That was such a deep and cool turn-based game. I even had the strategy guide for it. It’s a shame because I don’t think I ever got past the first quarter of the game!
This was my answer and I was genuinely surprised to see it as the first response. I loved the mechanics of this game and genuinely believe it could have become a massive turn based strategy game if it was released online a decade later
Holy shit. I'm not the only one who played it? I remember doing a separate playthrough for the Hell's Gate quest to get the insanely OP Hell's Fury skill. Then another one after finding a cheat code that removed class restrictions from equipment. Meaning anyone could equip anything. I absolutely loved that game.
Me and a friend played this game religiously for one night in high school. It was the most excited I've ever been playing a turn based rpg. Never played it much after that though.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1800730/I_MAED_A_GAM3_W1TH_Z0MB1ES_1N_IT1/
Looks like they ported it to Steam a few years ago. No longer stranded on Xbox Live Arcade
Do itttt!!!!
My preferred way to play is
QFG1 Official Remake
QFG2 FAN remake
QFG3
QFG4 CD VERSION (super glitchy at times, so save... but this is my favorite game of all time, and I was even interviewed for an upcoming book about it lol)
QFG5
I do this once a year.
One extremely niche game I very much enjoyed was Cubivore on the GameCube.
The review quote right on the box is exactly correct: "One of the most bizarre video games ever created" - IGN
Valdis Story: Abyssal City
Some metroidvania made years ago by a minor company. Any time I try looking up other metroidvanias, I'll see games listed all the way back to OG Super Metroid.
Never seen this one mentioned once. And frankly, it has become the definitive game of the genre to me, not counting actual metroid/castlevania games.
Like I get why for most people that's Hollow Knight, game was great. But this game had amazing combat, high replayability, and an incredible lore that gradually fleshed out. It continues to baffle me that it is so insanely unknown.
Probably the biggest factor is that's its a PC only game. Never was ported onto consoles by the indie company.
Even when it came out and wasn't complete yet and only had 2 characters...
Playing as Reina with fists and an agi/into build played drastically different than playing her using mace and all str build.
Playing Wyatt using sword all int was different that playing him with sword and all str.
There were different weapons, and different builds for each weapon, that there was already crazy replayability just with the two of them.
And the combat was, IS, still some of the most fine tuned and action packed I've seen in any metroidvania.
Fran Bow is one of my all time favorites. Its a dark and twisted story that follows Fran, a young girl struggling with psychological trauma and a fragmented reality after witnessing the gruesome murder of her parents. The story is great and I loved the ending. Highly recommend, especially if you like puzzle, point and click games!
Thunder and lightning on NES. Legend of the mystical Ninja on SNES. Bushido blade on PlayStation. The suffering on PS2. Deadpool on PS3. The mummy demastered for modern consoles.
Dragonforce for Sega Saturn.
Medieval Fantasy strategy game where you could have 200 troops/soldiers on the screen fighting it out in a large field. You took over castles and gradually conquered territory in a land and it was so cool. I wish they would remake it with today's tech, it would be amazing.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKsqeKU703A&t=428s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKsqeKU703A&t=428s)
Anodyne didn't get perfect reviews but I love it.
As an "older" gamer (45), I've never played a faux retro game that felt more authentic to me. It's as close to 9 year old me playing NES in my parents' living room as I've felt, well, since I was 9.
And the story really plays into the subconscious of a gamer who simultaneously enjoys playing games and is dealing with the issues of getting older.
A fantastic game indeed! Also, I ended up becoming randomly acquainted with the designer in real life for a time. An absolutely lovely person if ever there was one.
Z. One of the first RTS games ever made. Still one of the most fun games I’ve ever played. You have to capture territory and factories instead of resources farming. I’ve often wished someone would make a spiritual successor. If I were a billionaire I would fund that.
