With a whole new video game generation on the horizon, we can't help but look back on the era of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One with fond memories. With titles like Red Dead Redemption II and God of War dominating the charts, it's easy to forget about some of the great games that fell through the cracks. Sure, we could say these underrated titles just didn't stack up against some of the juggernauts we saw, but we're going to look at it a little differently.
So, we're going to look at some of our favorite underrated titles. This list is completely subjective, but we think these titles were quality experiences that for whatever reason didn't get the recognition they deserve. So, with that in mind, here are 10 overlooked games of the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One generation.
10 The Order 1886
The Order 1886 was never supposed to be more than a very good tech demo for the PlayStation 4. Unfortunately, the hype train got a little too excited for Ready at Dawn's 2015 title, and that was to its detriment. The strong story and setting which involve werewolves and vampires in a steampunk-inspired London, England were all overshadowed by a criminally short campaign and repetitive gameplay and lack of replay value.
Still, as a one-off experience for those looking to kill a night, this game is probably the most overlooked PlayStation 4 exclusive of all time.
9 Shadow Warrior 2
Inspired by the high-octane fast-paced first-person shooters of the 1990s, Flying Wild Hog's 2016 sequel to the original Shadow Warrior gives players everything they could ever want from the genre. With some witty writing, an array of weapons to choose from, and some fluid combat, this game is a pleasure to play.
Yet, maybe because it's a rare mid-tier game, or maybe a lack of marketing behind it, one of the best shooters of this generation was missed by a lot of players. With a year left on this generation, there's still time to play and best yet, it's available on both major consoles and PC.
8 Quantum Break
Developer Remedy may take the cake for creating the most overlooked games of all time, and Quantum Break could definitely be added to that list. Originally planned as a sequel to Alan Wake, the 2016 Xbox One exclusive puts players in the shoes of Jack Joyce who can manipulate time after a failed experiment. Giving a new twist on traditional third-person action, Quantum Break feels like a full-blown cinematic experience all wrapped up as a video game.
Unfortunately, partly because of its console exclusivity at a time when Xbox did not have the confidence of the general gaming population, this title flew completely under the radar, despite a strong marketing push from Microsoft. It was given a new lease on life when it was re-released on PC, giving it a whole new audience.
7 Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice
We all know Ninja Theory is one of the best developers on the planet, making games like Heavenly Sword and DMC, so when the studio wanted to make their own big-time adventure, we were excited. Blending the best aspects of puzzle, hack and slash, adventure, and even horror genres, Hellblade is an intense experience that mixes gameplay and storytelling in a unique way.
Released on every platform imaginable, it's crazy to think this game isn't in the conversation for one of the best titles this generation. Alas, that's not the world we live in. Thankfully, we will be getting a sequel exclusive to the Xbox Series X, so we at least know we'll get more of this fantastic franchise.
6 Titanfall 2
It's weird to put a game published by EA in an "overlooked games" list, yet here we are. The sequel to Respawn Entertainment's 2014 hit, this game takes the original title's sense of frantic mech-suit action and makes it better. Giving the series a much-needed single-player campaign, while altering the game's progression system evening out the multiplayer in the process. So, how did a AAA shooter with the backing of one of the biggest publishers on the planet end up being so overlooked?
Well, it released during the holiday season against Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare and EA's own Battlefield One. While the former was one of the poorer received COD games in recent memory, Battlefield's unique First World War setting really got people talking. Unfortunately for our favorite mech-based shooter, it fell to the wayside while two of the biggest franchises on the planet duked it out to win the holiday season.
5 Blair Witch
It's kind of strange to think how long it took to get a video game based on the Blair Witch franchise. The first movie released in 1999 and we didn't get another worthwhile installment until 2016. Yet, despite the franchise having a lasting impact on pop-culture, we didn't get a video game until 2019. Still, even though we spent a lot of time waiting, the end result was pretty good.
Developed by Bloober Team, the game follows ex-police officer Ellis Lynch who is caught up in a search party for a missing nine-year-old in the woods. As players explore the forest with our trusty dog, we learn a little more about Lynch as he tries to stave off the dangers of the woods.
4 Darksiders III
When THQ Nordic decided to revive the Darksiders franchise, we were excited. It all began with re-releases of the first two games in the franchise — which follow the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse — leading into a third game. With an all-new protagonist —Fury, sister of War and Death from the previous games — players are treated to a title that's true to the action-oriented The Legend of Zelda inspired gameplay of the previous titles while improving them in almost every way imaginable. With a living world that is not too open, the game is beautiful and fun.
Unfortunately, this title is missing a little polish that we've come to expect from video games these days, so it was hit hard by critics. That said, Darksiders III is a worthwhile experience that brings back a favorite franchise in a way we always wanted. This one is for the fans.
3 Sea of Thieves
When Rare first released Sea of Thieves in 2018, it was met with some frustration from fans. Hyped as the next big Xbox exclusive, players were promised a vast open ocean full of other players to take to the high seas with. That's technically what they got, but there wasn't really anything more.
Unsurprisingly, fans started to turn on the game, and it started to fall to the wayside. Yet, shortly after, Rare heard the cries from their fans and gave them so much more with an update. Adding new missions and new gameplay modes, Sea of Thieves has delivered on almost every promise Rare gave upon its release.
2 Rage 2
iD software's announcement of Rage 2 at E3 came with a whimper from an audience that was spoiled by the surprise a few nights earlier, and that could have impacted its release as well. Released in May 2019, this game was everything a shooter fan could want. Completely flipping the script on the game's 2011 predecessor, this game is bright and colorful with some great shooting mechanics and a fantastic musical score.
Yet, the open world was not as interesting as it could have been, and the inclusion of microtransactions in a single-player game felt a little icky. Still, underneath that, there's a game that should be played by everyone, even if it's not quite on par with iD's other masterpieces like Doom 2016 and Wolfenstein: The New Order.
1 Alien Isolation
When it comes to survival horror, there is no better game this generation than Creative Assembly's 2014 success, Alien Isolation. As one of the most unique games the genre has to offer, this title blends what we know from the films, including the suspense we feel while watching.
With only a handful of enemies to interact with, the main antagonist is the titular Alien who players must keep track of and outsmart throughout their adventure. This is the finest game the horror genre has to offer, and one of the most terrifying games of this generation.