Ten Underrated Games That Were Overlooked in Wake of More Popular Counterparts

Everyone has played GTA. Everyone has played Assassins Creed and Resident Evil. And almost everyone has played Need for Speed and Call of Duty. There are truly popular franchises that have spawned some superior as well as inferior sequels and prequels. In the glory of those releases, several other equally exciting but less-branded names get lost in the frenzy. It’s not that the popular games can be blamed, but somehow the other games have the bad luck of having similar gameplays, slight technical glitches, poor release dates, unrequired negative publicity or just sheer misfortune.In this particular list, we cover ten such games that are interesting in their own rights, but could not live to up to the above mentioned giants. When we have a little time, hope we give a couple of them some respect.

#10 Beyond Good & Evil

Ubisoft is known for Prince of Persia and Assassins Creed so much that, the lesser titles of theirs get lost in that sometimes underserving popularity. Beyond Good & Evil suffers the same plight, though it actually happens to be better than many of Ubisoft’s offerings, especially The Prince of Persia reboot. With a pretty sassy female lead and a whacky pig for company as a sidekick, the game offers you some good old-style adventure, plus some truly wonderful background scores.

#9 Yakuza series

Yakuza series have always been overshadowed by the Amercanised and peppier version of race and shoot stuff, namely GTA series. More popular in the Eastern countries, Yakuza needs to be tried once at least by any gamer who has a penchant for action games. The narrative is tight and the action is quite fun and stylized, true to the Oriental flavor. Especially recommended are the third and the fourth part of the series, if you really don’t want to go for the whole thing!

#8 Bulletstorm

This first person shooter which served as a proper follow up for the Gears of Wars franchise was not as popular as the latter. This is actually quite bad, since the game is quite engaging and has several brilliant moments. Though it was nothing out of the park or seriously innovative, there were some seriously killer moves in there (Does killing someone by throwing him on an electric fence count?). That’s precisely what we look in a bat-shit action game, right?

#7 Shadow Of The Damned

If you haven’t heard of this game, don’t bang your head over it! No one would really blame you for doing so. This game, involving the plot where the hero goes into a quest to rescue his kidnapped girlfriend from the clutches of a demon, was an utter failure when it released. But if you have ever played it, you would realise the game is at least on the level of the Resident Evil and the Dead Island series. After all which game offers you a talking skull and monstrosity shaped guns?

#6 The Evil Within

Think Dead Island and Silent Hill are scary enough? The probability is high that you have not played The Evil Within. You play a not so good hero who is trapped in an asylum which is actually a haven for all forms of monsters. Therefore, there are plenty of opportunities for some real scares, as well as some pretty good fightin’ monsters shtick. The ammunitions is not so abundant unlike many other games, so you have to make sure you use them judiciously lest you want to end up as ghoul fodder.

#5 Spiderman: Web of Shadows

When you ask gamers which is the most popular title in the Spiderman series, the chances are that you most likely to hear is Shattered Dimensions. However, another title, which is far better than the Shattered Dimensions, was Web of Shadows. Though not exactly overlooked, it remained overshadowed under the influence of Shattered Dimensions. The best open-world game in the Spiderverse, Web of Shadows has some pretty cool slinging action and a dynamic plot to reckon with. Plus, you also get to see Logan aka Wolverine!

#4 The Punisher

The Punisher as a character hasn’t ever got his due either in movies or in video games. His stint in the latter hasn’t been something worth of a great success, but assure you it’s no less enjoyable than any good actioner. Above all, it stays true to the spirit of the character of the vigilante who makes it his life’s only ambition to wipe out all crime by the harshest way possible. Check out the interrogation parts – the only better ones we have seen in was in L.A. Noire, which sadly was too mild.

#3 Alpha Protocol

Alpha Protocol is often deemed as the weaker cousin of Tom Clancy series, and with some shoddy graphics and not quite inventive narration, you can’t be blamed for calling it so. But the game has something many of its peers lacked – you can actually customize your spy’s skills per your wishes. You can turn him into James Bond, Jason Bourne or even Jack Ryan! The gameplay is not something that would earn high praise, but nevertheless not the kind you would whine about.

#2 Turok

I will say it again and again that Turok is yet to deserve the popularity the game demands. After all, in which do you get to kill the dinosaurs? The 2008 version of the game was especially very enjoyable and engaging. Ok, it may not be quite the critics’ darling, but at least you won’t get bored. As the player, you are sent on a island to catch a wanted criminal, while fending off dinosaurs and lot other prehistorical animals, who need a taste of human flesh. Tell me, isn’t that premise worth playing for?

#1 Split/Second

When you think of a racing game, what’s the first name that comes up in your mind? You may try not saying Need For Speed, but I am sure the answer is just that. One thing for sure, Split/Second is not the name that would come up first in your mind. Which is actually sad, since this is a highly under-rated game that deserves some attention. Threading a plot around a reality show where you are one of the contestant driving away to some fame and cash, it has some high octane races to please the inner speed-demon in you. Do check it out!