The video game industry is a massive beast, generating nearly $200 billion every year and still growing! With that much money involved, competition is fierce. Some games become legendary hits, while others, despite their quality, unfortunately flop. These underappreciated titles deserve another look. Here are ten games that bombed but are actually good.
Spec Ops: The Line
Released in 2012, Spec Ops: The Line, a third-person shooter, faced stiff competition. Its initial marketing didn’t highlight what made it special, and sales suffered.
However, The Line offers a morally complex story where players face difficult choices in a war-torn environment. This narrative realistically shows the horrors of war. Word-of-mouth has helped sales pick up, and it continues to receive praise.
Duke Nukem Forever
Duke Nukem has been around since 1991. Forever, released in 2011, continues the series’ tradition of macho humor and over-the-top action. Taking 14 years to make, it even earned a Guinness World Record!
In Duke Nukem Forever, our hero comes out of retirement to save Earth from aliens. Despite dated graphics and potentially offensive humor, die-hard fans appreciate that it delivers exactly what they expect.
Wizardry 8
Wizardry 8, the final part of a trilogy, gained recognition over time. Released in 2001 by Sir-Tech, the game was supported even after the company left the development business in 2003. It saw a re-release in 2014.
Praised by critics and award-winning, its success was slow. Being the last part of a trilogy limited sales, as did the nine-year gap since Wizardry 7. Still, it’s a solid RPG experience.
Psychonauts
Double Fine Productions’ Psychonauts, released in 2005 after a troubled development, was initially intended as an Xbox exclusive. Praised by critics, it still struggled to find an audience.
Publisher Majesco suffered losses and abandoned console games. Double Fine regained the rights, released it on more platforms, and eventually sold 1.7 million copies. Psychonauts is a quirky and imaginative platformer worth checking out.
Pathologic and Pathologic 2
Ice-Pick Lodge’s original Pathologic, released in 2005, received good reviews in Russia, but the English version suffered from poor translation and dated graphics.
Pathologic 2, released in 2019, significantly improved on the original. While the first game was clunky but atmospheric, the sequel managed to win over disappointed fans and gain new ones. Both offer a unique and unsettling survival experience.
Little Big Adventure 2
Released as Twinsen’s Odyssey in the US in 1997, Little Big Adventure 2 was dismissed by some as a kid’s game. However, reviewers praised its charm, originality, and intriguing gameplay.
Developed by the small team at Adeline Software, their inexperience led to marketing missteps. But their collective imagination resulted in a sophisticated game that still has considerable appeal today.
Okami
Clover Studio’s Okami is a visual masterpiece that blends Japanese myth and folklore. Critics adored it, and it even won a BAFTA Games Award for Artistic Achievement.
Released late in the PlayStation 2’s life cycle, its marketing failed to highlight its strengths. Despite impressive visuals and top ratings, sales were disappointing. Later releases on Nintendo and in HD improved sales, but many gamers still missed out on this gem.
Beyond Good & Evil
Ubisoft’s Beyond Good & Evil received favorable reviews upon its release in 2003. But the public wasn’t convinced, and sales were poor, leading to drastic price cuts.
The game wasn’t different enough to stand out in a competitive market. Sometimes, being “good enough” isn’t enough. However, those who picked it up at a discount were happy with their purchase. This action-adventure game has gathered a cult following over the years.
Radiata Stories
Radiata Stories, developed by tri-Ace and published by Square Enix, was received without much enthusiasm in America in 2005, despite doing well in Japan.
Deemed too unsophisticated for the modern gaming public, one reviewer thought it would be ideal for beginners. Its designers didn’t clearly define their target market, and the game suffered for it. It’s a fun, lighthearted RPG that might appeal to a younger audience.
Creatures: Raised in Space
Creatures: Raised in Space, released in 2002, has become a cult classic. This strategy game, published by Conspiracy Entertainment, raises ethical questions in a similar style to others in the series.
Compared to the Tamagotchi craze, Creatures involves players acting as caretakers. While this theme might not appeal to action-game fans, it has a dedicated following. It’s a refreshing take on simulation games.
These games, though initially unsuccessful, offer unique and engaging experiences. Sometimes, a game just needs a second chance to shine.
Did any of these games surprise you? Let us know in the comments below!
