Outriders
Its pre-launch trailers and info didn’t really set the gaming world on fire, so you’d be forgiven for not having it on your radar, but at launch, Outriders was a surprise hit. We’re not sure if it was due to the lull in the game calendar or the game’s co-op looter-shooter gameplay, but we couldn’t get enough it. Even developer People Can Fly didn’t seem to predict the game’s success, as there wasn’t much available to do beyond Outriders’ end-game content – something we’re sure to see changing in the inevitable sequel.
Days Gone
First released on PlayStation 4 in 2018, Days Gone is something of a poster child for underrated games. Just as it was largely overlooked on consoles, Days Gone didn’t receive too much attention or praise when it arrived on PC earlier this year. But it absolutely should because it is a refreshing take on the zombie apocalypse theme, with a lush open world, a focus on riding, and a surprisingly deep story. Stick with it through the opening couple of hours and you’re in for a treat.
Psychonauts 2
Reviving a 15-year old franchise can be risky – not only could it fail to resonate with new audiences but it could also end up ruining the legacy of the original. Double Fine took up that challenge and came out trumps because Psychonauts 2 is every bit as good as fans could have hoped for, with some masterful writing from Tim Schafer and co. Don’t let the cartoony visuals fool you – Psychonauts 2 is packed with a great story, fun characters and well-designed action-platformer gameplay.
Hot Wheels Unleashed
Licensed racing games usually end up in the bargain bin, and often for good reason, but if you manage to spot Hot Wheels Unleashed on the cheap, snap it up. Developer Milestone’s love for Hot Wheels clearly shows here, with all the classics intricately designed and presented in a way that makes them fun to collect. The tracks too are beautifully built and set in real-world locations to convey a sense of scale. And all of it comes together with tight gameplay that’s reminiscent of kart racers, with the addition of ramps, pick-ups and obstacles.
Guardians of the Galaxy
It might seem strange to include a triple-A Marvel game in a list of underrated games, but we can thank Crystal Dynamic’s Marvel’s The Avengers for that. But while The Avengers’ live service format fell flat, Guardians of the Galaxy took a linear and single-player approach, and is all the better for it. The game’s cinematic approach and well-told story will appeal to fans of the films, while the tight action gameplay will draw in those pining for a video game take on the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Riders Republic
Ubisoft knows how to do open-world games and, with The Crew and Steep, it’s got its feet wet with the sports and racing genres as well. All of that comes together brilliantly in Riders Republic, an adventure sports mash-up that includes biking, skis, snowboards, wingsuits, and rocketwings – and that’s just during race events. Things get even crazier when free-roaming, which throws whacky items like jetpacks, rocket-powered skis and motorised parachutes your way. The single-player races are a blast, online mass races are chaotic fun, and there’s plenty to do in one of Ubisoft’s best open worlds yet.
New World
Amazon’s New World didn’t have the best of launches, as you can see from its middling reviews, but its technical issues have since been polished out and today it offers an MMO experience that we wholeheartedly recommend. New World is vast and throws many systems at the player, but the grind-heavy nature of it will ensure that you have plenty of time to come to grips with it. The game also boasts of a healthy, non-toxic community, which is great for new players jumping in. It’s also free of subscriptions, so you can jump in with a one-time cost of Rs 1,499 (and far less when on sale).
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