I've asked a similar question in the past, but with the sheer number of games, I think it's a great question to revisit for new eyes and ideas.

What do you feel are underrated or overlooked games?

They don't have to be great or amazing... just games that you enjoyed

My most underrated game would probably be:

Max Payne 3

I've never played a better expression of the anger, rage, sadness, and self-destructiveness of PTSD. MP3 was certainly pushed hard and is well-known, but IMHO it's never gotten the rating that it deserves.

My most underrated RPG would probably be:

Elex

While I think PB has made better games, Elex is IMHO the least-known and most underrated of their output. Although there are many hard edges and "jank," Elex is a wonderful vertical exploration-based RPG.

MY most underrated FPS would be:

(tactical)

Brothers in Arms Hell's Highway

A blend of FPS shooting and squad management with a generally good story (mediocre writers trying hard to be Band of Brothers) -- a great antidote to Call of Duty.

(pure shooter)

Call of Juarez Gunslinger

I love Call of Juarez Bound in Blood but Gunslinger is probably the best shooting experience in a the series. IMHO this game ranks up there with Wolfenstein The Old Blood.

Forager is one of the games that might be over looked. I loved it i think a lot of other people did too but i do now know how many people played the game. I hope it was not overlooked

Puzzle Game - Recursed - This is a nearly perfect logic puzzle game. The specific mechanic that makes it unique is that there are chests. If you jump into a chest, it opens a new room. If you pick up a chest and jump into another chest with it... Well, you start to get the picture. The levels progress the complexity of the puzzles. You will breeze through the first 5-10 thinking This is fun! How novel! I am so smart! And then soon you will be holding your head in your hands weeping.

Fuck, you stole my Elex :p oh well but i agree despite some jank it's a competent rpg with a lot of exploring in a great world without the hand holding from Bethesda titles. I guess i could add Gothic 1 and 2 too since they are pretty niche even though they have their loyal following.

Pathfinder Kingmaker, I got a lot of flack initially and deservedly so from the immense amount of bugs but it's deep, fun and has tons of ways to customize and build your character which make Deadfire look unimpressive.

Tower of Time, nice little game that deserves a lot recognition and i liked the rpg/combat system a lot.

Underrail and Age of Decadence simply because they cater to the small niche of hardcore rpg enthusiasts but fantastic games for what they do.

Return to Castle Wolfenstein simply because it's old and i never hear of it nowadays plus it's by far the best wolfenstein game imo so i get pretty pissed when i hear how good Machine Games reboots are from some people, I disagree ofc.

I was about to add Kingdom Come Deliverance but the sales says otherwise. it sold 2 million copies way back last year so it shouldn't be here.

Tales of Maj'Eyal, one of the deepest and most replayable games ever made, tons of variation. Available at GOG.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9ZWdsrad2I

Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath, such a great and atmospheric game. Holds up well to this day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QRqIjCMZ_E

Super Hexagon, fun and minimalistic game with great music that's enjoyable to play a couple of minutes at a time sporadically.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mDjFdetU28

eXceed 2nd, barely known bullet hell that plays a lot like Ikaruga mechanically. Ikaruga is a more refined game, but this is still worth playing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZyokEM8hw0

- Crookz: The Big Heist. It plays a lot like Commandos: Behind Enemy Lines, but is centered around a team of thieves set in the 1970's complete with funky soundtrack.

- Escape Goat 1-2. They really nail the platform / puzzler genre. Controls are responsive and soundtrack is great.

- Gray Matter was a nice magic themed adventure game that involves setting up and performing magic tricks. It was on GOG but was removed a short while back.

- Hedon. Another one that should be on GOG but isn't. Unlike all the other modern Unity / Unreal engine based "new old school, fake 90's" FPS's, this one is actually made in the Doom / GZDoom engine, and it really does feel a lot like a Doom / Heretic / Strife hybrid because of that. Steam only but no DRM.

- Styx: Master of Shadows. It's never been on GOG (but it's "technically" DRM-Free on Steam). It's a game that "scratches that hardcore stealth itch" that's existed since the early Thief games.

Dweep A pretty chill, and pretty obscure puzzle game.

<span class="bold">Outwars</span>, a mechsuit based third person shooter. In 1998, by the original Twisted Metal Studio.

[url=http://vcg.isti.cnr.it/~tarini/index.php?3?tumble_bugs.html]Voxar's Tumblebugs[/url]. It's like Combat, but better.

Gunmetal, a sort of hovering mech platform FPS.