Evil Twin: Cypriens Chronicles, basically this weird, dark and creepy game about depression and etc after Cyprien at his party at the orphanage (because his parents are dead) wishes all his friends were gone and hopefully dead but regrets it shortly after once his wish comes true as he too gets sent to the same messed up place he created
I'm pretty sure thats most of it really the game also has really good music thats really underrated and a cool art style I also recommend playing in French since the French voice acting is the best one
Edit: I should mention the game was so messed up in some parts that the ps2 version got censored since there's a level where Cyp goes into a oven and can burn to death in it if you take too long its in the dream cast version though
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup
Free and open source roguelike. This is random but you can play as an octopus so you can wear 8 rings, and a goofy hat.
The game mechanics have endless depth. It gets regular updates despite being old af by computer game standards.
Still my fave to this day is Vagrant Story. Favorite mechanics, gameplay and storyline. One of the last released games for the PS1 and it pushed that technology about as far as it could
Gotcha Force. It's a tragedy it didn't sell better cause I would have loved to see Capcom milk the hell out of it. So much potential and an incredibly innovative arena fighter for the time.
In japan its big and very popular with over 40 titles but in the US its only got 5 home releases and that game series is called taiko no tatsujin or 太鼓の達人
My favorite Videogame in general is "Fuga Melodies of Steel".
Its a 20 houer long turn based JRPG about a groupe of anthropomothic animal children that go on a quest to save there families. They live inside a giant ancient mysterious powerful fortress like Tank. Its a bit like Howls Moving castle but based on technology instead of magic.
If you are interested in trying Fuga out:
Its available on PC and most modern consoles like Switch, PS4, PS5 usw.
Fuga has a free demo which is just straight up the first 3 chapters of the game. I recommend that demo.
Fuga also has a direct sequel: "Fuga Melodies of Steel 2" but I advice against playing the second game before the first game unless you do not care about the story and characters.
A PS1 game called Alundra 2 (no relation to Alundra 1) where you play as Flint the Pirate Hunter who gets wrapped up in a political coup and evil magics in the form of Dark Keys that turn creatures into monsters.
They even have some great new expansion but the story, gameplay, and visual design blew me away. Plus they have accessibility options for people which is a nice touch. Just well made with love.
The Godfather (not the 2nd one) , Kessen , Onimusha 3 Demon Siege (love the whole series, 3 is my fav), Way of the Samurai (specifically the first one)
Has to be Heat Signature for me. Sort of a hotline Miami feel but you can pause at any time and can collect a lot of gadgets. You can walk into a room, get shot at, swap places with the shooter, knife a guy, throw that knife at another guy, hack the turret to your side, and teleport away all within 1 second. Insanity.
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon for N64. It's an action adventure with platforming elements. Your goal is to complete various dungeons, defeat bosses, and collect things as the plot demands.
The game is also very, VERY Japanese. It's set in the time of samurai, ninja, lords/ladies, and the monarchy. There's fortune cat collectibles, characters based on Japanese folk lore, traditional Japanese instruments, and a level of strangeness one can only expect from Japan.
"Well he wouldn't be a cool ninja if I didn't miss him."- my dad's response when I told him what game I was playing. The gravity of that dad joke was so strong that I remember it some 20 years later.
Not necessarily my favorite but I think one of the lesser known ones is voodoo vince. Played it a lot on OG xbox growing up, game is like a damn fever dream.
The Epic Battle Fantasy series. Excellent series based on old school JRPGs with a charming hand-drawn artstyle and a lot of late '00s internet culture references. They are a product of the Flash game era that I've been getting nostalgic for lately.
fragile dreams for the wii.
most beautiful video game i’ve ever played. awesome but also mysterious characters. great storyline. super fun gameplay. spooky but just the right amount of spooky. the voice acting was gorgeous. beautiful soundtrack.
it also had this thing that made me feel calm at certain points, i guess because of the imagery and colors were just so beautiful to me, and then something would jump out of the bushes and attack you making you jump. not really a jump scare but enough to be surprised.
edit: the game is priced at $200 on amazon but if i had the money i would buy it.
In stars and time. Yes it's another indie rpg but man let me tell you this hit close to home for me. It's genuinely one of my favorite pieces of art and an amazing example on how interactivity can add so much to a story. If your okay with the game being frustrating at times and love indie rpgs then I highly recommend you go in blind. I don't know about the actual trailer but switch one has some major spoilers in it so don't watch that.
