With so many new games coming out every week, it’s common for even popular titles to quickly lose attention as players move on to the next new release.
Even well-made games from experienced developers can sometimes struggle to find an audience, despite receiving positive reviews. They might not attract many players or become widely known.
It’s easy to understand why fantastic games sometimes don’t get noticed when they first come out. This could be because of when they were released, a lack of advertising, technical problems, some kind of controversy, or just because bigger, more popular games came out at the same time. Occasionally, these overlooked games become beloved ‘hidden gems’ with a loyal following, but unfortunately, that doesn’t happen for every game that deserves more attention.
Here are some excellent games from recent years that didn’t get the attention they deserved and have largely been forgotten.
These games have all been released in the past five years and are listed in order from most recent to oldest, without any ranking beyond that.
Hell Is Us
Really Should’ve Been Moved to Another Date
Man, I really think *Hell is Us* got a raw deal. It’s a good game, but it came out at *the worst* possible time. *Hollow Knight: Silksong* dropped right around then, and a ton of other huge titles like *Borderlands 4* were all competing for attention. Honestly, it’s no wonder almost nobody noticed it – the player numbers barely hit 5,000 at its peak. It’s a shame, because it deserved more of a chance.
It’s unfortunate that *Hell is Us* isn’t getting the attention it deserves, because it features a truly original and captivating sci-fi world, full of intriguing mysteries. Given the overwhelmingly positive reviews, the game likely would have gained more traction if it had launched at a different time, when there wasn’t so much competition. Hopefully, once the initial rush of new releases subsides, *Hell is Us* will have another opportunity to reach a wider audience.
The Alters
One of the Most Unique Sci-Fi Titles in a Long Time
Unlike *Hell Is Us*, *The Alters* benefited from releasing when fewer games were competing for attention. Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to generate significant interest or a large player base – it only reached a peak of around 18,000 players. The game also faced criticism for its use of AI-generated content during development, which likely contributed to a rapid decline in popularity, losing 90% of its players within a month.
Despite its innovative sci-fi premise and compelling mix of survival gameplay with a story focused on difficult moral choices, *The Alters* didn’t get the attention it deserved. However, it’s still a great choice for anyone who enjoys sci-fi or survival games.
South of Midnight
Audiovisual Masterpiece With Classic Gameplay
South of Midnight is a standout game from 2025 that surprisingly flew under the radar. It’s a beautiful experience with a unique atmosphere inspired by the American South and a fantastic soundtrack by Olivier Derivière. While the gameplay isn’t as innovative, the game’s visuals and sound alone make it worth playing.
It’s surprising that *South of Midnight* didn’t get more attention, considering how many gamers want shorter, story-focused action-adventure games. This game delivers exactly that – a captivating story in a distinctive world, and it can be completed in around ten hours. It deserved a much larger audience than the peak of 1,500 players it briefly reached before being largely overlooked.
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden
A Lengthy Adventure Centered Around Great Characters
Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden is a well-made, story-focused adventure game – exactly the type of game players say they want. However, it launched with surprisingly little attention. While February is usually a packed month for new releases, it’s disappointing to see Banishers only reach a peak of under 4,000 players, especially considering how few similar games were available at the time.
Despite hopes that price drops would boost its popularity, *Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden* never found a larger audience. While the game boasts a compelling story, memorable characters, a substantial campaign, a spooky atmosphere, a unique setting, and strong technical performance, it remains one of Don’t Nod’s most overlooked titles.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
Prince of Persia Has Never Been in Better Shape
Despite being a highly anticipated return to the *Prince of Persia* series and receiving widespread acclaim as one of the best metroidvania games in recent years, *Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown* had a surprisingly muted launch and has largely faded from public conversation. It’s unusual, considering how much fans wanted a new game and how well-received it was.
It’s possible that *The Lost Crown* didn’t become as popular as it could have because of negative feelings towards Ubisoft when it was released. This, combined with the fact that it wasn’t initially available on Steam, likely held back its chances of becoming a big success.
Hi-Fi Rush
A Perfect Feel-Good Adventure for Music Lovers
When Hi-Fi Rush was first released, it unexpectedly appeared with almost no advance notice. While critics loved the game and praised its vibrant, cartoon-like style, it didn’t receive much attention from players. Though it was a daring move to release the game so suddenly, it unfortunately didn’t lead to the widespread recognition it deserved.
Despite being a truly innovative game with fantastic gameplay, visuals, and music, Hi-Fi Rush unfortunately didn’t reach a large audience, peaking at only around 6,000 players. It’s a shame more people didn’t experience everything Tango Gameworks accomplished with it.
Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Too Original for Its Own Good
Choosing a well-known brand is often a smart move, but it doesn’t always guarantee success, as we’ve seen with *Marvel’s Midnight Suns*. While the game’s unique mix of strategy, card battles, and relationship building isn’t for everyone, we really need more games that are this daring, creative, and enjoyable.
It’s a shame that *Marvel’s Midnight Suns* hasn’t gotten much attention. It shows how difficult it is to launch a truly original game these days, even if it has solid gameplay, a long story, and features popular characters. Success isn’t guaranteed, no matter how good the game is.
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Standing Among the Most Beautiful Indie Debuts
Kena: Bridge of Spirits is an incredible first game, boasting fun gameplay, a delightful world, beautiful graphics, and surprisingly tough boss fights. Despite all this, it didn’t get much attention after its release on PC, rarely exceeding 2,500 players and failing to generate the conversation it deserved.
Honestly, when *Kena: Bridge of Spirits* finally came to consoles, it felt way too late. It just didn’t manage to grab anyone’s attention, which was a shame. The game looked amazing – seriously, like a Pixar movie – and those little Rot buddies were super cute, but it still didn’t really take off. It’s disappointing because it had a lot going for it!
Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
No, It Has Nothing to Do With Marvel’s Avengers
Like *Marvel’s Midnight Suns*, *Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy* is a lighthearted, story-focused superhero action game featuring well-known characters. Despite its quality, it was unfortunately seen by many as simply another attempt at the live-service model that didn’t work out with *Marvel’s Avengers*.
Despite positive reviews, the game *Guardians of the Galaxy* didn’t attract many players, topping out at around 11,000. This was a significant disappointment considering it was a major release from a respected studio and based on the popular Marvel franchise. Unfortunately, a false impression kept many from playing, and it’s not widely discussed now.
Returnal
Perhaps Too Skill-Based for a Sony Exclusive
Returnal bravely tries to offer a high-budget, challenging roguelike game, and it largely achieves that. However, the roguelike genre itself naturally appeals to a smaller audience. The game’s intense, quick combat, complex systems, and constant need to replay areas without much help probably frustrated players who anticipated an easier experience from a major PlayStation game.
After finally launching on PC—a platform where roguelike games are usually popular—*Returnal* only reached a peak of under 7,000 players. This was the lowest number for any game previously exclusive to PlayStation, showing that it appeals to a smaller, dedicated audience. It’s a shame that even now, not many players have had the chance to experience it.
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2025-10-06 07:38