As hundreds of games are released every year, it’s so hard to look into every one of them. Being it an indie game, or a full-fledged AAA game, sometimes their destiny isn’t great and they fall into the oblivion, in which they remain forever, in most cases. Believe me, I’ve played games for almost two decades, and I still do, and those underrated PC games are badass, and sometimes better than some AAA efforts. That being said, my task for today is to present those games to you. If that sounds great, the list of 20 most underrated games for PC is below.
1. Nier: Automata
Nier: Automata is a proof that we, as a gaming community are sometimes not that smart. I mean, come on! This game deserves a spot amongst the best AAA games ever! At first, I was too hesitant to play it, but once my brother showed it to me, I was straining my eyes like a lunatic and played it on daily basis. This game combines several genres into one. At first, you’ll get an action-packed sequence where you are flying and destroying the enemies, then you’ll be on the ground, fighting in a classic hack-and-slash manner, and then encounter some 2D sequences. The game is amazing, and believe me, that isn’t an appropriate word for how good it is. If you want a great AAA experience for a cheap price, then grab this one, and thank me later
2. The Surge
Many games today draw the inspiration from Dark Souls series, and guess what? The Surge is one of them. The Surge, however, took a different approach by introducing a post-apocalyptic, futuristic world where you have some augmentations and powerups to fight the enemies. The game concept is fantastic, and the graphics are gorgeous, plus the atmosphere is intense, as the combat is hard and punishing. You can’t just hack and slash here, but have patience and think about next move. If you do so, the game is a rewarding and satisfying experience.
3. Cuphead
This 2D game for PC is a true gem of the genre. It’s a bloody hard game, that will punish every mistake that you make. You didn’t read it well? E V E R Y. Cuphead is a run-and-gun game, in which you play as a Cuphead, who made a deal with the devil and is granted a power with which he can shoot from his finger. In this game, not only that bosses will kick your ass, but also the level design and even some platforming segments. With its cartoonish graphics inspired by 1930 cartoons, the game looks beautiful, but under that beauty the devil hides!
4. Prey
What if System Shock 2 and Deus Ex had a child? Well, Prey would be born! Prey combines the futuristic setting, with some of the best RPG elements, and stealth gameplay that is unmatched! It’s a first-person shooter game but isn’t quite a shooter game, you know? You can shoot and kill, but it’s best to use your GLOO gun here. Nevertheless, Prey is a fantastic role-playing game, where you can investigate the space station Talos I, in which the game takes place. The game is so unforgivable and hard, that you’ll think about letting it pass, but please don’t do that. If you make a little effort, the game will reward you, for sure. There’s a lot to be done here, and I enjoyed every single millisecond of the game!
5. Titanfall 2
Oh, my God, I’m going to get mad if I write more about this game because it’s so damn underrated that the sales went really poor for this game. This is due to the release date that was overlapping with Battlefield 1, which is, of course, a more popular game than this one. Nonetheless, Titanfall 2 will offer you a classic fast-paced action, where you can play with a human character or with a Titan, which kicks ass in every sense of that word! Aside from that, Titanfall 2 introduces a singleplayer campaign which left me speechless, for its voice acting, story and of course, the ending which brought tears to my eyes.
6. For Honor
For Honor is very hard to get into, mainly because the game isn’t that interesting in the beginning. I mean, the combat is very hard to learn, and that may back some people off. However, as you learn more and more, For Honor will be your true masculine game, to show off your combat skills and chop the enemy’s head off! Whether you like Vikings, Samurais or Knights, they are all equally badass and posses different fighting styles. I always went with the Vikings, but the other two are great also. It’s up to you how you play it, but be sure to use your weapon wisely!
7. Outlast 2
The horror games for PC often don’t get the attention they deserve. The attention is focused on the game trailer and when it comes out, nobody has the courage to play it. Outlast 2 is such game. This horror will send shivers down your spine and make you sweat like you are in a Sauna! It’s a nerve-wracking horror game, that is played from the first-person perspective, as you investigate the desert environment of Arizona, and escape the sick cult members. The only “weapons” you’ll have here are the camera and your journal, so try to survive if you dare.
8. Styx: Shards of Darkness
When talking about the stealth games, Styx: Shards of Darkness is a worthy addition to the genre. Sure, it’s not exactly an AAA title, but it doesn’t have to be, to be a great game, right? The game puts you in a role of Styx, who is a Goblin on a mission to infiltrate Dark Elven city. Here, you’ll have the very punishing stealth experience, crafted just for true stealth fans. No, you can’t go slashing everything in your way, so just drop the ball down and be stealthy! Styx: Shards of Darkness will test your patience and your brain and is a great experience, highly recommended in this genre.
9. Hitman
Hitman: Codename 47 was the first game I ever played in 2001, and it was quite harsh for me, as a little kid. Now, Hitman (2016) is one of my favorite stealth games, and although I’m not a kid anymore, it still manages to punish me every single time I play it. The game is set before every other game in the series, and puts you in a role of Agent 47, as he is just beginning to work for the agency. The missions are open-world, and let you complete them in various ways, which is a contrast from the previous Hitman game. The game is extremely punishing and force you to go stealthily, but it’s rewarding and enjoyable to play at the same time.