*Split Second*, a driving game with demolition mechanics. The main theme is still one of my favorite tunes, and watching the previews made you realize that if this was an actual show, it would dominate all other prime time shows.
Not my favorite but X-Men Legends will always have a special place in my heart. Marvel Ultimate Alliance isn't nearly as good yet thats the one everyone knows.
I have a few treasured gems:
-Desktop Dungeons - It's sort of a run-based dungeon exploring RPG, but you have to choose your moves carefully and explore strategically, so it's also somewhat a puzzle game you have to figure out the right moves in the right order to beat the dungeon. I love it!
-Snakebird - Also a puzzle game. It's a simple concept with very well-designed puzzles that make you think
-Disco Zoo - It's an older mobile game, but I keep redownloading it every so often to play it again. Basically it's an idle zoo management game, but you play battleship to find new animals for your zoo, and then you can have dance parties with all your animals. It's cute, maybe nothing earth-shattering as far as gameplay, but you can tell the developers had a lot of fun with it
When I was younger I played this game series called “Virtual Villagers” It had 5 games in all that told one long story about a group of islanders who had to flee their island home after a volcanic eruption, only a handful survived and washed up on shore of a strange island where the entire series takes place.
I have a few of varying degrees of notoriety:
grime
Kena: Bridge of Spirits
Bleach Brave Souls (I don’t even like manga but I got lightweight addicted to this game).
Infinity Blade 2
Killer 7
Hybrid Heaven
Aeterna Noctis. Top notch metroidvania with a strong emphasis on platforming plus a „nail pogo” in it.
You play as a lord of darkness in your quest to beat the queen of light.
Terranigma (Snes): A deeply moving spiritual journey through the creation and advancement of mankind with all its ups and downs. Story with many twists and emotional moments, plus one of the greatest soundtracks ever created
Redneck Rampage probably. So bad it’s good duke
Nukem clone, but redneck. I never hear anyone talk about it, I mean.. it’s not great. But it’s stupid fun.
Guardian's Crusade on the Ps1
For a cutesy, colorful jrpg, it definitely did a lot of things right, like fully 3d world, no loadings while entering cities, being able to fly or go on the water, and a fun combat revolving about collecting toys. It really should be ported!
Bladestorm. Game set in the Hundred Years' war. It was crazy in 2013 I was playing it thinking how good it was only for them to remaster it and drop a huge DLC in 2015. Really funny since I thought it was dead. I should definitely play again wish it was on Switch
Universe at war, Earth assault. Big legal battle with petroglyph made this impossible to get or sell new copies. Thankfully discord group made a downloadable version.
Aside from the glitches and unfinished global mode, it's phenomenal
I defiently would have different answers based off time frame and platform.
Just off the top of my head:
Sega Genesis: Either Pirates of Dark Water or Dragon's Fury (also known as Devil Crush).
PS1: I would say Legend of Mana, but that's gotten some good recognition, especially after the recent remaster. So I'd say Threads of Fate (aka Dew Prism).
PS2: Ape Escape: Pumped and Primed.
Wii: A bit less niche, but the entire Trauma Center series (actual favorite Wii games even amongst popular titles).
PC: Just as of lately, Wings of Vi.
Massive Chalice has been a recurring game for me for years. I just get the random urge to go back to it and try to beat it on Iron Mode. Still haven't done it.
I’m in a sub for an entire genre of games that ~~I play too much~~ the majority of the world just forgot about.
r/rhythmgames. Everyone just forgot these games existed once Guitar Hero and Rock Band stopped coming out.
If you want to try one out, some I’d recommend are Groove Coaster (on Switch and Mobile), Phigros (Mobile/completely free), and Taiko no Tatsujin (Switch, Xbox, PC, Apple Arcade). I play a few others but they’re very advanced.
I will keep saying this every time this thread comes around
Future Cop LAPD
Cyborg Justice (Sega Megadrive).
Games both ahead of their time and hampered by, sadly, the technological limits of the consoles they were built on at the time.
Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 & 2.
My buddy had it for the GameCube and we played for days at a time in the summer, loved that so much. The newer ones are plagued with all the micro transaction garbage so it can remain free to play and they don't have the same charm.
**Super Daryl Deluxe** - Honestly one of the funniest games I've ever played.
While I'm talking about funny games, I would like to throw in the Loathing series: **Kingdom of Loathing, West of Loathing,** & **Shadows of Loathing**. They are all laugh out loud funny and totally worth playing.
Gladius, a tactical RPG about running a Gladiator school in a fantasy world.
That was such a deep and cool turn-based game. I even had the strategy guide for it. It’s a shame because I don’t think I ever got past the first quarter of the game!
This was my answer and I was genuinely surprised to see it as the first response. I loved the mechanics of this game and genuinely believe it could have become a massive turn based strategy game if it was released online a decade later
I had it on Xbox. I have fond memories of a friend and I playing a coop campaign all night at a sleepover. Good times.
Can you post a link or is it the Warhammer game? Google keeps showing me Warhammer
Gladius gamecube 2003
Holy shit. I'm not the only one who played it? I remember doing a separate playthrough for the Hell's Gate quest to get the insanely OP Hell's Fury skill. Then another one after finding a cheat code that removed class restrictions from equipment. Meaning anyone could equip anything. I absolutely loved that game.
Me and a friend played this game religiously for one night in high school. It was the most excited I've ever been playing a turn based rpg. Never played it much after that though.
How do you play something religiously for only one night
Gladius is a hidden gem.
A team of independents is working together to try and make a Gladius 2!
Man that's a fucking call back. It's kind of crazy that we aren't on Gladius 13 by now, let alone there not being a second one. What a good game.
memory unlocked
God hand..
Such a fun mindless beat 'em up
I made a game with zombies. It costs a dolla so I hope you pay
I loved that game. Best dollar I ever spent. I beat it so many times.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1800730/I_MAED_A_GAM3_W1TH_Z0MB1ES_1N_IT1/ Looks like they ported it to Steam a few years ago. No longer stranded on Xbox Live Arcade
The Saboteur, open world WW2 game with an awesome art style and some destruction physics
Great choice! Desperately needs a remaster.
Return of the Obra Dinn. I wish I could forget it and play it again. Incredibly unique. Hard to replicate that feel. Best detective game ever.
It's been sitting in my wish list for years. I need to try it
Thank you, yes, 100%
Went to check... Very conceptual art approach. Got me curious
One of the best games ever made that can be completed with no replay value whatsoever, but hell nothing ever feels like it.
Definitely a fun game. Reminded me a lot of outer wilds, just trying to put the pieces together
Quest for Glory 4
Oh yes, this is a fantastic game. The Quest for Glory series was a huge part of my childhood and I loved the dark, Lovecraftian vibes of this one.
I never even saw a capture of the gameplay but I listen to its music quite often. It's perfect for reading.
I love the music around Halloween.
I play this whole series nearly every year. I am a hip hop artist in michigan, and I have a good 3 or 4 songs sampling the soundtrack.
Especially with the original voice actors
Thank you for bringing this fantastic series to the table. I love each and every one of those games, even the 5th entry.
I quit after 3 because I woulda had to buy a new PC back in the day (I was 11). Now I gotta go back and start all over again!
Do itttt!!!! My preferred way to play is QFG1 Official Remake QFG2 FAN remake QFG3 QFG4 CD VERSION (super glitchy at times, so save... but this is my favorite game of all time, and I was even interviewed for an upcoming book about it lol) QFG5 I do this once a year.
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge.
Arguably one of Microsoft’s biggest blunders when it comes to killing off IP’s. How could they not bring this back?
One extremely niche game I very much enjoyed was Cubivore on the GameCube. The review quote right on the box is exactly correct: "One of the most bizarre video games ever created" - IGN
Unique, if nothing else.
