In the world of video games, blockbuster titles like Elden Ring, GTA V, and The Legend of Zelda dominate conversations and sales charts. But not every great game gets its moment in the spotlight. Some fly under the radar due to poor marketing, unfortunate timing, or simply being overshadowed by bigger names. Yet, these hidden gems often offer experiences just as deep, emotional, or innovative as their triple-A counterparts—sometimes more.

Here’s a list of underrated games that deserve a second look—games that slipped through the cracks but are absolutely worth your time.

1. Spec Ops: The Line (2012)

Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

On the surface, Spec Ops: The Line looks like another generic military shooter. But it’s anything but. Beneath its dusty Dubai setting lies one of the most psychologically intense narratives in gaming. Inspired by Heart of Darkness, it subverts the genre by confronting players with the horrors of war and their own complicity in the violence. It flopped commercially, but its message hits harder than most games ever dare to attempt.

Why play it: For a narrative gut-punch that challenges your perception of morality in games.

2. Alpha Protocol (2010)

Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Billed as an “espionage RPG,” Alpha Protocol was ambitious and deeply flawed—but undeniably unique. Its branching choices actually mattered, its dialogue system was ahead of its time, and it felt like Mass Effect had a messy lovechild with a Cold War spy thriller. Yes, it’s buggy. Yes, the combat is clunky. But it’s also a game that tried to do something truly different and mostly succeeded.

Why play it: For reactive storytelling and spy fantasy with real agency.

3. Enslaved: Odyssey to the West (2010)

Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Developed by Ninja Theory (Hellblade), this post-apocalyptic retelling of the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West was a visual and narrative standout. With excellent motion capture, a strong performance from Andy Serkis, and genuinely likable characters, Enslaved told a heartfelt story in a ruined world without falling into grimdark clichés.

Why play it: For its character-driven story and creative world design.

4. Remember Me (2013)

Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Before Life is Strange, Dontnod released Remember Me, a cyberpunk action game with memory remixing mechanics and a gorgeously imagined Neo-Paris. It didn’t click with critics at launch, partly due to some shallow combat and pacing issues, but the aesthetic and central themes of memory, identity, and control feel more relevant than ever.

Why play it: For one of the most original sci-fi settings and mechanics of the 2010s.

5. The Saboteur (2009)

Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

An open-world WWII game where you play as an Irish race car driver turned resistance fighter in Nazi-occupied Paris? Yes, it exists. The Saboteur was Pandemic Studios’ swan song, and while it had rough edges, its stylish black-and-white aesthetic (used to represent Nazi control) and parkour-driven sabotage gameplay were years ahead of their time.

Why play it: For a moody, stylized open-world take on a genre that usually plays it safe.

6. Singularity (2010)

Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360

Raven Software’s Singularity was dismissed as a BioShock-wannabe when it launched. But dig deeper and you’ll find a gripping time-manipulation FPS with smart environmental puzzles and a tense Soviet sci-fi horror atmosphere. It never had the budget or polish of bigger games, but it had more ideas per level than most modern shooters have in their entire runtime.

Why play it: For time travel mechanics and a surprisingly strong narrative twist.

7. Tyranny (2016)

Platform: PC, macOS, Linux

What if you played an RPG in a world where evil already won? That’s the premise behind Tyranny, an isometric RPG by Obsidian that flips the morality script. Rather than overthrowing the dark overlord, you are part of the authoritarian system. Choices are nuanced and morally gray, and the magic system is delightfully weird.

Why play it: For moral complexity and a refreshingly inverted power fantasy.

Final Thoughts

These games may not have dominated headlines or topped sales charts, but each brought something fresh, bold, or deeply human to the medium. Whether it’s a philosophical shooter, a dystopian RPG, or a cyberpunk memory heist, these underrated titles deserve more than a passing glance. They deserve a second look—because sometimes, the best experiences are the ones you almost missed.