2024 was a busy year for players, with several popular titles released throughout the year.Helldivers 2andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthtook the world by storm earlier this year in February, whileBlack Myth: Wukongamassed critical acclaim and widespread attention in August, andCall of Duty: Black Ops 6dominated sales charts in October. More popular titles were released in between, likeAstro Bot, Tekken 8, The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom,andHades 2.
Keeping up has been hard with so many popular games released this year. As such, many smaller titles have been overlooked. Whether because they were released around the same time as more high-profile titles or because they were from smaller developers who didn’t have the marketing budget to compete, these hidden gems deserve a second look from players. Here are 10 games many have overlooked but are worth checking into.
10Rise of the Rōnin
An Open-World Dive Into Japan’s History
Rise of the Rōninis a PS5 roleplaying exclusive packed with action. It was first announced in 2022, and then, during The Game Awards 2023, a pre-order trailer was released, generating some buzz. Sadly, the excitement around the game died down and few seemed to give it a second thought when it was finally released. Hardly anyone seemed to be playing the game or talking about it, even now, despite it being a fun and captivating title.
How To Unlock All Allies In Rise Of The Ronin
Allies are important NPCs you can recruit to help you during missions in Rise of the Ronin, but you have to earn their trust to unlock them all.
Although it didn’t do as well as it should have, the game still has a few dedicated fans.Rise of the Rōninprovides players with animmersive, open-world historical atmosphere.The game dives into Japan’s history, offering a rich narrative set during the turbulent Bakumatsu era in the 19th century.
June 11, 2025
PS5
The game lets players explore a beautiful open world while uncovering a deep story full of interesting characters, exciting combat, andengaging and fun quests. While many have overlooked it,Rise of the Rōninis a hidden gem that more people should try in 2024 and beyond.
9Granblue Fantasy: Relink
An Action RPG Overshadowed By FF7
Granblue Fantasy: Relinkwas poised to be a great RPG with elements of action, adventure, fighting, and shooting. It was released on the PS4, PS5 and PC, catering to a broader audience than if released on just one system. However, becauseit was released around the same time asFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, it unfortunately struggled to maintain the spotlight and was overshadowed by the larger franchise.
August 05, 2025
PS4, PS5, PC
Players inGranblue Fantasy: Relinktake on the role of the captain of a skyfaring crew as they traverse through the Sky Realm,visiting various islands and engaging in combat and quests. Players team up with three other characters whom they canchoose from a roster once unlocked. Each character is unique in their weapons, skills, and combat. For those not interested in combat,Granblue Fantasy: Relinkcomes with accessibility options in assist modes. All skill levels can enjoy this game.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review: “Chaotically Incredible”
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a pleasant surprise of an RPG with excellent combat that proves it’s more than just a game with good looks.
Granblue Fantasy: Relinkis a fantastic option for any RPG fan who enjoys exciting worlds, action-packed combat, and a variety of characters.
8Crypt Custodian
A Look Into The Afterlife From A Cat’s POV
Fans of the Metroidvania genre, theZeldafranchise, and cats are in for a treat withCrypt Custodian. While manypopular Metroidvania gamesare fast-paced and sometimes confusing,Crypt Custodianpromises a more chill experience in its gameplay.
June 28, 2025
PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PC
Crypt Custodiancomes from indie developer Kyle Thompson,who is also responsible forIsletsandSheepo. So, fans of those games will surely enjoy this one, too. Much like Thompson’s other games,Crypt Custodianoffers stunning visuals, a beautiful story, and an atmospheric soundtrack that can be enjoyed both in and out of the game.
While Kyle Thompson makes these fun and entertaining Metroidvania games, his brother composes the music and soundtracks for them.
InCrypt Custodian, players take on the role of a recently deceased cat, Pluto, who has just arrived in the afterlife and soon finds himself sentenced to clean up messes for all eternity. As Pluto, players will explore what the afterlife has to offer, battling monsters and gaining new abilities along the way.There are also puzzles and secrets to explore, promising an experience players won’t want to miss.
7Pacific Drive
A Survival Game With Cars
Pacific Drivereceived a lot of attention when it was first announced in 2022. It’s asurvival game where players navigate a dangerous post-apocalyptic world with only their car. Unfortunately,Pacific Drivedidn’t do as well as expected upon its release.
Pacific Drive Review: “An Excellent Reality-Bending Survival Adventure”
Ironwood Studio’s debut game, Pacific Drive, is an engaging survival adventure with reality-breaking obstacles and a trusty station wagon.
Survival games are often challenging for players, which could have turned players away.Pacific Drivealso has its challenges, because not only do players have to survive in this new world, butthey must also keep their cars in decent shape.
August 11, 2025
PS5, PC
Pacific Drivehas a lot for fans to enjoy: survival elements, supernatural dangers, unique challenges, anupgradable and customizable car, and a mystery waiting to be solved. Players explore both on foot and by driving, fighting against the storm, scavenging resources, and trying to survive the Pacific Northwest. It’s a great game for anyone who enjoys exploration and survival challenges.
6Arco
A Strategy RPG About Indigenous People
Arcohas a perfect five-star rating on Steam, but despite that, it’s still a highly overlooked game. Few people have played it, and even fewer are talking about it. However, it’s a game worth checking out for people who enjoy action RPGs with strategy in the mix. With its deep combat mechanics, engaging story, and tactical turn-based depth,Arcooffers a unique experience perfect for players looking for more than just fast-paced action.
August 20, 2025
Nintendo Switch, PC
Players are in charge of leading four indigenous people as their stories intertwine. They’ll come face to face with monsters, rival nations, and colonizers who threaten their way of life. Each of the four characters brings a unique story, skill tree, and playstyle to life. Players will have tomake choices that can change the story and gameplay. There are more than 200 locations to visit, 100 items to find, and 50 enemies to face off against.
