10 Amazing Games With Incredible Review Scores You Haven't Played

With the rate at which indie and AAA games are being released and the rising prices of the latter, I'd guess that most of us have growing backlogs and wishlists that we always want to get around to, but don't for one reason or another.

Beyond that, though, the sometimes unfortunate fact is that great games are often overshadowed by heavily anticipated releases or simply lack enough marketing to compete with the biggest game of the month. I mean, why do you think every game releasing in late 2026 is trying their best to separate themselves from November when GTA 6 launches?

For that reason, we've put together a list of games that have flown under your radar. Maybe you were too young when it was released, or maybe you were so focused on another release that you missed it. Whatever the reason, here are some highly rated games that you haven't played, but should definitely add to the list.

10

UFO 50

Metascore 93 | User Ratings 8.9

Despite receiving a good response at launch, UFO 50 had the bad luck to release in the same month as 2024's Game of the Year winner, Astro Bot. Yes, they were on different platforms, with UFO 50 only on Nintendo Switch and PC, but in the grand scheme of things, it was still hard to compete with Sony's mascot, which was dominating marketing and news that month.

That said, it's worth coming back to see, because UFO 50 is a unique little indie that's actually 50 games in one. Whether you're looking for single-player, multiplayer, roguelikes, RPGs, or platformers, this little game has it all, and more. Between the low prices, great quality, and variety, it's hard to beat.

9

OneShot

Metascore 80 | User Ratings 8.9

After originally appearing as a free-to-play indie game on PC, OneShot was finally officially released on Steam in 2016 as a completely revamped experience. There, it developed a small following that grew when the World Machine Edition brought the game to consoles in 2022. Of course, it's still nothing as it should be.

Despite being highly rated, reasonably priced, and available on all modern platforms, this adventure puzzle game remains largely overlooked by players, and for no reason. If you're looking for a new cozy, story-heavy indie to endlessly challenge you, it's already here.

8

Wolves among us

Metascore 85 | User Ratings 8.9

Considering how late The Wolf Among Us 2 was and made headlines because of it, you've probably heard of the franchise but probably never got around to the original. Since The Wolf Among Us is released episodically, there's also a chance you plan to go back to it after all the episodes are out, then forget about them entirely.

Whatever the reason, The Wolf Among Us 2 is finally on track for release next year, so now is the perfect time to hop on the first one if you haven't already. Critics and players have rated it highly, and all the episodes are out, meaning you don't have to wait for more content to be released.

7

Pizza Tower

Metascore 89 | User Ratings 8.9

Pizza Tower, like UFO 50, is another somewhat recent indie release that many managed to overlook. Unfortunately, this is probably due to the fact that the game was only available on PC, but it has come to Nintendo Switch, making it available for Nintendo console players.

This 2D platformer features highly emotional characters and an art style that looks like it was pulled out of a 90's cartoon. That said, what really sold Pizza Tower for many players was the phenomenal soundtrack that accompanied the game's chaotic gameplay. If you haven't tried it yet, there's a strong chance you won't be disappointed.

6

Ori and the Blind One

MetaScore 88 | User Ratings 8.6

While Ori and the Wisps technically has a higher rating than The Blind Forest, with a Metascore of 90 and a user rating of 8.9, you really shouldn't play it without playing it first. You don't technically have to play Blind Forest to understand Will of the Wisps, but it's also phenomenal, adds context, and provides a better overall experience with both games if you play it first.

Both are action platformers with beautiful, fantasy environments and unique characters available on PC, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox. Unfortunately, neither game is available on PlayStation at this time, and it's unlikely to be anytime soon.

5

Paranormasight: The Seven Secrets of Honjo

Metascore 85 | User rating 9.0

You've definitely heard of Square Enix, even if you haven't played any of their games, but what you may not have heard of is Paranormasight. Yes, Square Enix makes other highly rated games besides Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts.

These are a series of horror-adventure visual-novel-style games, but Seven Secrets of Honjo has particularly high ratings and is available on both PC and Nintendo Switch. So if you're looking for a new mystery to solve with a creepy premise, then be sure to check out this underrated game from a legendary publisher.

4

Omori

MetaScore 88 | User rating 9.0

Speaking of horror, although this is more of a psychological horror than a traditional horror, another game that is forgettable is Omori. Despite its bright and colorful pixel art, Omori is as unsettling as it is heartbreaking, and many who have sat down to play it will never forget the impact it had on them the first time they played it.

Unfortunately, the fact that the game was originally released at the tail end of 2020 meant that we were starved to get back into the world of games stuck during quarantine. For that reason, new releases don't get as much attention as they did months ago, when we were all looking for something to occupy us, and Omori probably saw the effect of that.

Of course, it's still widely loved by those who have discovered it since then, so if you've never heard of it or picked it up yet, now's your chance.

3

Baldur's Gate

MetaScore 91 | User Rating 8.8

Yes, I know you've heard of Baldur's Gate 3. If you haven't heard, I'm sure you started playing video games for the first time today because BG3 is almost inevitable in this space. It's on every major recommended games list, it's a GOTY winner, and players are still putting thousands of hours into it over multiple replays.

However, and this may surprise you, the 3 at the end of BG3 means that there are two other games before it, Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate 2, both of which are highly rated by critics and players alike. Sure, they're older, but the stories and gameplay are just as good, and you'll recognize some faces from BG3 if you've played it before.

So, if you're one of the many who just can't skip Baldur's Gate 3, I recommend checking out the previous two games. Despite the success of BG3, very few players have taken the time to experience these stories, even though they are equally enjoyable in their own way.

2

Conker's bad fur day

MetaScore 92 | User Rating 8.8

If you don't know what it is, boy, do I have a treat for you, and if you do, I bet you're thinking this game is more popular than it actually is. Like many of us, I grew up in a strict household where a game like this would never have crossed my path, but upon reaching adulthood, I was introduced to this hidden gem thanks to some skeptical friends.

So, whether you had strict parents like me or weren't lucky enough to stumble upon this game yourself, Conker's Bad Fur Day is a chaotically mature game about a drunken squirrel. No, this is not a joke. And yes, it actually has a 92 on Metacritic.

Trust me when I say there is no way I can describe this game to you to do it justice, and you have to experience it first hand. I honestly think it's probably best if you know as little as possible before playing it. Unfortunately, this is a Nintendo 64 game, so you'll need to get creative if you're determined to play it. But for those on Xbox, it's included in the Rare Replay collection on Xbox Game Pass.

1

Okami

Metascore 93 | User Ratings 8.9

It's one of the few on this list that I'd be surprised if you haven't heard of, it's considered a gaming masterpiece, but not enough people have played it. At the 2024 Game Awards, we discovered that a sequel was officially in production with the same director as the original, Hideki Kamiya. While we don't know much beyond that, it seems to have retained the original special features.

For those who haven't heard of it, Okami is a story-heavy Japanese mythological adventure game created by Capcom that features a beautiful sumi-e ink art style. I won't share much more than that because it's something you have to experience for yourself, and, thankfully, you can on almost every platform, as the HD Remaster was released in 2017 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox.