Most Underappreciated Games Of 2019

Here's the problem with the games industry at the moment: there are too many games. It's a fantastic problem to have, but the unfortunate fact is that some games eclipse others. The latest triple-A release will outshine a little gem crafted by a 20-employee indie studio. Not everyone can have a multimillion-dollar marketing budget, after all.

Here's the cool thing about the games industry: you don't need a multimillion-dollar budget in order to publish games. It's easier than ever for devs — amateur and expert alike — to put their work out there for gamers to enjoy. Now more than ever we can enjoy a wide diversity of games, because although there are some long-anticipated titles with massive budgets being released this year, there are also a ton of games that have undeservedly gone unnoticed. These are more than diamonds in the rough — they're shining, well-reviewed, critically-acclaimed gems that have somehow stayed under the radar. They're too cool for the mainstream. These good games have gone underappreciated, but we're here to give them their well-deserved fifteen minutes of fame.

We've fallen, fast and hard, for Downwell. It's a simple and intensely sweet game with a uniquely vertical perspective. The well down which the young protagonist ventures is narrow, deep, and monochromatic. A game so new is able to make us nostalgic because of the old 8-bit arcade aesthetic that works so, well... well in Downwell. The minimalist look isn't the only simple part of the game, either. As you fall, you can shoot enemies with your specially-fit gunboots (do they come in a size nine?) and slow your ever-quickening descent into the unknown. That's all there is to it. You're only mashing a single button throughout your gameplay to shoot and jump your way from platform to platform.

Downwell proves that sometimes it's better for games not to try to do it all. Keeping it simple has allowed for creator Ojiro "Moppin" Fumoto to make a quick but memorable experience. Instead of being distracted by the next big mission or area, players can focus on perfecting their fall with style. Combos and quick reflexes are rewarded with gems that can be exchanged for goods in precariously placed shops. Seriously, though, how'd they get down there?

We also appreciate the opportunity to flip our Switches vertically in order to get the full experience of falling, falling, falling for this indie hit with seamless controls and fun functions. Still, the game is just as great on mobile, Steam, and Playstation 4.

Sunless Skies had us smitten at the words "Gothic horror RPG." But what does that actually mean? A poetically well-written steampunk paradise with a chance to explore both the stars and the wide-reaching implications of imperialism, apparently. Sunless Skies, the followup to Failbetter Games' award-winning Sunless Sea, is well worth a good soak in the immersive atmosphere. Far from a first-person experience of space exploration, the game manages to capture players with words and a tiny ship scuttling around the abyss of space. Somehow seamlessly combining shoot 'em up gameplay with expertly-written roleplay text inspired by classic literature, Sunless Skies artfully introduces another adventure in the Fallen London universe.

The player builds their character, complete with mysterious backstory, and inherits the helm of the Orphean train — which is really more of a rocket than a train — and its crew. Then gamers pick their poison: is your goal fame? Fortune? The ultimate truth? It's totally up to you, because no matter your priorities, the writing is superb, smashing, and distinctly British, with hand-drawn steampunk art to match. Sunless Skies flew under the radar, but is an adventure into the ethical questions of colonialism well worth a ponder. How can we resist the call to "SAIL THE STARS, BETRAY YOUR QUEEN, MURDER A SUN," as the official site says?

Quick existential question: is you Baba? Or is Baba you? In the case of the super cute new game Baba Is You, the order matters and the grammar notably doesn't. This puzzle game allows for you (Baba) to make and bend and break the rules. The rules, in this case, are written out on the pages, literally. The object of the game is to pilot a squiggly little rabbit(?) around the screen and rewrite the simplistic sentences that determine how the world functions. For example, pushing the word "float" into the space where "defeat" occupies the phrase "water is defeat" will allow the player to float over the water, rather than it defeating them.

The wiggly little pixels on the small 2D environments are frankly adorable. Baba Is You is the definition of simple but sweet. The unique (and winning!) result of the Nordic Game Jam of 2017 in Copenhagen, developer Arvi Teikari decided to develop the concept into a full-fledged game of rule manipulation. The game has since gathered praise as both being a fun mental exercise and a highly entertaining logic game with the perfect amount of indie flair. Note that we said Baba Is You is simple but sweet: the game can't really be called short, with over 200 puzzles to train your brain with on either PC or the Nintendo Switch.

Having trouble deciding between playing an RPG or a building game? Dragon Quest Builders 2 has the very best of both worlds packed into one, dynamic game that will grab ahold of you and never let go. A seamless mix of the two genres, the sequel has quickly outdone the original by improving upon anything that wasn't quite up to snuff for the most detail-oriented of players. Fans of the original Dragon Quest series will be treated to a trip down memory lane as they discover familiar faces, and new players will find that they can do just about anything their heart desires, whether that's farming, fighting, or exploring the vast, open world in this JRPG/sandbox mashup. 

Newly added multiplayer makes building towns, farms, and fighting bosses a little less lonely, too. But hey, the NPCs are so charming and abundant that players might feel like they've been making new friends all along. Although the game is aimed at a younger audience, anyone can find Dragon Quest Builders 2 to be an enthralling, entertaining, and thoroughly enjoyable experience.

The year is 2078. Beset by alien creatures from the astral plane, the last of humanity turns to Neuron, an elite task force of police officers who can wield shape-shifting robot partners/weapons. Boiling it down to its basics, PlatinumGames' Astral Chain is a story of robot police vs aliens, and we love it. This novel concept pays off, treating players to intensely fun fights and quirky missions when they're not busy saving the world. 

Astral Chain is reminiscent of a good anime: it has action, laughs, twists, and some of the coolest, most ridiculous weapons around. The player wields a Legion at the end of their titular astral chain, which can be used to defeat the monsters menacing humanity. Different Legions support different playstyles, meaning that combat never gets stale. Astral Chain is short but super sweet, with a lean 20-hour campaign filled with flair worthy of a Devil May Cry game. The characters are cyberpunk supermodels, and the story has a whole lot of heart, aspects that work in tandem with the ever-evolving combat system. Sales for this Switch exclusive title alone show that Astral Chain is a phenomenal action game worth a playthrough or two.

Fans of all things Norse mythology will love Asgard's Wrath. The much-celebrated God of War reboot is nothing in comparison to this mythological deep dive into all things Asgardian. In this gorgeous, well-rendered VR game, players who don their Oculus headset will be immersed in a gorgeous world, a proper RPG ready to be explored. As the new god of animals, players get to know Aesir like Loki on a whole new level. 

Asgard's Wrath is no short-lived adventure, but instead a sprawling title that feels AAA, dare we say. UploadVR is calling it "VR's Best And Most Ambitious Game Yet," celebrating the intricate story and interesting puzzles. The worlds are beautiful and full of secrets waiting to be found, keeping players occupied for dozens of hours. Good old-fashioned melee combat feels like an action movie, making the most out of motion controls. All that said, Asgard's Wrath's crown jewel is clearly the ability to high-five NPCs, just one of many charming and enchanting additions to this incredible VR game.