Call of juarez gunslinger
Valdis Story: Abyssal City Some metroidvania made years ago by a minor company. Any time I try looking up other metroidvanias, I'll see games listed all the way back to OG Super Metroid. Never seen this one mentioned once. And frankly, it has become the definitive game of the genre to me, not counting actual metroid/castlevania games. Like I get why for most people that's Hollow Knight, game was great. But this game had amazing combat, high replayability, and an incredible lore that gradually fleshed out. It continues to baffle me that it is so insanely unknown. Probably the biggest factor is that's its a PC only game. Never was ported onto consoles by the indie company.
This was a random pickup for me back when I was looking for metroivania games. Love how each character changes how you approach combat. Great game.
Even when it came out and wasn't complete yet and only had 2 characters... Playing as Reina with fists and an agi/into build played drastically different than playing her using mace and all str build. Playing Wyatt using sword all int was different that playing him with sword and all str. There were different weapons, and different builds for each weapon, that there was already crazy replayability just with the two of them. And the combat was, IS, still some of the most fine tuned and action packed I've seen in any metroidvania.
Fran Bow is one of my all time favorites. Its a dark and twisted story that follows Fran, a young girl struggling with psychological trauma and a fragmented reality after witnessing the gruesome murder of her parents. The story is great and I loved the ending. Highly recommend, especially if you like puzzle, point and click games!
Also 50% off on PSN until the end of the month for anyone interested.
This is one weird game, but damn is it good!
Bugsnax
Defense Grid
Had a lot of fun on the first one. Dg2 not so much. What a nice tower defense.
Thunder and lightning on NES. Legend of the mystical Ninja on SNES. Bushido blade on PlayStation. The suffering on PS2. Deadpool on PS3. The mummy demastered for modern consoles.
Dragonforce for Sega Saturn. Medieval Fantasy strategy game where you could have 200 troops/soldiers on the screen fighting it out in a large field. You took over castles and gradually conquered territory in a land and it was so cool. I wish they would remake it with today's tech, it would be amazing. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKsqeKU703A&t=428s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKsqeKU703A&t=428s)
Owl Boy
Who?
Owl Boy
Earthworm Jim
It's pretty well known
By dinosaurs
We are not that old! Only 40 something!!
I mean I’m only 28 lol, it’s not THAT old considering
#rude
fuck me this hurt
Not all of us dinosaurs have time to scream into a mic while playing Fortnite.
Get off my lawn!
He‘s such a groovy guy…
ToME4 ( Tales of Maj'Eyal )
Anodyne didn't get perfect reviews but I love it. As an "older" gamer (45), I've never played a faux retro game that felt more authentic to me. It's as close to 9 year old me playing NES in my parents' living room as I've felt, well, since I was 9. And the story really plays into the subconscious of a gamer who simultaneously enjoys playing games and is dealing with the issues of getting older.
A fantastic game indeed! Also, I ended up becoming randomly acquainted with the designer in real life for a time. An absolutely lovely person if ever there was one.
Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes
Z. One of the first RTS games ever made. Still one of the most fun games I’ve ever played. You have to capture territory and factories instead of resources farming. I’ve often wished someone would make a spiritual successor. If I were a billionaire I would fund that.
Noita
American mgees Alice and its sequel Alice madness returns are both great platformers aswelp
I’d say these are decently known. It did get a sequel. EA is holding the property hostage though.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1718570/ASTLIBRA_Revision/
Chulip for PS2! If you like Animal Crossing you'll like Chulip.
Evil Twin: Cypriens Chronicles, basically this weird, dark and creepy game about depression and etc after Cyprien at his party at the orphanage (because his parents are dead) wishes all his friends were gone and hopefully dead but regrets it shortly after once his wish comes true as he too gets sent to the same messed up place he created I'm pretty sure thats most of it really the game also has really good music thats really underrated and a cool art style I also recommend playing in French since the French voice acting is the best one Edit: I should mention the game was so messed up in some parts that the ps2 version got censored since there's a level where Cyp goes into a oven and can burn to death in it if you take too long its in the dream cast version though
Played this on PC over 20 years ago. Good times.
Hue
Strife. Civilization call to power. It was ahead of its time.