Flame In The Flood

Celtic Kings Rage Of War

Warzone 2100

The Typing of the Dead (ARC, 1999) - Typing Sim/Light Gun Shooter
Bangai-O (DC, 1999) - 2D Mech Action
ChuChu Rocket! (DC) - Puzzle
Starsiege (PC) - Mech FPS where you can play as both the good (human) and bad guys (alien), and which simulates message board-like conversations between sub factions in-between missions

Lunar 2: Eternal Blue (MCD) & PS1/SAT Remake - JRPG


G Darius (PS1) - 2.5D Horizontal Shoot 'em up

Panzer Dragoon Saga (SAT) - JRPG w/ fairly unique combat and setting
Radiant Silvergun (SAT) - 2.5D Vertical Shoot 'em up w/ leveling (action-based)
Populous: The Beginning (PC)

Shining Force III Scenario 2: Nerawareta Miko (SAT) & Shining Force III Scenario 3: Hyouheki no Jashinguu (SAT) - SRPG, JP only expansions which have been fan translated

Wario Land II (GBC/GB) - Puzzle platformer in which you can't die, only change status
Goemon's Great Adventure (N64) - 2.5D Action Adventure/Platformer w/ co-op, comedic feudal japan setting
Brave Fencer Musashi (PS1) - ARPG where you can steal enemy abilites, comedic steam punk setting
Dragon Force II SAT - RTS/TBS Hybrid, fan translated
Burning Rangers (SAT) - Firefighter Sim/TPS
Thunder Force V: Perfect System (PS1) - Horizontal Shoot 'em up
Kula World/Roll Away (PS1) - 3D Puzzle


Dungeon Keeper (PC) - Maybe not here, but elsewhere!

Alundra (PS1)(w/ mods) - There's a recent hack which restores the original difficulty
Blade Runner (PC) - Adventure, not on gog/steam

Ganpuru: Gunman's Proof (SNES) - Zelda-like Action Adventure, comedic
Einhander (PS1) - 2,5D Horizontal Shoot 'em up

Sutte Hakkun (SNES) - Puzzle Platformer
Tomba! (PS1) - 2.5D Platform Adventure
Assault Suit Leynos 2 (SAT) - 2D Mech Action


Panzer Dragoon II Zwei (SAT, 1996) - Rail Shooter w/ branching paths and leveling up
Mole Mania (GB) - TD View Puzzle/Action
Front Mission: Gun Hazard (SNES) - Mech Action/ARPG

NiGHTS Into Dreams... (SAT) & Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams... (SAT) - Flight acrobatics/Racing
Dragon Force (SAT) - RTS/TBS Hybrid
Dragon Quest III: Soshite Densetsu e... (SNES Remake) - JRPG, fan translated

PowerSlave/Exhumed (SAT) - FP Action Adventure/Metroidvania
Dungeons & Dragons: Shadow Over Mystara (ARC) & Tower of Doom (ARC) - 4-Player Beat 'em up w/ RPG elements
Die Hard Arcade/Dynamite Deka & Deka 2 (ARC/SAT/DC) - 3D Beat 'em ups

Hyper Duel (SAT, 1996) - Horizontal Shoot 'em up, Added rearranged mode on Saturn
DoReMi Fantasy (SNES, 1996) - Platformer
Policenauts (PS1) - Adventure/VN
SimCopter (PC)
Shin Kidou Senshi Gundam W: Endless Duel (SNES) - Mech Fighting

Sacrifice - Criminally underrated RTS that puts you on the battlefield as a sorcerer. Fantastic voice acting, story, music and gameplay... but rarely mentioned or brought up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Eiw90Lnh0

DROD. Best puzzle game ever.
Unforeseen Incidents is an adventure game that respects your intelligence. You start with a multitool.
Regalia is a cute pseudo-weeb game that deserves a fan following.
Future Unfolding is fluffy tree porn.
I assume Opus Magnum sold well, but its writing is astoundingly good and underappreciated.

Afrika - Probably one of the best photography based games ever, photographing animals on an African nature reserve with realistic camera technology. Unfortunately never released in Europe and will likely not see a rerelease due to heavy product placement.

Gorky 17 - A turn based strategy game with heavy puzzle elements, featuring some very good bossfights, currently available on gog.

Gregory Horror Show - A unique puzzle/survival horror game that see's you sneaking around a hotel trying to steal special items from the eccentric guests. I've never played a game like it, but unfortunately is unlikely to be rereleased as it's based on a tv show (Which I hadn't heard of before buying this game).

Underrated or Overlooked games?

''Planet's Edge''

Yeah, this mod-turned-official release is definitely underrated. Unfortunately the bugs on release seemed to kill general enthusiasm, but I agree... it's a great game!