Earlier in the year we published an article called 5 Underrated Games from Recent Years That Are Worth Revisiting, where we highlighted five hidden gems that never received the acclaim that they deserved. This list is a follow up to that article, where we will take a look at another five underrated games from recent years worth checking out and break down why they are still worth revisiting in 2023.
Shame Legacy
The narrative in Shame Legacy is an interesting one, following the protagonist’s path towards redemption from a life filled with regret and sorrow. Through this plot, the game manages to capture a surprising amount of depth and complexity, drawing players into a web of intricate relationships and personal struggles.
Providing you can get past the questionable voice acting, the way in which the dialogue is written makes each character interaction feel impactful. While the exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat mechanics in Shame Legacy are interesting enough, it is the game’s plot that makes it one of the most underrated games from recent years worth checking out.
A review copy of Shame Legacy was provided to FandomWire by PR Outreach.
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Hypercharge: Unboxed
Hypercharge: Unboxed is not only one of the most underrated games from recent years worth checking out, it may also be the one of the most underrated games that I have ever played. Blowing my way through this Joe Dante-inspired environment as a sentient toy was an absolute blast from start to finish. It manages to take the tired mechanics from a bog-standard FPS and turn them into something that actually feels original and fresh. If you have always wanted to mow down those little green army men from Toy Story with a few friends, then this game is perfect for you.
The presentation is also fantastic, from the ability to customize your action figure down to the box that they come packaged in is fantastic. The voice acting in the cleverly implemented comic book cutscenes is also surprisingly decent and the comic panels themselves are drawn exquisitely. All of this combined easily makes Hypercharge: Unboxed one of the most underrated games from recent years worth checking out.
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A review copy of Hypercharge: Unboxed was provided to FandomWire by Digital Cybercherries.
Kholat
Kholat is a mystery/horror game that is not focused on jump-scares or intense gore. Instead, it chooses to focus on building atmosphere and it does it brilliantly. Kholat may be a small, often forgotten title, but it is a masterclass in building atmosphere and creating a palpable sense of dread.
Along with that unease, it is also telling a story tinged with tragedy. This blend of horror and sadness works in tandem to create something great. Sprinkle into that mixture a healthy dose of fantastic dialogue recorded by the powerhouse that is Sean Bean and you have yourself something that is definitely one of the most underrated games from recent years worth checking out.
Also read: 10 Underrated Horror Games Released In the Last Decade
Ghostwire: Tokyo
When it was first released, Ghostwire: Tokyo was considered something as a let-down. It came out in the midst of the deal that saw Microsoft acquire Zenimax and therefore Tango Gameworks, (the studio behind this game,) even though it was always intended to be a PlayStation exclusive based on a previously established deal with Sony. It did eventually come to Gamepass once the timed Sony deal had expired, however Ghostwire: Tokyo’s confusing marketing combined with the game itself not quite living up to the hype behind it meant that many opted to skip this release.
A year on from its PS5 release, I can confidently say that GhostWire: Tokyo is a title worth revisiting; it has even become somewhat of a cult classic already. The combination of the pleasing visuals, satisfying combat and fascinatingly odd tone makes for something that is well worth experiencing. Unfortunately, Shinji Mikami has since left Tango Gameworks meaning that this is also the last horror title that he developed in conjunction with Tango, (given that Hi-Fi Rush is a much lighter game,) thus making GhostWire: Tokyo even more deserving of the title of one of the most underrated games from recent years worth checking out.
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Republique
Republique was originally released episodically and the first episode released in December of 2013, just short of ten years ago. However, the completed edition didn’t come to PS4 until 2016, so for the purposes of this list, Republique is definitely eligible. Which is just as well, given that this game contains some brilliant stealth mechanics that make it well worth going back to.
The game also stars the voice talents of David Hayter, so essentially stealth game royalty. His Metal Gear Solid alumni Jennifer Hale also appears doing the French-est French accent that you have ever heard. The aesthetically pleasing moment-to-moment point-and-click-style gameplay in combination with the high quality VO makes Republique one of the most underrated games from recent years worth checking out.
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And that completes our list of underrated games from recent years worth checking out. What do you make of the games that we included? Are there any other underrated games from recent years worth checking out that you feel should have made the list? If so, then feel free to hit me up on Twitter @DanBoyd95 to let me know!
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