When you play as many games as I do, it’s easy to become jaded and focus more on the bad than the good. However, every now and then, I’ll play a game that’s just so good that I can’t believe more people don’t talk about it or play it, and this is where this list comes in.
I’ve put together some games I’ve played over the last few years that deserve far more love than they received. They’re games I think need to be played by far more people because gaming is incredible, and these games embody precisely that.
A Plague Tale: Requiem
Embark on a heartrending journey into a brutal, breathtaking world twisted by supernatural forces.
After escaping their devastated homeland, Amicia and Hugo travel far south to new regions and vibrant cities. There, they attempt to start a new life and control Hugo’s curse.
But, when Hugo’s powers reawaken, death and destruction return in a flood of devouring rats. Forced to flee once more, the siblings place their hopes in a prophesized island that may hold the key to saving Hugo.
Discover the cost of saving those you love in a desperate struggle for survival. Strike from the shadows or unleash hell, overcoming foes and challenges with a variety of weapons, tools and unearthly powers.
Why I think it deserves more love:
It’s infrequent for me to be so engaged in a game’s story that everything else in my life sort of falls to the wayside, but that’s precisely what happened here.
From when I started playing until I was done, all that existed in my universe was the struggle of Amicia and Hugo, and that’s some masterful storytelling.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Afterparty
In Afterparty, you are Milo and Lola, recently deceased best buds are suddenly staring down an eternity in Hell. But there’s a loophole: outdrink Satan and he’ll grant you re-entry to Earth.
Control Milo and Lola with an intelligent conversation system that changes the story and your relationships based on every decision. Uncover their personality quirks and foggy history during the wild events of the night.
Every step is up to you as you stumble through the underworld. Go on a hellish bender, uncover the mystery of your damnation, and drink Satan under the table.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Sometimes, the best thing a game can be is fun, and that’s what Afterparty is.
From start to finish, it’s genuinely sharp and funny, and it’s impossible to play it and not have a good time – no matter what else might be going on in your life.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Blacksad
The 50s, New York City: Joe Dunn, owner of a boxing club, is found dead.
Meanwhile, rising star Bobby Yale, due to take to the ring for the most important fight of his career, has mysteriously disappeared.
Sonia Dunn, Joe’s daughter, takes over the gym and must deal with its financial woes. She hires private detective John Blacksad to investigate Yale’s disappearance. This sinister case will take our investigator to the darkest, most dismal depths of New York.
Why I think it deserves more love:
It’s no secret that I love comic books, but it’s very seldom that they’re adapted into games, and even more rare that when they are, the game is good.
Blacksad is a thrilling detective crime noir game all the way through, and the game has managed to encapsulate everything that makes the comic special, elevate it, and bring it to life in the best possible way.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Broken Age
Broken Age is a family-friendly, hand-animated, puzzle-filled adventure game with an all-star cast, including Elijah Wood, Jack Black and Masasa Moyo. Funded by a record-breaking crowdfunding campaign and designed by industry legend Tim Schafer, Broken Age is a timeless coming-of-age story of barfing trees and talking spoons.
Vella Tartine and Shay Volta are two teenagers in strangely similar situations but radically different worlds. The player can freely switch between their stories, helping them take control of their own lives and dealing with the unexpected adventures that follow.
Why I think it deserves more love:
It’s not often that you find family-friendly games that are engaging no matter how old you are, but that’s something that Broken Age managed to manage masterfully.
The game is truly remarkable and a feast for the eyes, and it’s only further improved by the fantastic voice acting and engaging story.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Crossing Souls
It’s 1986 in California. A group of friends discover a mysterious pink stone that allows them to travel between two realms. This gang will live the summer of their lives in an adventure that will get them involved in a government conspiracy. Control five kids with special skills while fighting and solving puzzles to save their families and the world.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Nostalgia is something many games try to take advantage of, but few can pull off in a way that feels meaningful.
Crossing Souls is an intense game that deserves far more hype than it ever received. Not only does it fully embrace 80s nostalgia, but the characters are easy to fall in love with, and the game’s flow is fast-paced and exhilarating.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Cult of the Lamb
Cult of the Lamb casts players in the role of a possessed lamb saved from annihilation by an ominous stranger and must repay their debt by building a loyal following in his name. Start your own cult in a land of false prophets, venturing out into diverse and mysterious regions to build a loyal community of woodland Followers and spread your Word to become the one true cult.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Cult of the Lamb managed to take parts of many different games and marry them in a way that feels so right.
There is base building, resource management, dungeon delving and a million other things that all work so well together – it’s also darkly beautiful and unique. Regardless of skill level, it’s a fun experience from start to finish.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Cloudpunk
Your name is Rania. This is your first night working for Cloudpunk, the semi-legal delivery company based in the sprawling city of Nivalis. You go everywhere, from the Marrow below to the spires that pierce the grey clouds high above before scraping the edge of the troposphere. No delivery job is too dangerous, and no one is faster than a Cloudpunk driver.
