insanely epic. It does not involve quick time events or dynamic button mashing. The combat is rather slow paced just like the rest of the game, but there is a truly majestic feeling that goes along with taking down these massive beasts. It should be a crime to consider yourself a gamer and not have played this game, it is amazing!
5. Binary Domain
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Angry robots that are becoming sentient... what more could you want?
As a member of the Rust Crew, it becomes your job to deal with the breaches made in the new Geneva Convention. The world has been torn a part by global warming and a new world order exists in this post-apocalyptic shooter. You are sent to Japan in order to capture the supposed creater of a dangerous robot that attacked the government headquarters. As you arrive you quickly realized you might have gotten more than you bargained for.
The game is gritty and received relatively positive reviews, but the lag in multiplayer and buggy functions resulted in poor sales. Still though, this game was reported as fresh and often thrilling by IGN. In this game you are able to command your crew members to fulfill certain orders which is a nice change from playing completely solo.
4. Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War 2
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Only in Warhammer would you need an assault rifle and a massice sledgehammer with spikes.
Unfortunately for the Warhammer series, when people think of RTS games, they often think of Warcraft, Starcraft, or some Age of Empires game. Warhammer 40k comes with a unique take at some of the traditional RTS aspects such as the "taking cover" feature. The campaign mode follows the Space Mariners of your choosing as they battle it out with other factions in the galaxy. This game in particular involves a lot of micromanaging in order to protect your armies. As most Warhammer fans know, the franchise is incredibly rich in lore, and one could immerse oneself in the Warhammer universe for a very long time.
3. Lost Odyssey
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The only Final Fantasy without its name.
Lost Odyssey is the Final Fantasy that never was. This game is a masterpiece among RPG games, but is rarely heard of since it lies among the most underrated games on the market. The game places you and your party smack dab in the middle of a massive war between two highly developed countries. When most of the two armies are suddenly wiped out by a massive meteor it becomes your job to figure out what happened.
The game writer was Hironobu Sakaguchi who created Final Fantasy. As such, Lost Odyssey contains a lot of similar elements such as a time-based turn combat system, a world map that allows navigation between areas, and random monster encounters. The story takes place in a magic/industrialized world similar to that of Final Fantasy XII. If this interests you at all, then check out Lost Odyssey, it is a great game.
2. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning
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One of the best adventure RPG's on the market!
So you’ve finished Dark Souls 1, 2, and Bloodborne, and you’re thinking: Now what? Well go get yourself a copy of Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning. While this game has more of a Dragon Age RPG style feel to it, it also contains a lot of elements that makes the Dark Souls franchise so great. The game is an RPG adventure that takes place in the Faelands, a mystical world of science and magic.
You are brought back from the dead and are thus loosened from the bonds of fate. Since your destiny is no longer determined, you have the ability to change the fate of others. This allows you to search for the true cause of your death as well as possibly saving the world from a great evil. The story is great, the gameplay is great, and the game is great.
1. Legend of Dragoon
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Dart, Shana, and Rose defending the world from destruction.
The reason why Legend of Dragoon 2 was cancelled is something that will haunt me to my dying day. I remember playing this game when I was younger and absolutely loving it. Then I found out what an underrated game this was because no one else had played it. Sure the combat was a little clunky and could’ve used some improvement, but everything else was great! The characters were believable and relatable, the story was immersive and well-written, and the gameplay was fun.
The world is at war and you take the role of an adventurer named Dart. His simple quest to rescue his childhood friend from the opposing army that sacked his hometown grows into a full blown conflict that will determine the fate of the world. The sequel got scrapped because there was a lack of interest. I just hope that one day this franchise will get picked up again. This RPG was one of the greatest of our time.
What underrated games do you play? Leave a comment below and let us know what you thought of our list of underrated games.