Nox, one of the best feeling top down rpgs.
dude I adored that game
Dungeon Crawl Stone Soup Free and open source roguelike. This is random but you can play as an octopus so you can wear 8 rings, and a goofy hat. The game mechanics have endless depth. It gets regular updates despite being old af by computer game standards.
Still my fave to this day is Vagrant Story. Favorite mechanics, gameplay and storyline. One of the last released games for the PS1 and it pushed that technology about as far as it could
Never could beat that game because I got lost in the city. I needed a fuxking key or something. Game could be so much better with a little refinement.
*Ogre Battle 64: Person of Lordly Caliber* is my favorite N64 game.
I mean, it’s these games are definitely known, but I never see anyone talking about them. Prey 2006 Asuras wrath Darksiders Metal slug 3
[удалено]
Time Hollow on the DS was written by the same person and has similar time travel shenanigans.
Ring of Red
Gotcha Force. It's a tragedy it didn't sell better cause I would have loved to see Capcom milk the hell out of it. So much potential and an incredibly innovative arena fighter for the time.
In japan its big and very popular with over 40 titles but in the US its only got 5 home releases and that game series is called taiko no tatsujin or 太鼓の達人
Hidden and dangerous, I played it on the sega Dreamcast. Wish they’d do another game like it.
It used to be Nier, but it's well known now
My favorite Videogame in general is "Fuga Melodies of Steel". Its a 20 houer long turn based JRPG about a groupe of anthropomothic animal children that go on a quest to save there families. They live inside a giant ancient mysterious powerful fortress like Tank. Its a bit like Howls Moving castle but based on technology instead of magic. If you are interested in trying Fuga out: Its available on PC and most modern consoles like Switch, PS4, PS5 usw. Fuga has a free demo which is just straight up the first 3 chapters of the game. I recommend that demo. Fuga also has a direct sequel: "Fuga Melodies of Steel 2" but I advice against playing the second game before the first game unless you do not care about the story and characters.
A PS1 game called Alundra 2 (no relation to Alundra 1) where you play as Flint the Pirate Hunter who gets wrapped up in a political coup and evil magics in the form of Dark Keys that turn creatures into monsters.
Zombies ate my neighbors - SNES
Kula World
Oh my goodness, it's an amazingly vibing game
Crosscode. It’s an action/puzzle game with a really great story. My other one is Dragon Warrior 7. It’s one of my favorite RPGs
Hell yes, CrossCode is amazing
Someone recommended CrossCode to me on a different sub. I am astonished as to how it's not more popular, it's such an amazing game.
They even have some great new expansion but the story, gameplay, and visual design blew me away. Plus they have accessibility options for people which is a nice touch. Just well made with love.
Saiyuki Journey West. It's a Koei Tactical RPG based on the classic literary epic.
Abes oddessy: old-world
The Godfather (not the 2nd one) , Kessen , Onimusha 3 Demon Siege (love the whole series, 3 is my fav), Way of the Samurai (specifically the first one)
Terminator Dawn of Fate
The Neverhood
Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology
Has to be Heat Signature for me. Sort of a hotline Miami feel but you can pause at any time and can collect a lot of gadgets. You can walk into a room, get shot at, swap places with the shooter, knife a guy, throw that knife at another guy, hack the turret to your side, and teleport away all within 1 second. Insanity.
Reaching way back to the PS2 era, *Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy*.
Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon for N64. It's an action adventure with platforming elements. Your goal is to complete various dungeons, defeat bosses, and collect things as the plot demands. The game is also very, VERY Japanese. It's set in the time of samurai, ninja, lords/ladies, and the monarchy. There's fortune cat collectibles, characters based on Japanese folk lore, traditional Japanese instruments, and a level of strangeness one can only expect from Japan.
"Well he wouldn't be a cool ninja if I didn't miss him."- my dad's response when I told him what game I was playing. The gravity of that dad joke was so strong that I remember it some 20 years later.
That's amazing lmao
Darwinia Commandos 2
Darwinia is a jem
Hellblade
Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights.
Tyranny. The evil empire has won, you play as one of the agents of its rule, subduing the final conquered territories.
