While there were certainly some 2019 game releases that bombed, there were also many fantastic releases, some of which that didn’t get the attention they deserved. Here we list out some of the great games that were underrated from 2019 that you may have missed. After all, now is the perfect time to check them out with all this extra time on our hands.
10 Greedfall
Spiders, the team behind Technomancer, released Greedfall in September of 2019 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC. Greedfall received mixed reviews on release, mainly due to bugs that have since been fixed. This game earns a mention in our list as it deserved better than the reception it got. Greedfall provided immersive gameplay in a unique blend of fantasy meets the 17th century, with an intricately woven story that was shaped around the decisions of the player.
Greedfall was hailed as last year’s honorary Dragon Age, itching the scratch that many players had for a new fantasy action-adventure. The problem with the comparison to Dragon Age was that people were too quick to hold this indie game up to the same standards of a triple-A franchise.
9 Wattam
Wattam was designed by Keita Takahashi, the creator of the Katamari series, and so it was a given that this game wasn’t going to be your average title. This quirky little title prompts players to befriend the items around them, solve puzzles, and complete mini-games, all the while providing a large helping of random whimsy.
The game received mixed reviews with players struggling to find their feet, as well as the point, in the game. However, it’s the perfect game to pick up and play for short periods just to make yourself smile and enjoy its oddness. Wattam released late in the year, landing on PC and PlayStation 4 in December, another possible reason why it’s often overlooked as a 2019 title.
8 A Plague Tale: Innocence
Despite receiving positive reviews, A Plague Tale: Innocence seemed to fly in under the radar of most gamers. This might be because it launched on the same day as Rage 2 and could easily have been overshadowed by the much larger, louder release, despite Rage 2 ultimately getting much worse review scores.
A Plague Tale: Innocence is a horror-stealth game where players take on the role of Amicia de Rune as she and her younger brother Hugo try to survive, offering players an emotional journey and insight into a dark part of our history. It’s well worth checking out if you haven’t already.
7 Concrete Genie
Concrete Genie seemed to have little fanfare surrounding it when it released, earning it a spot on this list. Most gamers didn’t seem to take notice of this PlayStation 4 exclusive until its name kept popping up in the run-up to Gamescom, with it ultimately becoming the most-nominated game there.
This action-adventure title is often mistakenly believed to be PSVR only, possibly one of the reasons it was initially overlooked, but it’s actually VR compatible and can be played like a standard game. Players take on the role of Ash; unleashing their creativity and artistic style on the abandoned town of Denska with the help of genies that come to life after you paint them.
6 Return of the Obra Dinn
This is a bit of a wild card entry to this list, as Return of the Obra Dinn originally launched in 2018 for PC. However, in 2019 it finally made its way to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch, allowing a new range of players to take on the mystery of the Obra Dinn.
The player assumes the role of an insurance adjuster who has to discover exactly what happened to the entire crew of the ship, the Obra Dinn, with the help of their Memento Mortem pocket-watch. This puzzle game rightly deserves a mention due to its engaging gameplay and unique visual style that will have the most avid problem-solvers scratching their heads while admiring the style.
5 My Time At Portia
Originally a Kickstarter project, My Time at Portia released in January of 2019 for PC and later released on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in April. Published by Team 17, My Time At Portia presented players with an exciting blend of RPG aspects and life-sim features; allowing you to craft, farm, and romance your favorite NPCs one minute, before going dungeon crawling the next.
The game received favorable reviews, though there were some criticisms about having to wait for things to happen to progress the game. Despite this, My Time at Portia still proves to be a firm favorite amongst fans and continues to receive regular updates that improve gameplay and add new features and content.
4 Judgment
Judgment came from the team behind the Yakuza franchise, Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio, and was set in the same fictional city of Kamurocho. The gameplay is very similar to the Yakuza titles, but in Judgment, players take on the role of ex-lawyer, detective Takayuki Yagami as he seeks to hunt down the serial killer known as the Mole.
The game received favorable reviews and exceeded sales expectations in the west. Judgment provided a fresh new twist for fans of the Yakuza franchise, though its release was marred by some issues that halted sales overseas for some time and put the western release window in some doubt for a while. These issues were due to controversy surrounding one of the game’s actors, Pierre Taki, who was arrested for the possession and use of cocaine, which prompted some changes to the game.
3 Yo-kai Watch 3
Yo-Kai Watch 3 released on the Nintendo 3DS in February of 2019, but largely went under the radar, possibly due to being one of the few straggling releases of a dying console. Despite its weak release, it bagged itself the highest review score for its franchise on Metacritic (for console games, at least).
The game follows both Nathan and Hailey as their interconnected stories unfold, allowing players to continue their love of hunting down and befriending their favorite spirits, or yokai as they are called. Unlike its predecessors, Yokai Watch 3 did not allow players to choose between a male or a female protagonist.
2 Disco Elysium
Disco Elysium is a unique open-world, RPG game that is set in the aftermath of a war where the characters are still trying to recover. Interestingly, there is no combat within the game and instead, players must use their skills and dialogue options to resolve issues within the game. The player takes on the role of a detective with the complete freedom to choose between solving murders or taking bribes to cover them up.
The game was critically acclaimed and won many awards, but seems to have been unnoticed by many gamers, possibly due to only being released for PC. Fortunately, Disco Elysium is scheduled to release for Xbox One and PlayStation 4 later this year and so many more fans will be able to see this great title firsthand.
1 Knights and Bikes
Knights and Bikes was created by Foam Sword, an indie company that consisted of former Media Molecule staff. The game was published by Double Fine Productions and released on PC and PlayStation 4 in August of 2020, before joining the Nintendo Switch family in early 2020. Knights and Bikes is a blend of charming graphics and treasure hunting adventures, inviting players to solve puzzles and enjoy the power of friendship.
The game is billed as having been inspired by The Goonies and Secret of Mana but manages to deliver quirky, enjoyable gameplay that is wholly it’s own. Knights and Bikes was well-received and earned itself positive review scores, as well as being nominated for and winning multiple awards.
Next: The 10 best First-Person Shooters of 2019 (According To Metacritic)
