10 Most Underrated Games of this Generation

"Despite the sheer volume of top ten lists I've written over the years, I'm well aware of the criticisms surrounding the practice. My main beef with the format is how it sensationalises a small microcosm of the big AAA games everyone already knows about. How's an indie title ever going to stand toe to toe with the big boys in a generic “best visuals” type of list?"

[Godmars290]

Is it now fair to say that the reason Lost Odyssey is on a list like this is because it was Xbox only?

[Sexius Maximus]

Personally, I'd say no. It was released very early in the life cycle. Like Folklore on PS3, the game was great fun, and underrated, but the install base wasn't there. Lots of great games suffer in sales this way. I think both LO and Folklore did fine considering.

[dedicatedtogamers]

Do I win something if I've played all those games prior to seeing this list?

Lost Odyssey would have become more popular if Microsoft actually stuck with its original idea of becoming a JRPG source. Instead, they bought up a few high-profile JRPGs, got FF13 to go multiplat, and then called it a day. After the halfway point this gen, the PS3 became the go-to spot for JRPGs.

And although the author mentions it in passing, Resonance of Fate deserves far more attention and praise than Lost Odyssey.

[omi25p]

So are you saying it was underrated because it was on the 360 or that people are saying it was underrated but it was actually bad and its bad because its on the 360?

On topic:

1. Alan Wake
2. Darkness
3. Metro *2033*
4. Infamous
5. Condemned

[Godmars290]

I'm saying that it would have been overrated regardless, but it would have sold better on the PS3.

Not that Sakaguchi is talking to Sony. Still.

[NewZealander]

Godmars you assume it would sell better on ps3, but theres no way you can say that for certain, there are plenty of games on playstation in the same boat, like ico, another fantastic game that at the time went under the radar, even the sony brand couldn't stop that.

[HonestDragon]

I agree with that. Of the list, though, I only played but also really liked Catherine, Condemned, and Deadly Premonition (to an extent). Can't wait to see the remastering of Deadly Premonition. I heard the control scheme should be updated along with the graphics.

[gameseveryday]

Here is the entire list in case no one wants to click:

1. Catherine
2. Might and Magic: Clash of Heroes
3. Lost Odyssey
4. Silent Hill: Shattered Memories
5. Radiant Historia
6. Deadly Premonition
7. Eternal Sonata
8. Zack and Wiki: Quest for Barbaros' Treasure
9. Condemned/Condemned 2
10. Stuntman Ignition

[OcelotRigz]

Thanks man.
Hate when they put lists into slides.

[3-4-5]

this site always does...it's annoying because they usually have stuff I want to see but I'm not clicking on all those pages..

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

White people problems...

Just kidding, I hate those easy tactics to hoard clicks as much as the next guy, but the joke was just too easy to pass.

[TopDudeMan]

Thanks. Having a look at that list, I actually have heard of very few of those games

[Captain Qwark 9]

lost odyssey is amazing, id also throw in darksiders 1 and 2 as well as banjo kazooie nuts and bolts. banjo may not have been a traditional sequel everyone hoped for but it was original and tons of fun

[FamilyGuy]

6. Deadly Premonition

Looked like garbage, I can't imagine a game like this being underrated. I guess I'd have to play it to believe it but it looked like one of those cheesy b-movies with terrible acting and a matching low budget. I'm just not into it :/

[grailly]

clash of heroes isn't very well known, but it seems to me like it was really well received critically.

I would add motorstorm pacific rift somewhere in there.

[admiralvic]

Catherine had a lot of good press / buzz, so I wouldn't call it under rated at all. Deadly Premonition is also getting a rerelease, which I think also goes against it being underrated.

[Hicken]

Glad you got the "Helpful" instead of "Spam" bubble. That annoys me to NO end.

On topic, I've owned/heard of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10. Owned 1, 3, and 7. Great games, all, but Catherine got quite a bit of press, so I dunno if it really counts as underrated.

[BanBrother]

In no particular order.

Lost Odyssey. Eternal Sonata. Metro 2033. The Darkness. Alan Wake. Tales of Graces f. Valkyria Chronicles.

I could name a few other JRPG's if PSP counts??

[CaptainYesterday]

Catherine was an incredible game! And Stuntman Ignition was pretty fun too wish I didn't sell it!

[despair]

most of these are far from underrated.

[whamlollypop7]

I think the list needs Valkyria Chronicles, Spec Ops, and I'm sure there are many others.

[CanadianTurtle]

Resistance 3
inFamous 2
Singularity

[ILive]

Agreed with that list, especially Resistance 3, which is freaking amazing. I will put sleeping dogs as well. Good times with that game.

[OcelotRigz]

Always felt the InFamous games were very underated, they were so much fun and played so smoothly, you'd think a game like that would do well because there isnt much open-world superhero games out there.

Also agree with R3, now im not saying its as good as Half-life 2 but it reminded me so much of that game, the atmosphere, the characters and story. Im even convinced one level was definitely inspired by the "Ravenholm" level from HL2. It also has the best and most creative use of weaponry ive played with in a game.
Strange that didnt do better critically, especially considering all the "copy and paste" shooters out there now that brings no innovation or creativity to the table and yet gets ridiculous scores

[OcelotRigz]

Surprised i haven't played any of those games.
I think the problem with those games, for me anyway, they just look like the sort of games you wouldn't like. Its something you dont really think about, you just glance and quickly assume you wouldnt like it. Marketing and hype are important in that sense, where you try a game just to see what all the fuss is about.

Some of my favorite games are ones i didnt think i would like at the time and ended up playing them in retrospect.
Demon Souls is a perfect example, didnt like the sound of it at all until a few years later i got it really cheap and ended up one of my favorite all time games. Demon Souls itself is probably in its own way very underrated, its kinda lost in Dark Souls bigger shadow.

Xcom, now theres a game i thought would be terrible because i personally hate turn-based games and didnt like the look of it at all. Now im hooked in it.

[Number-Nine]

enchanted arms and MAG come to mind.

[MysticStrummer]

MAG is always the first title that comes to my mind when I see an article about underrated games.

[gameseveryday]

My list:

Resistance 3
Spec Ops The Line
Valkyria Chronicles
Demon Souls (many people never knew about this game when it was released)
Castlevania (2010)
Amnesia The Dark Descent.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

100% agree with Castlevania Lord of shadows. And im very excited for the sequel this year.

[Cam977]

Wow, nobody has said The Saboteur? Let me be the first.

[Knightofelemia]

I think Enslaved was an underestimated game even thoe people hate the title. I thought it was a well built solid game that was not marketed right.

[Z501]

^ aren't all the games mentioned & the list rated pretty accurately? ( like catherine & folklore. 7.5 - 8 range)

[BISHOP-BRASIL]

Remember that this gen was filled with hate for anything under 8, sometimes people would complain about a 9 score, specially earlier in this generation.

Not that I'm disagreeing with you, 7.5 shouldn't ever be considered a bad score, but by the ongoing standard of what was good and bad those games got a negative view from their scores, even if not technically underscored.

[pr0t0typeknuckles]

Personally prince of Persia 2008,vanquish,bayonetta,and darksiders are some of this gens most underated games.

[DaPrintz]

Prince of Persia ...... loved that f@ckin game.

[josephayal]

Operation Flashpoint,i really wish that game had gotten more attention here in the states. operation flashpoint is the best FPS this gen

[superterabyte]

Sleeping dogs was underrated by some.

[Indo]

If Sleeping Dogs was titled True Crime 3, I would think people would look twice. The title doesn't sound appealing but the fighting was truely fun.

[GloriousBagel]

Finally a good read. Chatherine definitely deserves to be #1

[Tontus]

1. Castlevania: Lords of Shadow. (9.5/10, Amazing)
2. Alan Wake. (9.5/10, Amazing)
3. Resistance 3. (9/10, Great)
4. Infamous 2. (9/10, Great)
5. Bulletstorm. (8.5/10, Very good)

[Max-Zorin]

Lost Odyssey is proof the best RPG's are always overlooked.

[StreetsofRage]

Most underrated game this gen in my book? Shadowrun! The most original competitive shooter this gen.

[Oh_Yeah]

I'd say RAGE was underrated and hated on by many for some reason...The game is good though, it has everything.. Great enemy ai and physics, nice graphics and atmosphere and a mix between first person shooter action and driving/vehicle combat so it didn't get stale. Vanquish was another awesome game that went under the radar, that game was a blast and had some of the best gameplay mechanics I've seen. Also Sleeping Dogs and Mafia 2 are thee best games in the open world crime genre imo but they got way outsold by lesser quality games (GTA IV, Saints Row 3)

[Stoppokingme]

I have to agree with Lost Odyssey and Condemned, bring on condemned 3 I say.

Now we wait for the inevitable 'most overrated games'
list. And I think we all know who will be the first nominees...