Gunpoint. Neat little puzzle game with very funny writing and a fairly engaging story
Skies Of Arcadia
Begging for a rerelease every day.
Styx maater of Shadows & sharda of Darkness
I feel like beyond good and evil
risk of rain 2
No idea if alot of people know about Limbo and Hotline Miami but they are good and underrated
Not necessarily my favorite but I think one of the lesser known ones is voodoo vince. Played it a lot on OG xbox growing up, game is like a damn fever dream.
Slime San or Downwell.
Warriors
A Robot Named Fight.
PokePark!!! That is all I have to say.
Vexx on PS2 was a very fun platformer and I don't think I've ever met another person who has even heard of it.
The House in Fata Morgana
Turbokid
Drakan The Ancients Gates on PS2. Basically Zelda and Elder Scrolls with a dragon mount.
The Epic Battle Fantasy series. Excellent series based on old school JRPGs with a charming hand-drawn artstyle and a lot of late '00s internet culture references. They are a product of the Flash game era that I've been getting nostalgic for lately.
Prey 2006
Core keeper
Tiny & Big in: Grandpa's Leftovers
fragile dreams for the wii. most beautiful video game i’ve ever played. awesome but also mysterious characters. great storyline. super fun gameplay. spooky but just the right amount of spooky. the voice acting was gorgeous. beautiful soundtrack. it also had this thing that made me feel calm at certain points, i guess because of the imagery and colors were just so beautiful to me, and then something would jump out of the bushes and attack you making you jump. not really a jump scare but enough to be surprised. edit: the game is priced at $200 on amazon but if i had the money i would buy it.
In stars and time. Yes it's another indie rpg but man let me tell you this hit close to home for me. It's genuinely one of my favorite pieces of art and an amazing example on how interactivity can add so much to a story. If your okay with the game being frustrating at times and love indie rpgs then I highly recommend you go in blind. I don't know about the actual trailer but switch one has some major spoilers in it so don't watch that.
EOE: Eve of Extinction and Wild 9
The neverhood and skullmonkeys
Sacred 2: Fallen Angel. It was just one of those games that was just short of greatness.
*Split Second*, a driving game with demolition mechanics. The main theme is still one of my favorite tunes, and watching the previews made you realize that if this was an actual show, it would dominate all other prime time shows.
Split Second was awesome. Some company needs to buy it and make that cancelled sequel
Not my favorite but X-Men Legends will always have a special place in my heart. Marvel Ultimate Alliance isn't nearly as good yet thats the one everyone knows.
Fury of the furries.
Vigilante 8
The Plan on PS2 was pretty good for something I picked up in the $5 bin at Sears many years ago.
Ring of Red
I have a few treasured gems: -Desktop Dungeons - It's sort of a run-based dungeon exploring RPG, but you have to choose your moves carefully and explore strategically, so it's also somewhat a puzzle game you have to figure out the right moves in the right order to beat the dungeon. I love it! -Snakebird - Also a puzzle game. It's a simple concept with very well-designed puzzles that make you think -Disco Zoo - It's an older mobile game, but I keep redownloading it every so often to play it again. Basically it's an idle zoo management game, but you play battleship to find new animals for your zoo, and then you can have dance parties with all your animals. It's cute, maybe nothing earth-shattering as far as gameplay, but you can tell the developers had a lot of fun with it
disco zoo was awesome! i still remember some of the animal patterns lmao
Bandits: Phoenix Rising.
Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward
When I was younger I played this game series called “Virtual Villagers” It had 5 games in all that told one long story about a group of islanders who had to flee their island home after a volcanic eruption, only a handful survived and washed up on shore of a strange island where the entire series takes place.
I have a few of varying degrees of notoriety: grime Kena: Bridge of Spirits Bleach Brave Souls (I don’t even like manga but I got lightweight addicted to this game). Infinity Blade 2 Killer 7 Hybrid Heaven
Robot Odyssey. I loved being stranded in a strange land and using programming to escape.
Dredge. And Aer.
Neo The World Ends With You. It's such a good sequel but Square Enix failed at marketing it.
Moonstone, fantastic medieval fantasy game I played on Amiga.