In this story-based exploration game, you will meet a diverse range of characters, including androids, AI and unscrupulous humans at every level of society. Everyone has a story, and in the course of one night in Nivalis, everything will change.
Why I think it deserves more love:
There are few themes as visually stunning in a game as Cyberpunk; however, it’s something that many games struggle to pull off.
Cloudpunk might not be the most intricate game. Still, it makes up for that by being incredibly engaging and beautiful in its own style. It’s not a long game, but it’s one that I’ve had floating in my mind for the last three years.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Dave The Diver
Dave the Diver is a casual, single-player adventure RPG featuring deep-sea exploration and fishing during the day and sushi restaurant management at night. Join Dave and his quirky friends as they seek to uncover the secrets of the mysterious Blue Hole.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Dave the Diver is a game that has already done spectacularly well, but even so, it demands even more.
Since playing Dave the Diver, I’ve introduced it to countless friends who don’t usually play this type of game, yet each of them has loved it just as much as I do.
It’s a game with a seemingly endless amount of things to do. If you’re looking for something relaxing yet exciting and visually spectacular, this game is for you.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Don’t Starve Together
Discover and explore a massive procedurally generated and biome-rich world with countless resources and threats. Whether you stick to the surface world, go spelunking in the caves, dive deeper into the Ancient Archive, or set sail for the Lunar islands, it will be a long time before you run out of things to do.
Why I think it deserves more love:
I’m always looking for games to play with friends, and no matter how many we’ve played, we keep returning to Don’t Starve together repeatedly because it’s so damn good.
The game has the right amount of humour, seriousness and challenge that will surely be a good time regardless of who you choose to try and survive with.
It’s also a game that’s never been forgotten. Whenever you return to it, there will be a plethora of new and exciting content to explore.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Days Gone
Days Gone is an open-world action-adventure game set in a harsh wilderness two years after a devastating global pandemic.
Step into the dirt-flecked shoes of former outlaw biker Deacon St. John, a bounty hunter trying to find a reason to live in a land surrounded by death.
Scavenge through abandoned settlements for equipment to craft valuable items and weapons, or take your chances with other survivors trying to eke out a living through fair trade… or more violent means.
Why I think it deserves more love:
When I played this game on launch, I hated it. There was nothing about the game that was for me, but then, at the start of the year, I decided to give it another shot and man, oh man, am I glad that I did.
Days Gone has become one of my all-time favourite games. It’s got a spectacular story, characters with real depth and gameplay that feels fluid and challenging all the way through.
If you like Zombie games, you need to give Days Gone a shot because it is one of the best.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Death’s Door
Reaping souls of the dead and punching a clock might get monotonous, but it’s honest work for a Crow. The job gets lively when your assigned soul is stolen and you must track down a desperate thief to a realm untouched by death – where creatures grow far past their expiry and overflow with greed and power.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Every now and then, you’ll play a game that wriggles into your mind and soul and stays there, and that’s exactly what happened with Death’s Door.
The game drips with personality and never becomes a drag, no matter how long you play. The mechanics are easy to grasp and challenging to master. It’s one of the few games that made me want to Achievement Hunt just so I had an excuse to play it more.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium – The Final Cut is the definitive edition of the groundbreaking role-playing game.
You’re a detective with a unique skill system at your disposal and a whole city block to carve your path across. Interrogate unforgettable characters, crack murders, or take bribes. Become a hero or an absolute disaster of a human being.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Disco Elysium won’t appeal to everyone, but if it’s for you – it’s really going to be for you.
It’s hard to find fault with Disco Elysium. The narration is incredibly engaging, the characters are all flawed people, and everything in the game feels terribly bleak – but that’s where the game truly comes to life.
It’s a narrative game that feels unlike any other one I’ve ever played. The mechanics are so tightly woven into the story that it feels like an entirely new gaming experience.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Dropsy
After a deadly circus fire shatters his world and tarnishes his name, Dropsy the Clown finds himself on a journey of self-discovery through a story that harnesses themes of love and unmerited kindness. With his father gravely ill and the world turning its back on the once-celebrated clown, Dropsy must help those in need, hug total strangers, and unearth dark secrets on the winding road to redemption. Oh, and Dropsy can also talk to animals.
Dropsy is a non-traditional take on the classic point-and-click adventure formula starring the game’s perpetually carefree namesake clown as he explores a richly detailed world full of colourful characters and sinister secrets, doling out hugs along the way. Rather than lead players on a singular narrative path, players are free to determine which avenues of adventure they want to explore in an open-world setting and can piece the puzzles together at their own pace.