10. Resident Evil 7: Biohazard
It’s not quite the most underrated game on PC ever, but RE7: Biohazard surely deserves more attention. This horror game has everything it needs to scare you and haunt your dreams every single night after you play it. It’s a claustrophobic experience, set mostly set in the house of Baker family, which are the main villain here. Aside from being spooky, this game will disgust you, because of tons of blood, gore, dismembering and chopping heads off. It’s a terrifying experience, but you’ll be damn wrong if you say that the game is bad!
11. Rise of the Tomb Raider
Rise of the Tomb Raider is one of the most popular games for benchmarks on YouTube, but aside from that… I feel it’s underrated. This game offered my tons of fun with its singleplayer campaign, and although there is a multiplayer component, I suggest not wasting time on it. The graphics here are stunning, and it’s not strange if your card struggles with it, even on medium or low settings. The environments are beautiful, varied and its open world offers lots to be explored, making it a superior adventure game, full of action sequences.
12. Condemned: Criminal Origins
I wrote about this game in the past article, but I felt the need to mention it here. Have you ever heard about this game? Well, if not, now it’s time to introduce yourself to Condemned: Criminal Origins. It’s a horror game, that draws the inspiration from movies like Silence of the Lambs and similar. So, you are a detective that works on a case of the serial killer, and as the story is culminating, the game gets terrifying and harder, which is really challenging. Although the game is more than decade old, it will scare the hell out of you and make you pause the game in order to reduce your heart BPM!
13. Spec Ops
Specs Ops left quite a mark on me, and I’m impressed by how well this game is crafted, but disappointed with the attention it got. It’s easily one of the best TPS games ever! From the beginning, the game puts you in Dubai, which is torn apart, dry and ruthless. From that moment, the protagonist is undergoing some serious pressure from both of his teammates and the bad luck that follows him. The game packs some explosive action parts, and the story is amazing. I still remember every level of that game, especially the one with phosphorus bomb, that wipes everything away, including the innocent civilians and leaves everyone mutilated and screaming in terror. The game is made to screw with your mind, and will do it until the very end.
14. GTA IV
GTA V is great and all, but why GTA IV is forgotten? I mean, there’s everything to be desired here, and the game boasts a more realistic physics than GTA V. Our main character here is Niko Belic, with Slavic roots, and it’s interesting to see how the American actors do that kind of language, as it’s really funny at some moments. Aside from that, the game’s world isn’t that pretty like in GTA V, but the game does a solid job of telling a story, and letting you do stuff in the world. The game is overlooked probably because it’s poorly optimized, but with the newer machine, you can play it smoothly.
15. S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat
S.T.A.L.K.E.R.: Call of Pripyat is a very underrated game, based on the real events when the nuclear catastrophe hit the Russia in 1986. Now, local Stalkers and other factions invaded the place and live there as they fight the mutants and each other over the various artifacts. You are sent to investigate a helicopter crash in Pripyat, and as you do that, you are able to explore the world in the game, which is perfectly portrayed. It’s torn, colorless, bland and unforgiving, just like it should be! The game is very cheap now, so I recommend getting it if you like open world games, RPG, and shooting games.
16. Crysis 3
Many say that Crysis is the best game in the series, but I’m gonna go with Crysis 3. This game will torch your GPU and CPU so get ready to buy a fire extinguisher alongside this game. Seriously, Crysis 3 has amazing graphics even on lowest graphical settings, but that’s not the main reason it’s the best game in the series. Crysis 3 offers a great stealth gameplay, but also memorable action-packed levels, where you’ll fight both versus CELL soldiers and Ceph creatures, resulting in a satisfying and compelling ending.
17. Dark Sector
Dark Sector is a quite old game, released in 2009, but oh boy, it packs some great gameplay and visuals for the time. Immediately upon beginning the campaign, the game will show you how ruthless it is, by exposing you to the human, as well as the enemies infected by Technocyte, which are various monsters. Oh, and the game features some memorable boss fights that you’ll love, but also hate because they’ll take every single piece of strength from you.
18. Need for Speed: The Run
Wait, how did NFS game make it on this list? NFS: The Run is one of my favorite entries in the series, but the reviews say otherwise. This game has the best handling in the series, offering a fine balance between realistic and arcade car handling. On top of that, the game looks dope! The car selection is fine, although you can’t really buy them, so you must change the car on the run. Also, there is a great story which culminates into a great final race, full of action and heart-stopping moments. Don’t miss this game, folks!
19. Mad Max
If you watched Mad Max movies, you know about Max Rockatansky. He might not be the most interesting protagonist ever, but that doesn’t matter, as the game is very good. Here, it’s all about that car combat and melee combat, that resembles the mechanics similar to Batman game series. Mad Max is a cheap game, but offers so much fun, and it isn’t short either! That open world of Wasteland is full of places to explore and things to do.
20. ELEX
Coming from Pyranha Bites, ELEX is a great role-playing game, and it’s not strange because that developer worked on Gothic series as well. What can I say? The open world and the constant conflict between tech and the magic are interesting, and the whole setting combines that high-tech world with the less-urban part of the game. There is a lot of talking and decision making here as well as combat, so if it seems interesting to you, then go on!