In an oversaturated gaming market, where every week brings at least a few new releases, it's not unusual for even the hottest titles to enjoy only a brief surge of popularity before attention shifts to the next big thing.
However, even great games from established studios sometimes fail to gain traction, with low player engagement and recognition despite high scores across the board.
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In many such cases, it's not hard to see why certain great games are overlooked at launch — whether due to release timing, limited marketing, technical issues, controversy, or simply being overshadowed by bigger titles. Over time, some of these games are considered hidden gems with a dedicated fanbase, but not every underappreciated release is that fortunate.
Below are examples of high-quality games from the past few years that deserved far more recognition but, for various reasons, are rarely discussed today.
The games listed were released within the last five years and are sorted chronologically from newest to oldest, with no additional ranking.
Hell Is Us
Really Should've Been Moved to Another Date
Hell Is Us
- Released
- September 4, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Blood, Intense Violence, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs
- Genre(s)
- Action, Adventure, Open-World
Hell is Us is a prime example of a promising game released under very unfavorable conditions. The sudden release of Hollow Knight: Silksong, coupled with a host of other big hitters launching around the same time, such as Borderlands 4, makes it easy to see why Hell is Us went almost unnoticed, with little discussion and a player peak of under 5,000.
And that's a shame, because Hell is Us offers one of the most unique and fascinating sci-fi universes in recent memory, brimming with originality and mystery. With its positive reception across the board, it's easy to imagine the game gaining far more interest if it had been released earlier or later, during a quieter period. Perhaps, once the dust settles, Hell is Us will get a second chance at broader recognition.
The Alters
One of the Most Unique Sci-Fi Titles in a Long Time
The Alters
- Released
- June 13, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Survival, Strategy, Management
The Alters was luckier than Hell Is Us, releasing during a quieter season with little competition. However, that didn't help the game spark much discussion or draw many players, peaking at only about 18,000. The controversy surrounding the use of generative AI during development probably didn't help either, contributing to the game losing steam quickly and shedding 90 percent of its player base in less than a month.
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Again, with its original sci-fi concept and bold blend of survival mechanics with a rich, character-driven narrative full of morally complex themes, The Alters deserved much better. It remains an easy recommendation for any sci-fi or survival fan.
South of Midnight
Audiovisual Masterpiece With Classic Gameplay
South of Midnight
- Released
- April 8, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
South of Midnight is another hidden gem of 2025, largely ignored by players for no apparent reason. An audiovisual masterpiece, with a one-of-a-kind take on American bayou aesthetics and a creative soundtrack by Olivier Derivière, it already offers plenty of reasons to play through, even if the gameplay itself lacks similar creativity.
It's curious why South of Midnight flew so far under the radar, especially given how often players ask for shorter, story-driven action-adventure games. South of Midnight provides exactly that: an engaging story in a unique setting, which can be done in about ten hours. It certainly deserved better than a peak of only 1,500 players and being forgotten almost immediately.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
A Lengthy Adventure Centered Around Great Characters
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
- Released
- February 13, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood and Gore, Language, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is another prime example of the high-quality, story-driven adventures players claim to crave, yet its release was so quiet it's almost puzzling. February is traditionally a busy month for gaming, but given the limited competition in its niche, Banishers peaking below 4,000 players is unfortunate.
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There was hope that Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden would gain appreciation later through heavy discounts, but that never really happened. Its strengths — great story and characters, lengthy campaign, haunting atmosphere, original setting, and solid technical execution — never translated into wider recognition, leaving it one of the most underappreciated titles in Don't Nod's portfolio.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia Has Never Been in Better Shape
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Released
- January 18, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action, Platformer, 2D
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is especially curious, given how long players had been craving a new Prince of Persia game and the overall high quality of The Lost Crown, often named one of the best metroidvanias in years. Despite that and its glowing reviews, the release went surprisingly quiet, and today hardly anyone talks about it.
Perhaps the reason The Lost Crown failed to gain the popularity it deserved was the general negativity surrounding Ubisoft at the time, which, coupled with the lack of a Steam version at launch, hampered the title's potential to become a major hit.
Hi-Fi Rush
A Perfect Feel-Good Adventure for Music Lovers
Hi-Fi Rush
- Released
- January 25, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- Rated T: Fantasy Violence, Language
- Genre(s)
- Action
At launch, Hi-Fi Rush briefly made headlines, mostly due to being shadow-dropped with little to no marketing. But despite its glowing reviews and distinct, playful tone reminiscent of a high-quality animated film, the game went largely underappreciated. Releasing it in such a way was bold, and the risk didn't quite pay off.
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Peaking at just 6,000 players, Hi-Fi Rush stands as a prime example of an original game that never achieved the impact it truly deserved, with too few players discussing the many achievements — from gameplay to visuals and music — that Tango accomplished with this one.
Marvel's Midnight Suns
Too Original for Its Own Good
Marvel's Midnight Suns
- Released
- December 2, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Tactical, RPG
Relying on a recognizable, well-established brand is usually a safe bet, but sometimes it's not enough, as shown by Marvel's Midnight Suns. Granted, the game's blend of tactical card-based gameplay and dating-sim elements makes it a niche product that isn't everyone's cup of tea, but more games like this — bold, original, and genuinely fun — are sorely needed.
Marvel's Midnight Suns' lack of recognition and discussion is another unfortunate example of how risky it is to try something truly new in today's gaming landscape, where even robust combat, a lengthy story, and a roster of iconic heroes can't guarantee success.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Standing Among the Most Beautiful Indie Debuts
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
- Released
- September 21, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
For a debut project, Kena: Bridge of Spirits is nothing short of a miracle, offering engaging gameplay, a charming atmosphere, stunning visuals, and unexpectedly challenging bosses. Despite these strengths, Kena went largely unnoticed after its initial PC release, peaking at only about 2,500 players and never sparking the discussion it deserved.
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Launching on consoles two years later was far too late to turn the tide or bring the game into the spotlight. Even with its broad appeal, Pixar-like presentation, and lovable Rot companions, Kena: Bridge of Spirits still failed to make a real splash.
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
No, It Has Nothing to Do With Marvel's Avengers
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
- Released
- October 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
In a similar yet different situation to Marvel's Midnight Suns is Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy — a playful, fun, story-driven superhero action game with recognizable heroes that, for some reason, was widely perceived as a continuation of the live-service failure that Marvel's Avengers turned out to be.
The game peaked at only around 11,000 players, a far cry from expectations for a triple-A project by a well-known studio under the powerful Marvel name. Even with glowing reviews, Guardians of the Galaxy never managed to shake that misguided perception, with too few players willing to give it a try or discuss it today.
Returnal
Perhaps Too Skill-Based for a Sony Exclusive
Returnal
- Released
- April 30, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Mild Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter
Returnal is a bold attempt at delivering a triple-A, hardcore roguelike experience, and while it succeeds in that goal, the very nature of the genre makes it niche by default. Its unforgiving, fast-paced action, tangled progression, and the need to replay the same sections repeatedly with minimal guidance likely discouraged players who weren't expecting such difficulty from a high-profile Sony exclusive.
When it finally arrived on PC, where the roguelike genre traditionally thrives, Returnal peaked at under 7,000 players, the lowest among former PlayStation exclusives, reinforcing its niche appeal. Even when it comes up in discussions today, too few players have experienced it, which is a shame.
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