Why I think it deserves more love:
I picked up this game on a whim and didn’t have any real expectations for it, but after playing for just a few minutes, I was hooked, and it’s a game I’ve since gone back and played multiple times.
There is just something so heartwarming about the game. As you play, it has so much more depth than I initially expected that it deserves to be one of the greats. It’s a shame more people haven’t gotten to experience the joy that is Dropsy.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Dysmantle
As you ascend from your shelter after the long, long years, a brave new old world awaits you. A world inhabited by nasty and vile creatures. A world with no other human soul to be seen. A world with nature reigns now. A world that’s about to get even worse.
You need to find a way to escape the wretched island. But before that, enjoy the bittersweet apocalypse.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Dysmantle is a game, so much better than what the Steam page makes it look.
The art style is nice, but the gameplay loop of exploring, gathering resources, returning to camp and using those resources to make better tools to gather more exotic materials to survive in harsher environments is remarkably fun.
It’s a great game to experience on your own, but it’s even better with a friend and on top of that, the story is great.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Detroit Become Human
Detroit: Become Human puts the destiny of both mankind and androids in your hands, taking you to a near future where machines have become more intelligent than humans.
Every choice you make affects the outcome of the game, with one of the most intricately branching narratives ever created.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Detroit: Become Human is more of an interactive movie than something you sit down and play.
It is a dystopian, choose-your-own-adventure game with a profound and moving story and compelling and flawed characters.
It’s one of the most moving narrative games I’ve ever played, and it’s a game I’ve never been able to get out of my heart or mind.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Dreamscaper
Dreamscaper is an endlessly replayable Action Roguelike with a waking/dreaming gameplay cycle.
By night, delve deep into your subconscious, facing nightmares in an ever-changing world filled with unique items, abilities, and challenges.
By day, explore the city of Redhaven, build relationships and unlock permanent upgrades in order to take on the next dream stronger than ever.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Dreamscaper is a game with gorgeous art and creative and unconstrained game design.
The story is sweet with a lot of heart, and the combat is fluid, fast-paced, colourful, and just plain fun.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
It Takes Two
Embark on the craziest journey of your life in It Takes Two, a genre-bending platform adventure created purely for co-op. Invite a friend to join for free with Friend’s Pass and work together across various gleefully disruptive gameplay challenges.
Play as the clashing couple Cody and May, two humans turned into dolls by a magic spell. Together, trapped in a fantastical world where the unpredictable hides around every corner, they are reluctantly challenged with saving their fractured relationship.
Master unique and connected character abilities in every new level. Help each other across an abundance of unexpected obstacles and laugh-out-loud moments.
Kick gangster squirrels’ furry tails, pilot a pair of underpants, DJ a buzzing nightclub, and bobsleigh through a magical snow globe. Embrace a heartfelt and hilarious story where narrative and gameplay weave into a uniquely metaphorical experience.
Why I think it deserves more love:
It Takes Two is an absolute must-play, especially if you have someone to share the experience with.
The game has stunning graphics, engaging teamwork-focused gameplay, exceptional puzzles and everything else good.
Playing it was an unforgettable cooperative gaming experience and one I wish I could experience for the first time again.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Lost in Random
Ruled by a wicked Queen, the kingdom of Random is divided into 6 shadowy realms where a cursed black dice dictate life.
In this story from the award-winning Swedish game studio Zoink and penned by Eisner Award-winning Adventure Time and Marvel Comics The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl author Ryan North, you’ll join Even, a penniless girl who’s down on her luck, in a dark quest to save her beloved sister. With her companion Dicey, a small and strange living dice, Even must learn to embrace the chaos of Random, uncovering an age-old tale with a modern message.
Walk Random’s mysterious cobbled streets, meet its unpredictable residents, and take on courageous quests.
Engage in fearsome battles with a unique blend of tactical combat, card collection, and explosive dice gameplay.
It’s time to adapt or perish as you battle inside giant board game arenas that change with every dice throw! Learn how to tip the odds in your favour and dive into a dark wonderland where only the brave survive.
Why I think it deserves more love:
It’s hard to summarise just how great Lost in Random truly is. It’s a beautiful game with an evocative world filled with strange and loveable characters.
The game gives off a Tim Burton-esque vibe, and the mechanics are simple to learn and then get more complicated as you play.
It’s a great game and one I recommend you try, even if this isn’t your regular cup of tea – it might just surprise you.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Truberbrook
Enjoy an adventurous vacation to a 1960s parallel universe! A Sci-Fi-Mystery Adventure Game with handmade scenery.
Imagine yourself on a vacation to Europe in the late sixties. Now, picture yourself as a young American scientist, Hans Tannhauser. Yes, that’s your name in this scenario.
