10 Underrated Games Worth Playing Right Now

With new games launching at a relentless pace, it’s easy to overlook underrated games worth playing right now. There may be some Triple-A and double-A entries you’ve long been waiting for, likely marked on your calendar, and will definitely be on your radar as soon as it comes out. However, most indie games tend to slip through the cracks, some of which are actually pretty good. 

But there’s also another category of games that you may have heard about but cast aside based on online chatter or first impressions. Yet they hold something special that may need a little more patience to discover on your own. But frankly, there just isn’t enough time to play through every other new game that is released day in, day out. 

To save you precious time sifting through the clutter, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to research hidden gems that might have been swept under the rug a little too prematurely. Here are the most underrated games worth playing right now. 

10. Wasteland 3

Wasteland 3 is as spectacular an RPG as it is an inspiration to many more greats you have probably played before. The Wasteland series inspired the Fallout franchise and a ton of other RPGs taking place in post-apocalyptic worlds.

You’ll play as a Desert Ranger who tries to save his Arizona home by taking a job for the Patriarch of Colorado. Three bloodthirsty children threaten the survival of Colorado, and it’s up to you to ensure that both states survive. 

9. Days Gone

Next up on the underrated games worth playing right now is Days Gone. It has lots of attractive features. Not only does it have a gripping open world, but it is also the most intense Horde mechanic in the gaming industry.

Despite its rough start at launch and the debacle with its ex-director over launching a sequel, Days Gone still has managed to remain relevant. So, if you’re down to sending waves of Freakers zombies to thy kingdom come, this is the game for you.

8. Star Wars Battlefront 2

Then we have Star Wars Battlefront 2, which has had its fair share of controversy. However, when you put aside the criticism the game has faced alongside its disappointing predecessor, you’ll discover the hidden gem that lies within.

This entry pays tribute to the all-time great cinematic franchise, featuring familiar locations and exquisite detail. Plus, you can jump on multiplayer and fiddle about with your light-saber-wielding compatriots. It’s simply loads of fun to go around.

7. Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy

Perhaps a game that may be unfamiliar to you: Trine 5: A Clockwork Conspiracy. This co-op puzzle-platformer entry comes from an indie series that has risen up the ranks to become one of the best there is.

And yet, not many gamers know of it. Sit tight as you follow Amadeus the Wizard, Zoya the Thief, and Pontius the Knight’s journey on their most thrilling adventure yet.

Get ready to swap characters and solve puzzles, all in a bid to fight the Clockwork army and restore peace and justice to the world.

6. Sleeping Dogs

Careful not to let Sleeping Dogs, the open-world action-adventure, lie after it has been revamped for PS4. GTA fans will adore this one, albeit fancy its martial arts leanings more.

Considering its incredible story and open world, it’s a wonder that Square Enix deemed it a commercial failure.

Yet, it doesn’t take away from the exhilarating gameplay you’ll find here of Hong Kong cop Wei Shen and his adventures going undercover in the Triads gang.  

5. Mad Max

We also have Mad Max among the underrated games worth playing right now. We all know the George Miller franchise. But Mad Max, the video game, in particular, may fly under the radar.

It’s the cinematic wasteland brought to life, complete with frenetic vehicular, weapon, and hand combat action. Although the reviews may have been mixed, it’s a fact that the gameplay is extraordinary.

The explosions and customization alone of your gas engines will blow your mind.

4. Elex II

When RPGs like Elden Ring flood the gaming scene, titles like Elex II easily get swept under the rug. However, its unique blend of traditional dark fantasy and futuristic post-apocalyptic sci-fi features is well worth exploring.

People in this world are split between using magic or technology against a new alien threat. But, as you might have guessed, it takes everything Jax, the protagonist, has got, flying in his jetpack, to save the world.

3. FIFA Street

Take a break from the pro-football championship realistic simulation games. FIFA Street reacquaints you with the streets where the magic of playing football all began.

As much as it offers a more casual play, the shooting accuracy is still on point. And you can always pull off tricks, further upping your skills. 

2. Vampyr

You’d be surprised, but the underrated games worth playing right now also include Vampyr. It’s always been a dilemma to think about a newly turned vampire having to now feed on their closest friends and allies.

Of course, there’s always the choice you can make to be the “good vampire,” which Vampyr presents quite well. At a desperate time post-World War I, a new vampire doctor has to decide between honoring his oath to heal and feeding on his patients.

By meeting unique characters, your decisions begin to shape your path and the world at large.

1. Okami

While Okami launched on the same day as The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess, it still has managed to carve its own path to success. Still, in case you haven’t gotten around to checking it out yet, stop what you’re doing now and download it.

By using a unique watercolor art style, the game takes you to feudal Japan to control Amaterasu, a sun goddess in the form of a white wolf, on her action-adventure journey to defeat Orochi.

While the puzzle-solving and combat gameplay in itself is quite the engaging treat, it’s the unique art style that ultimately steals the show.