Top 10 Underrated Gems You Probably Missed

Spec Ops: The Line is perhaps the most subversive military shooter ever made. What begins as a standard third-person action game quickly morphs into a harrowing psychological descent that challenges players’ morality and expectations. Developed by Yager Development, this underrated narrative shooter takes inspiration from Apocalypse Now and Heart of Darkness, delivering a story that cuts deep into the ethics of modern warfare.

Set in a sandstorm-ravaged Dubai, players command Captain Martin Walker and his squad as they search for a rogue colonel. As the mission progresses, the line between heroism and atrocity blurs, culminating in some of the most shocking and thought-provoking moments ever presented in a shooter.

Gameplay-wise, it offers solid cover-based mechanics, but its real impact lies in its storytelling. Choices matter—not because they affect the outcome, but because they reflect your willingness to press forward in the face of moral ambiguity. The soundtrack, voice acting, and environmental storytelling all enhance the oppressive atmosphere.

Spec Ops: The Line is a rare game that dares to critique its own genre, and it succeeds brilliantly. It’s not always fun, but it’s always meaningful—and for that reason, it deserves far more recognition than it received.

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a deeply emotional narrative adventure that’s often overshadowed by flashier indie titles. Developed by Starbreeze Studios and directed by filmmaker Josef Fares, this heartbreaking puzzle game tells a wordless story about grief, family, and perseverance through innovative dual-character controls.

Players control two brothers simultaneously—one with each joystick—on a journey to find a cure for their ailing father. This mechanic isn’t just a gimmick; it’s crucial to both the puzzles and the storytelling. As the brothers rely on each other to overcome obstacles, their emotional bond is mirrored in the physical coordination required from the player.

The game’s visuals are dreamlike and folkloric, while the soundtrack captures both the wonder and sorrow of their quest. Without a single line of spoken dialogue, Brothers delivers one of the most powerful emotional payoffs in gaming, leaving players stunned by its final moments. It’s a short experience, but unforgettable in its storytelling and design.

The Saboteur is a stylish open-world action game set in Nazi-occupied Paris, blending noir aesthetics with explosive gameplay. Developed by Pandemic Studios, it follows Sean Devlin, an Irish racecar driver turned resistance fighter, on a quest for revenge and liberation. Despite its compelling concept and unique visual design, it never reached commercial success, making it a hidden gem for fans of historical action games.

The game’s most striking feature is its use of color. Occupied areas begin in stark black and white, symbolizing oppression, while color slowly returns as you inspire rebellion by completing missions. This bold visual metaphor sets the tone for a game that’s surprisingly artistic for its genre. Players can climb buildings, sabotage Nazi operations, engage in street-level shootouts, and escape across rooftops in a city brought to life with moody lighting and cabaret music.

Though rough around the edges, The Saboteur’s ambition and atmosphere stand the test of time. It’s a gritty, stylish action title that oozes personality, offering a fresh take on both WWII settings and open-world design.

From the creators of Hades and Bastion comes Pyre, a visually striking, emotionally resonant fantasy sports RPG that didn’t receive nearly the acclaim of its siblings. Developed by Supergiant Games, Pyre places players in the role of an exile competing in magical rituals to earn freedom from a mystical purgatory.

At its heart is a unique combination of visual novel storytelling and a 3-on-3 sports-like game of positioning, strategy, and spellcasting. But Pyre isn’t about winning—it’s about choices, relationships, and sacrifice. You’ll grow attached to your teammates, learn their stories, and decide who among them deserves to go free, knowing that every release reshapes your remaining team.

The worldbuilding is lush and poetic, with gorgeous artwork, a haunting original soundtrack, and a branching narrative that reacts to every decision. There are no game overs—just different paths through the world of the Downside. Pyre is one of the most original and emotionally intelligent indie games ever made, perfect for players looking for something both beautiful and different.

Often dismissed due to technical issues at launch, Alpha Protocol is a cult classic that offers one of the most ambitious espionage narratives in gaming. Developed by Obsidian Entertainment, it blends third-person stealth-action gameplay with a robust dialogue and consequence system that rivals top RPGs. As an elite secret agent, your choices shape the plot in dramatically different ways, influencing who lives, who betrays you, and even how missions unfold.

The gameplay itself combines gunplay, gadgets, stealth, and social manipulation. But where Alpha Protocol truly shines is in its reactive story. Characters remember your actions, conversations branch in unexpected directions, and no two playthroughs are exactly the same. You might charm a weapons dealer into helping you or alienate them entirely, changing the course of the game.

Despite its janky mechanics and outdated visuals, Alpha Protocol delivers one of the most replayable and engaging spy narratives in video game history. It’s a title that rewards experimentation, roleplaying, and moral ambiguity—making it a prime example of a flawed gem with a brilliant core.

Originally a Skyrim mod turned full-fledged game, The Forgotten City is a time-loop narrative adventure that combines philosophy, mythology, and detective work in a truly compelling way. Developed by Modern Storyteller, this underrated time-travel mystery game lets players explore a hidden Roman city trapped in a moral paradox known as the “Golden Rule,” where any sin causes mass death.