While you’re at it, think of Trüberbrook, a remote village in rural, mountain-sloped and densely forested cold-war Germany.
Because, that’s where you somehow end up after hitting the continent. But who cares, you won the trip in a lottery! Or at least, that’s how it seems. But don’t fear, instead of getting some rest, you could find yourself having to save the world.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Truberbrook is a delightful point-and-click adventure game. It’s a fairly short game, but that means it never drags on, and instead, you receive a game dripping with all things atmospheric and awesome.
The game is what you get if you mix Twin Peaks with a traditional point-and-click. The handmade scenery gives the game a unique look and feel, and the twist is worth playing for.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Twelve Minutes
Twelve Minutes is a real-time top-down interactive thriller with an accessible click-and-drag interface. Featuring James McAvoy, Daisy Ridley, and Willem Dafoe.
What should be a romantic evening with your wife turns into a nightmare when a police detective breaks into your home, accuses your wife of murder and beats you to death.
Only for you to find yourself immediately returned to the exact moment you opened the front door, stuck in a twelve-minute time loop, doomed to relive the same terror again and again.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Twelve Minutes is an interesting concept that was executed almost flawlessly. Think Groundhog Day with players navigating the same apartment during the most critical 12 minutes of each character’s life.
As each playthrough resets, players will need to use the knowledge learnt from past actions and use it to try and move forward and break the loop.
It’s interesting in all the right ways and an experience worth trying.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
The Last Campfire
The Last Campfire is an adventure, a story of a lost ember trapped in a puzzling place, searching for meaning and a way home.
Travel deeper into the lands beyond the dark forest and overcome the adversities before you.
Why I think it deserves more love:
The Last Campfire is a game that surpassed all my expectations regarding its charm and well-crafted puzzle designs.
It’s not a challenging game; everything is pretty simple, but that makes it great. The Last Campfire is a relaxing and smooth game that, while short, packs an incredible narrative punch.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Tunic
Explore a land filled with lost legends, ancient powers, and ferocious monsters in Tunic, an isometric action game about a tiny fox on a big adventure.
Stranded in a ruined land and armed with only curiosity, you will confront colossal beasts, collect strange and powerful items, and unravel long-lost secrets.
Why I think it deserves more love:
If you like Zelda games, then Tunic is a game you need to be playing.
From Zelda-like exploration to Dark Souls-like checkpoints and engaging puzzles worthy of the best exploration games – Tunic has them all.
The game has such a great combination of puzzles, explorations and combat that it’s impossible not to love the entire experience.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
The Quarry
As the sun sets on the last day of summer camp, the teenage counsellors of Hackett’s Quarry throw a party to celebrate. No kids. No adults. No rules.
Things quickly take a turn for the worse.
Hunted by blood-drenched locals and something far more sinister, the teens’ party plans unravel into an unpredictable night of horror. Friendly banter and flirtations give way to life-or-death decisions as relationships build or break under unimaginable choices.
Play as each of the nine camp counsellors in a thrilling cinematic tale, where every decision shapes your unique story from a tangled web of possibilities. Any character can be the show’s star – or die before daylight comes.
Why I think it deserves more love:
The Quarry is a game that every slasher horror movie lover needs to play. It’s a genuinely fantastic experience full of everything that makes a slasher great: gore, confusion, angst and suspense.
The game has a ton of replay value. Every choice you make genuinely matters, and every ending feels perfect for your choices.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Unforeseen Incidents
Unforeseen Incidents is a classical-style interactive mystery set in a beautifully hand-painted world. When small-town handyman Harper Pendrell meets a dying woman in the street, he unwittingly stumbles into a diabolical conspiracy – a mystery only he can solve.
An unknown disease is spreading across the country. Between them, a scientist, a reporter and a reclusive artist hold the key to stopping it. A perilous journey awaits, and every step brings Harper closer to a cabal of dangerous fanatics. Before he knows it, he finds himself in a fight for the future of humankind, armed only with his trusty multi-tool.
Can Harper find the courage to expose the truth and prevent an epidemic, even if it means succumbing to contagion himself? Join Harper and experience a challenging investigation, witty dialogue and a rich cast of characters in this thrilling new adventure game from Backwoods Entertainment and Application Systems Heidelberg.
Why I think it deserves more love:
Unforeseen Incidents is a game that hits all the notes. The art style is excellent, the voice acting fits each character perfectly, and the concept is intriguing.
It’s a game with so much love that you can feel it while you play. Unforeseen Incidents is one of the best point-and-click adventure games of recent memory that not only feels like the classics but, in many ways, surpasses them.
Think this game is for you? Grab it here.
Now I want to know from you: Do you have a game you love and feel more people should play? Drop it in the comments, and let’s make this an epic thread of awesomeness.