5Dungeons Of Hinterberg
An Open-World Dungeon Crawler
Upon its release, theutterly charmingDungeons of Hinterbergreceived some initial buzz among players. However, the talk and excitement around the game quickly died down and not much has been heard about it since. Even looking at the game on Steam, it clearly did not amass a significant following; yet, it’s a game worth looking into.
August 01, 2025
Xbox Series X/S, PC
Dungeons of Hinterbergoffers a refreshing take on the dungeon-crawling genre. It combines intense combat with puzzles and exploration through the Austrian Alps. The story centers around Luisa,a tired law student looking to recharge by conquering the island’s dungeons. The dungeons are filled with challenging puzzles that test both strategy and creativity. Beyond the dungeons, the game features open-world exploration that allows players to zipline through forests, snowboard down glaciers, and more.
Despite its somewhat quiet reception,Dungeons of Hinterbergis a distinctive adventure game that you won’t want to miss out on. Plus, it features a New Game Plus feature that allows some replayability.
4Shiren The Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon Of Serpentcoil Island
An Unpredictable Dungeon-Crawler With Procedurally Generated Dungeons
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Islandis another highly overlooked game released in 2024 that more players should give a chance. Released on the Nintendo Switch and PC, the gamefeatures roguelike elementspacked into an engaging and unpredictable dungeon-crawling experience. Players play as Shiren the Wanderer, accompanied by a talking ferret named Koppa. Shiren and Koppa travel and explore the mysterious Serpentcoil Island,searching for treasure.
June 17, 2025
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Islandhas a lot of replayability,thanks to its procedurally generated Mystery Dungeon, which changes layout, enemies, and treasures through each playthrough. The uncertainty in the dungeons keeps players on their toes and requires them to adapt to new challenges in an ever-changing dungeon.
With its exciting blend of strategy, exploration, and unpredictable dungeon encounters,Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Islandoffers a fresh and rewarding experience that fans of roguelikes and adventure games won’t want to miss.
3UFO 50
A Collection Of 50 Diverse Video Games
UFO 50isn’t just one game, but a collection of them. In fact, it has 50 games in one, which makesUFO 50an exciting and varied experience for players. With 50 games to choose from, there’s something for everyone —from puzzle games to roguelikes, platformers, and more. Yet, despite its variety,UFO 50hasn’t truly received the recognition it deserves.
Aug 05, 2025
PC
UFO 50is a game reminiscent ofold-school retro classic collections, in which players can enjoy a wide range of styles and genres and aren’t limited or confined to just one type of gameplay. This allows players to experiment to find something else they might enjoy beyond their usual games.There’s a mix of single- and multiplayer games, as well as games that are both small and arcade-style to larger open-world adventures. Each game promises a unique experience, lasting a few hours to several.
Once purchased, all 50 games inUFO 50are available to play and enjoy from the start.
WhileUFO 50is akin to retro games, modern elements have also been included to appeal to both retro and modern gaming fans. ThoughUFO 50hasn’t received much recognition, its fans hope it will be a strong contender for Game of the Year.
21000xResist
A Story Of Betrayal And Unexpected Twists
Another dark horse contender for Game of the Year is1000xResist, a gripping futuristic sci-fi thriller game that blends mystery, exploration, and deep emotional storytelling. The game features aliens and a disease that has killed off most humanity, with the survivors living underground. Iris, the ALLMOTHER, is the only known immune person among the survivors. Besides being immune,she is immortal and has created clones to form her own society. Unlike their original, the clones are not immune.
May 28, 2025
Players take on the role of a new clone who becomes the Watcher in their society. As the Watcher, players will relive Iris' memories and learn about important moments in her life. However, everything comes to a halt whenplayers uncover a shocking secret about the ALLMOTHER, revealed to them by a close ally. Thus begins a journey of betrayal and self-discovery as players work to navigate the truth behind the ALLMOTHER’s past and the dark secrets of their society.
1000xResistis a gripping tale that will challenge players' perceptions of identity, trust, and power. It’s a must-play for fans of deep narrative-driven games that dive into complex themes and offers a riveting experience. Its emotional storytelling, unexpected twists, and thought-provoking narrative will keep players on the edge of their seats until the very last moment.
1Nine Sols
A Challenging Platformer That Will Keep Players Occupied Until Silksong
Nine Solsis one of the greatest and most overlooked games in 2024. While the game barely received any attention this year, it stands out with its great action, story, and 2D art and gives asimilar feel toHollow Knight. It has everything you would expect in a platformer:challenging combat with unique boss fights, unique levels, and a unique world that keeps players engaged from start to finish.
Hollow Knight: Silksong Fan’s Release Date Theory Is A Little Extreme But Surprisingly Plausible
Hollow Knight: Silksong Fans are theorizing about a potential new release date, leading to an intricate but very realistic theory about the release.
Players take on the role of Yi, exploring the regions of New Kunlun anduncovering secrets as he fights to defeat the rulers, or Nine Sols, of New Kunlun. It’s a game full of fast action and intense battles similar toSekiro’s, with a rich story and beautiful world design, living up to the best qualities of a platformer.
July 29, 2025
PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
While several prominent and big-name games have released in 2024, players should not forget the smaller titles put out by indie developers. Indie developers are often free to take more risks and experiment with new concepts, bringing unique gameplay experiences. Many of these games fly under the radar, but they can surprise players with their ingenuity and charm and are worth checking out. These games might not get as much attention as titles likeFinal Fantasy 7 RebirthandHelldivers 2, but they still deserve recognition for their creativity and unique gameplay.