You play as a time traveler investigating the collapse of this utopian society. By speaking to citizens, uncovering secrets, and resetting the timeline after each major event, you slowly piece together the truth behind the city’s laws, its supernatural mechanics, and the personal stories of its citizens. Every choice you make and every lie you uncover alters the fate of this mysterious community.

What sets The Forgotten City apart is its writing. The dialogue is sharp, the philosophical debates are genuinely thought-provoking, and each character feels like a real person with beliefs, flaws, and motivations. There are multiple endings based on your decisions, and each one is earned through logic and moral reasoning—not arbitrary choice systems.

The Forgotten City is one of the most thoughtful and surprising narrative games in recent years, ideal for players who crave ethical dilemmas, sharp storytelling, and games that respect intelligence over brute force.

Developed by Ninja Theory, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a post-apocalyptic action-adventure game inspired by the Chinese novel “Journey to the West.” Despite a compelling story, strong performances, and a richly imagined world, the game failed to capture mainstream attention—making it one of the most criminally overlooked action games of its time.

Players control Monkey, a strong and agile protagonist, who is forced into cooperation with Trip, a tech-savvy survivor, after she enslaves him with a headband that links their lives. The pair must journey across a ruined, overgrown America overrun with hostile machines. The game blends action, platforming, and puzzle-solving with cinematic storytelling and emotional resonance.

What makes Enslaved special is its character development. Monkey and Trip evolve from reluctant allies into complex partners with believable growth. Their dynamic, brought to life by Andy Serkis and Lindsey Shaw, adds weight to the journey. The vibrant visuals, unique setting, and excellent writing elevate it beyond a standard action game.

Enslaved: Odyssey to the West is a forgotten treasure, rich with narrative and artistic flair. It’s the kind of game that leaves you wishing more people had experienced its world—and that it had received the sequel it so clearly deserved.

Lucas Pope’s Return of the Obra Dinn is one of the most innovative mystery games ever made, and yet it remains underrated outside of indie game circles. With its stark monochromatic art style and unique deductive gameplay, this maritime detective story is unlike anything else in the genre.

Players take on the role of an insurance investigator sent to determine the fate of the crew aboard the abandoned Obra Dinn, a merchant ship that has drifted into port with no living souls aboard. Using a magical stopwatch that rewinds time to the moment of each person’s death, you must explore these flashbacks and piece together who everyone is and how they died.

The beauty of this game lies in its challenge. It demands observation, deduction, and logic, not trial-and-error. No hand-holding, no tutorials—just you and a growing notebook of names, clues, and murder scenes. The narrative slowly unfolds as you correctly identify each crew member, revealing a shocking and fascinating tale full of betrayal, mutiny, and supernatural horror.

Return of the Obra Dinn is a must-play for fans of cerebral puzzles and detective fiction. It’s not just clever—it’s revolutionary in design, proving that small teams can create deep, genre-defining experiences without flashy visuals or combat mechanics.

A Plague Tale: Innocence is a haunting, emotionally charged stealth-adventure that flew under the radar upon release. Developed by Asobo Studio, this underrated historical drama game combines stunning visuals, masterful storytelling, and heartfelt performances to deliver an unforgettable journey through medieval France during the Black Plague.

The game centers on Amicia and her younger brother Hugo, siblings on the run from both the Inquisition and a devastating plague that has unleashed hordes of diseased rats upon the land. As you guide the duo through ruined villages, forests, and monasteries, you must use stealth, environmental puzzles, and limited resources to survive. What stands out is the strong narrative focus—Amicia and Hugo’s bond is the emotional core, growing deeper and more complex as the game progresses.

The swarm-based rat mechanics are visually impressive and terrifying, adding a unique twist to the genre. Combined with a powerful orchestral score and a grim but immersive setting, the game delivers both emotional depth and suspenseful gameplay. A Plague Tale: Innocence is a hidden gem for fans of story-rich adventure games, and it sets a high bar for character-driven storytelling in gaming.

Outer Wilds is a game that defies convention and expectations. At first glance, it seems like a typical space exploration game, but what unfolds is a deeply emotional, intricately designed, time-loop mystery that rewards curiosity above all else. Developed by Mobius Digital, this underrated sci-fi gem delivers a powerful narrative wrapped in a rich, handcrafted solar system.

The game’s universe resets every 22 minutes, forcing players to retain knowledge from each loop and apply it to their next journey. There are no traditional quests or mission markers. Instead, player discovery drives the experience, leading to moments of genuine awe as you uncover secrets, unravel ancient histories, and piece together the fate of a long-extinct alien civilization. Each celestial body has its own story and physical mechanics, from a planet crumbling into a black hole to a comet with a secret buried deep in ice.

What makes Outer Wilds shine is its emphasis on exploration and learning. There’s no combat or grinding—just your intellect, your ship, and a beautifully designed world full of mystery. It’s one of the most innovative narrative games in years, and its unique design will leave you thinking long after the final reveal. Outer Wilds isn’t just a game—it’s an unforgettable cosmic journey waiting to be experienced.