Every year, some of the weirdest, wildest, and most epic games get totally steamrolled by the AAA hype train.
Now, don’t get us wrong. We’ve also been busy chasing dragons in Monster Hunter Wilds, sneaking through feudal Japan in Assassin’s Creed Shadows, and getting floored by the dreamy chaos of surprise hit Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
But while the big guns have taken the spotlight, a whole bunch of underrated games have quietly slipped under the radar — noticed only by the gaming connoisseurs (that would be us).
From story-rich indie gems to short and sweet niche missions, these titles may not have hit the big time, but they’re critically praised, community-approved, and 100% bingeable.
Let’s get into it.
1. FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is one of those underrated Switch games that’ll surprise you more than you’d expect. Released in May, it’s already a hit in Japan and gaining traction worldwide, racking up thousands of rave reviews on Steam.
We know that chibi style isn’t for everyone, but if you’re into cozy RPGs, definitely give it a shot. You can time travel, design your own island, or just team up with friends to fight monsters. It ticks all the boxes, if you ask us.
2. Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo
Released in May 2025, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo has been likened to 2D Zelda by fans who love its intuitive design and polished feel. You play as Pippit, a yoyo whiz kid who just wanted to help out his super-powerful aunt, Madame Pipistrello, run her mega energy empire — until some crime bosses crash the party and trap her soul in, yep, a cursed yoyo.
Now it’s up to you (and your haunted yoyo aunt) to set things right, one wild swing at a time.
3. The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy has done well for a mid-budget indie, but with Expedition 33 and Oblivion launching at the same time, it definitely got buried.
You play as Takumi, a regular student who gets pulled into the strangest school ever — where he and 14 classmates have just 100 days to save the world. No pressure.
With 100 different endings, every decision matters. Especially when your homework is literally “don’t let the planet explode.”
4. Promise Mascot Agency
Promise Mascot Agency is another quirky gem that’s been overshadowed by this year’s big titles — but we’re here to give it a bit of well-deserved attention. This open-world management sim is set in a Japanese mascot agency, and your job is to manage a bizarre roster of talent. From a cat obsessed with adult videos to a giant banana caught in a PR crisis, you’ve got your hands full. Good luck with that.
5. Nubby’s Number Factory
If Nubby’s Number Factory doesn’t hook you with the name alone, how about this: it’s a Plinko roguelike set in a chaotic number factory where your job is to stop the whole place from exploding. Yep, we thought that’d do it.
You’ll launch Nubby — a tiny ball creature — into a maze of pegs, watching numbers rack up with every bounce. Crunching numbers has never been this ridiculous (or this fun).
6. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage
The creators of Life Is Strange returned with another stunner earlier this year. Lost Records: Bloom & Rage, released in February 2025, is a deeply emotional, story-driven narrative set in the ‘90s.
Think teenage rebellion, friendship, punk bands, and secrets that resurface 27 years later. Add in a gorgeous ambient soundtrack and neon-lit visuals, and you’ve got another underrated must-play.
7. South of Midnight
Sleepy southern towns hide dark secrets in South of Midnight. You’re new in town, but it quickly becomes clear something’s off — think weird rituals, ancient curses, and a tangled web of mystery.
While some say the combat’s a bit underwhelming, the rich animation and narrative easily make this one of the year’s most overlooked games.
8. Sultan’s Game
Released in March 2025, Sultan’s Game is a moody Arabian Nights-inspired twist on the roguelike deckbuilder. It’s stylish, dark, and worth checking out for the stunning art alone.
The concept’s simple: survive the deck of enchanted cards — or face execution. High stakes, highly addictive.
9. A Game About Digging A Hole
Sometimes, less is more — and A Game About Digging a Hole embraces that fully.
It’s short, silly, and exactly what it says it is. But there’s a kind of quiet joy in the simplicity. No bosses, no twists — just dig.
For the zen-like satisfaction alone, we’re calling this one of 2025’s most underrated titles. And no, we’re not joking.
10. Keep Driving
If you’re into Oregon Trail-style road trip RPGs, Keep Driving will be your jam.
Set in the early 2000s, you play a young driver headed to a festival. With procedurally generated pixel art, quirky hitchhikers, and a dreamy Swedish indie soundtrack, it’s pure vibes and nostalgia from start to finish.
Most Underrated Games of All Time
2025’s delivered some under-the-radar hits, but we couldn’t resist shouting out a few old-school favorites you might’ve missed:
- DS: Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective — A clever, time-twisting ghost story.
- PS1: Tomba! — A cult classic that never got the spotlight it deserved.
- PS3: 3D Dot Game Heroes — Zelda-like gameplay with voxel charm.
- PS4: Concrete Genie — Beautiful, heartfelt, and criminally overlooked.
- GameCube: Cubivore: Survival of the Fittest — Mutate to survive in an abstract animal world.
- GBA: Car Battler Joe — Pokémon meets Twisted Metal.
- SNES: The Twisted Tales of Spike McFang — Vampires, magic, and top-down fun.
Not Forgetting the Big-Name Bangers We All Love…
While we’ve just spotlighted some of gaming’s most underrated gems, there’s no denying the power of the icons. From Elden Ring to Diablo and Cyberpunk 2077, our Displate shop is packed with designs inspired by the biggest names in gaming. Explore our gaming collection and deck out your space with the legends that helped define the industry.
Looking for more gaming content? Check out these picks from the Displate blog:
