The Greatest Games Everyone Missed Because They Released At The Wrong Time

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As a fan, I truly believe great games live on as long as someone still enjoys them. It doesn’t matter if they’re hard to find or considered perfect – if a game means something to someone, that’s enough to make it culturally significant. It’s all about that personal connection keeping the spirit of the game alive!

The gaming world has changed a lot in recent years, with releases sometimes being spread too thin or coming out during quiet periods. This often means good games get missed. Let’s take a look at some examples of fantastic titles that didn’t get the attention they deserved, simply because of when they were released. Thankfully, dedicated fans are still discovering and enjoying these hidden gems.

Mega Man Legends 2

Sequel Troubles

Mega Man Legends 2 came out for the PlayStation 1 on October 25, 2000, just one day before the PlayStation 2 launched in North America. Although the PS2 could play PS1 games and Mega Man Legends 2 looked good on the new system, most players were focused on the upcoming generation of consoles. Everyone was excited about the PS2 and the new games being released for it.

It’s unfortunate that Mega Man Legends 2 doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. It’s a fantastic action-adventure game and a real improvement over the first one, especially with the addition of multiple islands to discover. If it had been released just a little earlier or later, it might be remembered more positively now.

3D Dot Game Heroes

Red And Dead

Released on May 11, 2010, 3D Dot Game Heroes was a PlayStation 3 exclusive, and remains one today. The game was known for its unique look, building the world and characters out of large, blocky 3D pixels, giving it a style similar to LEGO combined with the gameplay of Zelda.

This game stands out visually on the PS3, and it’s a fun take on the classic Zelda formula. However, its release timing was unfortunate – it came out just a week before Red Dead Redemption. For gamers with limited budgets, 3D Dot Game Heroes likely got overlooked in favor of the bigger title.

The Lord Of The Rings: War In The North

Going Against The Dovahkiin

The Lord of the Rings: War in the North came out on November 1, 2011, during a very busy period for video game releases. While it competed with other popular titles like Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception (released on the same day) and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (a week later), the biggest challenge came from The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim. Released just ten days after War in the North, Skyrim overshadowed it, as both were large-scale fantasy role-playing games.

For over ten years, The Elder Scrolls 5: Skyrim has stayed incredibly popular. Meanwhile, The Lord of the Rings: War in the North—despite being a really great Lord of the Rings game—is no longer available to buy digitally, which is disappointing.

Binary Domain

A Massive Miss

Released on February 28, 2012, Binary Domain is a third-person shooter where players control a squad of soldiers tasked with stopping a robot uprising, similar to the plot of The Terminator. While it featured solid gameplay, the game was known for its unusual story and quirky characters.

Binary Domain didn’t get much attention, likely because many RPG and squad-based shooter fans were eagerly awaiting the release of Mass Effect 3 just a week later. As the final chapter in a popular trilogy, Mass Effect 3 overshadowed almost every other game, especially new sci-fi shooters.

Puppeteer

All Strung Out

Puppeteer, released on September 10, 2013, is a highly-rated platformer for the PlayStation 3. Players control a young puppet who journeys through levels designed like theatrical stage sets. These levels are creatively built from everyday materials, similar to the LittleBigPlanet games, but with a focus on wood-based elements.

This unique game was only available on the PS3 and unfortunately came out right before the release of Grand Theft Auto 5. Plus, with the PS4 scheduled to launch in November, many gamers likely weren’t interested in buying less expensive PS3 games like Puppeteer.

Ratchet & Clank: Into The Nexus

In The Middle Of Launch

Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus came out on November 12, 2013. It’s often overlooked by fans, even though it’s a well-made game from Insomniac Games. Unfortunately, its release date – just two days before the PlayStation 4 launched – meant it didn’t get much attention.

This was a major game from Sony, and along with Puppeteer, it felt like they weren’t giving these titles a chance to succeed. Sadly, Ratchet & Clank: Into the Nexus is still unavailable on modern platforms, remaining exclusive to the PS3.

Tearaway

Torn Away From Eyes

Tearaway was created by Media Molecule, the studio behind LittleBigPlanet. It was their first new game idea specifically for the PS Vita, and they really pushed the console’s capabilities. The game used everything the Vita had to offer, including the camera for taking pictures and the back touchscreen to interact with the game world, like ripping through paper.

Released on November 22, 2013, during the excitement surrounding the PS4 and on the same day as the Xbox One launch, this game was one of three excellent PlayStation-exclusive platformers that unfortunately didn’t get the attention they deserved. All three were overshadowed by larger events happening around their releases.

Mad Max

The Phantom Pain

Mad Max is an open-world action game that came out on September 1, 2015. However, the release date wasn’t ideal. The movie Mad Max: Fury Road was already in theaters in May 2015, and launching the game at the same time would have been a great way to use the movie’s popularity to boost sales.

Another challenge was that Mad Max was released at the same time as Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain, and it’s tough for any game to compete with a new Metal Gear title. Although the games were very different, dedicated Metal Gear fans were likely to choose Metal Gear even with the movie connection of Mad Max.

Avatar: Frontiers Of Pandora

A Late Year Release

I’m a big fan of the Avatar films, but I get why Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora didn’t become a massive hit. It was a really ambitious open-world action RPG that came out in December 2023, and honestly, games released that late in the year often struggle. It’s tough to get noticed when all the year-end awards are already being decided, unless you’re a truly phenomenal success – and this one just didn’t quite reach that level, sadly.

It was an unfortunate launch window for Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. It happened to coincide with the release of Baldur’s Gate 3 on Xbox Series X/S – a massive RPG that has been incredibly popular and continues to generate a lot of buzz. While Frontiers of Pandora received good reviews and is generally liked, its launch timing likely prevented it from achieving even greater success.

Cronos: The New Dawn

A Hollow Horror

Cronos: The New Dawn is a suspenseful survival horror game that came out on September 5, 2025. Its release followed the long-awaited launch of Hollow Knight: Silksong, which happened the day before. After six years of anticipation, Silksong proved so popular that it temporarily overwhelmed online stores and platforms.

Games like Cronos: The New Dawn, Hell is Us, and Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion—all released around the same time—were well-received and offered unique experiences. However, Hollow Knight: Silksong faced an insurmountable obstacle that prevented its release, something none of those other titles encountered.

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2026-01-01 11:36