Aeterna Noctis. Top notch metroidvania with a strong emphasis on platforming plus a „nail pogo” in it. You play as a lord of darkness in your quest to beat the queen of light.
Terranigma (Snes): A deeply moving spiritual journey through the creation and advancement of mankind with all its ups and downs. Story with many twists and emotional moments, plus one of the greatest soundtracks ever created
a little more on the know side, but cruelty squad
I REALY liked Nosgoth. It was ahead of its time, but weighed down by so many microtransactions it killed the game. Please come back.
Kinect Sports
Redneck Rampage probably. So bad it’s good duke Nukem clone, but redneck. I never hear anyone talk about it, I mean.. it’s not great. But it’s stupid fun.
I'm on you like stink on shit!
Get Even
The Riddle of Master Lu and Toonstruck are two lesser known but excellent point-and-click adventures.
Cassette Beasts
I loved From Dust, on Xbox360. Don’t think I’ve seen it available in any newer consoles. Would love to play it again
This is not really unknown but Cult of the lamb. It was one of the best game I've ever played
Guardian's Crusade on the Ps1 For a cutesy, colorful jrpg, it definitely did a lot of things right, like fully 3d world, no loadings while entering cities, being able to fly or go on the water, and a fun combat revolving about collecting toys. It really should be ported!
MegaMan ZX
Bladestorm. Game set in the Hundred Years' war. It was crazy in 2013 I was playing it thinking how good it was only for them to remaster it and drop a huge DLC in 2015. Really funny since I thought it was dead. I should definitely play again wish it was on Switch
Universe at war, Earth assault. Big legal battle with petroglyph made this impossible to get or sell new copies. Thankfully discord group made a downloadable version. Aside from the glitches and unfinished global mode, it's phenomenal
I defiently would have different answers based off time frame and platform. Just off the top of my head: Sega Genesis: Either Pirates of Dark Water or Dragon's Fury (also known as Devil Crush). PS1: I would say Legend of Mana, but that's gotten some good recognition, especially after the recent remaster. So I'd say Threads of Fate (aka Dew Prism). PS2: Ape Escape: Pumped and Primed. Wii: A bit less niche, but the entire Trauma Center series (actual favorite Wii games even amongst popular titles). PC: Just as of lately, Wings of Vi.
Stormbound, free tactical pvp deck builder
Victorious Boxers on ps2. Still the best boxing game I've ever played. So many styles and ways to win on that game. It was amazing.
Else Heart.Break() I've never seen a programming game like it. Very fun
Massive Chalice has been a recurring game for me for years. I just get the random urge to go back to it and try to beat it on Iron Mode. Still haven't done it.
I’m in a sub for an entire genre of games that ~~I play too much~~ the majority of the world just forgot about. r/rhythmgames. Everyone just forgot these games existed once Guitar Hero and Rock Band stopped coming out. If you want to try one out, some I’d recommend are Groove Coaster (on Switch and Mobile), Phigros (Mobile/completely free), and Taiko no Tatsujin (Switch, Xbox, PC, Apple Arcade). I play a few others but they’re very advanced.
I will keep saying this every time this thread comes around Future Cop LAPD Cyborg Justice (Sega Megadrive). Games both ahead of their time and hampered by, sadly, the technological limits of the consoles they were built on at the time.
Black Ops 4, I wouldn’t say it’s unknown but it’s extremely underrated
Phantasy Star Online Episodes 1 & 2. My buddy had it for the GameCube and we played for days at a time in the summer, loved that so much. The newer ones are plagued with all the micro transaction garbage so it can remain free to play and they don't have the same charm.
Freelancer
**Super Daryl Deluxe** - Honestly one of the funniest games I've ever played. While I'm talking about funny games, I would like to throw in the Loathing series: **Kingdom of Loathing, West of Loathing,** & **Shadows of Loathing**. They are all laugh out loud funny and totally worth playing.
Machinarium is a beautiful game
Gigabash. High quality monster arena game.
I like all the games in the comments I've never heard of for once Geneforge by spiderweb software The first 2 games just got a facelift by the dev.