10 Amazing Games With Incredible Reviews You Haven't Played

With the rate at which Indie and AAA games are released, and the rising prices of the latter, I'd guess that most of us have growing backlogs and wish lists that we always intend to get around to, but don't for one reason or another.

Beyond that, though, sometimes the unfortunate fact is that great games are often overshadowed by a long-awaited release or lack enough promotion to compete with the biggest games of the month. I mean, why do you think all the other games releasing in the latter half of 2026 are doing their best to differentiate themselves from November when GTA 6 launches?

For that reason, we've put together a list of games that may have flown under your radar. Maybe you were too young when it was released, or maybe you were so focused on another release that you missed it. Whatever the reason, here are some highly rated games that you may not have played, but should definitely add to the list.

10

UFO 50

Metascore 93 | User rating 8.9

Despite being well received at launch, UFO 50 had the misfortune of being released in the same month as 2024's Game of the Year winner, Astro Bot. Sure, they were on different platforms, with UFO 50 only on Nintendo Switch and PC, but in the grand scheme of things, it was still hard to compete with Sony's mascot, who dominated marketing and news that month.

That said, it's worth coming back to take a look, as UFO 50 is a unique little indie that's actually 50 games in one. Whether you're looking for singleplayer, multiplayer, roguelikes, RPGs, or platformers, this little game has it all and more. Between low price, good quality and variety, it's hard to beat.

9

OneShot

Metascore 80 | User rating 8.9

After originally appearing as a free-to-play indie game on PC, OneShot was eventually formally released on Steam in 2016 as a completely redesigned experience. There it developed a small following that grew when World Machine Edition also brought the game to consoles in 2022. Of course, still nothing compared to what it should have been.

Despite being highly rated, reasonably priced, and available on all modern platforms, this adventure puzzle game remains mostly overlooked by gamers, and there's no reason for it. If you've been searching endlessly for a new cozy, story-heavy indie that will challenge you, it's been here all along.

8

The wolf among us

Metascore 85 | User rating 8.9

Considering how much The Wolf Among Us 2 was delayed and made headlines because of it, you've probably heard of this franchise but maybe never got around to the original. Also, since The Wolf Among Us was released episodically, there's a chance you planned to return to it when all the episodes were out and then completely forgot about it once they were.

Whatever the reason, The Wolf Among Us 2 is finally on its way to release next year, so now is a good time to jump into the first one if you haven't already. Critics and players have rated it highly, and all episodes are out, meaning you don't have to wait for more content to be released.

7

Pizza tower

Metascore 89 | User ratings 8.9

Pizza Tower, like UFO 50, is another somewhat recent indie release that managed to be overlooked by many. Unfortunately, this is likely due to the fact that the game was only available on PC, but it has since come to the Nintendo Switch, making it available to Nintendo console players.

This 2D platformer features overly emotional characters and an art style that looks like it was ripped straight out of a 90s cartoon. That said, what really sold Pizza Tower for most players was the phenomenal soundtrack that accompanies the game's chaotic gameplay. If you haven't tried it yet, there's a good chance you won't be disappointed.

6

Ori and the Blind Forest

Metascore 88 | User rating 8.6

While Ori and the Will of the Wisps technically has a higher rating than The Blind Forest, with a metascore of 90 and a user rating of 8.9, you really shouldn't play it without playing this one first. You don't technically need to play Blind Forest to understand Will of the Wisps, but it's also phenomenal, adds context, and offers a better overall experience with both games if you play it first.

Both are action platformers with beautiful, dreamy atmospheres and unique characters available on PC, Nintendo Switch and Xbox. Unfortunately, neither game is currently available on PlayStation, and it's unlikely that they will be anytime soon.

5

Paranormasight: Honjo's Seven Mysteries

Metascore 85 | User rating 9.0

You've definitely heard of Square Enix, even if you've never played any of their games, but what you might not have heard of is Paranormasight. Yes, Square Enix makes other highly rated games besides Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.

These visual novel style horror adventure games are a series, but The Seven Mysteries of Honjo specifically has the highest ratings and is available on both PC and Nintendo Switch. So if you've been looking for a new mystery to solve with a spooky premise, be sure to check out this underrated game from a legendary publisher.

4

Omori

Metascore 88 | User rating 9.0

Speaking of horror, although this is more psychological horror than traditional horror, another game that tends to be forgotten is Omori. Despite its bright and colorful pixel art, Omori is as disturbing as it is heartbreaking, and most people who have sat down to play it don't seem to forget the impact the game had on them the first time they played it.

Unfortunately, the fact that this game was originally released in late 2020 means that we were starving to get back out into the world again and away from the games we were stuck with during quarantine. For that reason, new releases weren't as highly regarded as they had been just months before, when we were all looking for something to occupy us, and Omori likely saw an effect of that.

Of course, it's still universally loved by those who have discovered it since, so if you've never heard of it or just haven't picked it up yet, now's your chance.

3

Baldur's Gate

Metascore 91 | User rating 8.8

Yes, I know you've heard of Baldur's Gate 3. If you haven't, I'm pretty sure you just started playing video games for the first time today because BG3 is practically unavoidable in this space. It's on every major recommended playlist, it's a GOTY winner, and players still put thousands of hours into it over many replays.

But, and this may shock you, the 3 at the end of BG3 means there are two other games before it, Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2, both of which are also highly rated by critics and players. They're older, of course, but the stories and gameplay are just as good, and you'll probably recognize some faces from BG3 if you've already played it.

So if you're one of the many who just can't let go of Baldur's Gate 3, I highly recommend checking out the previous two games. Despite BG3's success, very few players have taken the time to experience these stories, even though they are just as fun in their own ways.

2

Conker's Bad Fur Day

Metascore 92 | User rating 8.8

If you don't know what this is, boy, do I have a treat for you, and if you do, then I think you think this game is way more popular than it actually was. Like many of us, I grew up in a pretty strict household where a game like this would never have crossed my path, but since growing up I've been blessed with an introduction to this hidden gem thanks to some questionable friends.

So whether you had strict parents like me or just weren't lucky enough to stumble upon this game yourself, Conker's Bad Fur Day is a chaotic mature game about a drunk squirrel. No, it's not a joke. And yes, this actually has a 92 on Metacritic.

Trust me when I tell you that there is no way I could describe this game to do it justice, and you have to experience it first hand. I honestly think it's probably best if you know as little as possible before playing it. Unfortunately, it's a Nintendo 64 game, so you'll have to get creative if you're determined to play it. But for those on Xbox, it's included in the Rare Replay collection on Xbox Game Pass.

1

Okay

Metascore 93 | User ratings 8.9

This is one of the few on this list that I'd be surprised if you hadn't heard of, considering it's considered a gaming masterpiece, but not enough people have actually played it. At the 2024 Game Awards, we found out that a sequel was officially in production with the same director as the original, Hideki Kamiya. While we don't know much beyond that, it seems to be keeping what made the original special.

For those who haven't heard of it, Okami is a story-heavy Japanese mythological adventure game made by Capcom that features a beautiful Sumi-e ink art style. I won't share much more beyond that as it's something you should experience for yourself, and thankfully you can on almost any platform, as an HD remaster was released for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox back in 2017.