10 Underrated Games You Might’ve Missed in 2024

Every year, a handful of incredible games get overshadowed by blockbuster hits like Grand Theft Auto VI, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, or Spider-Man 2.

Whether it’s due to limited marketing, niche appeal, or an unfortunate release window, some titles don’t get the spotlight they deserve.

Here are 10 underrated games of 2024, why they’re worth playing, and why they might have slipped under your radar.

1️⃣ Pacific Drive – The Supernatural Road Trip Survival Game 🚗🌲

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: Released in early 2024 with minimal marketing, and the concept seemed too niche.

A unique “driving survival roguelike”, Pacific Drive throws you into a haunted version of the Pacific Northwest, where your car is your lifeline.

As you navigate through eerie zones filled with anomalies, you must scavenge for resources, upgrade your vehicle, and survive strange supernatural encounters.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ One of the most original survival games of the year.
✔ Tense atmosphere with a gripping narrative.
✔ Car upgrades and repairs add a fresh survival twist.

2️⃣ Thirsty Suitors – A Bold and Unique Narrative RPG 🎭❤️

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: It had a quirky premise and didn’t appeal to the mainstream RPG audience.

A mix of dating sim, turn-based RPG, and skateboarding (yes, really), Thirsty Suitors follows a young woman navigating her complicated relationships while dealing with her overbearing South Asian family.

The game’s humor, stunning art style, and fresh take on combat make it a must-play for narrative lovers.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ A one-of-a-kind blend of romance, humor, and RPG mechanics.
✔ Meaningful character interactions and diverse representation.
✔ Skateboarding mechanics add a fun twist.

3️⃣ Viewfinder – A Mind-Bending Puzzle Adventure 📸🧠

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: Released in a crowded season, overshadowed by bigger puzzle games.

Viewfinder is a first-person puzzle game where you can reshape reality by taking and placing photographs. Each level presents mind-blowing optical illusions, forcing you to think in ways no other game does.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ If you love Portal or The Witness, this is for you.
✔ Clever level design that constantly surprises.
✔ A beautiful, surreal aesthetic.

4️⃣ Worldless – A Strikingly Beautiful Platformer 🌌💫

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: Indie title with little marketing push.

A minimalist, atmospheric platformer with turn-based combat, Worldless blends fast-paced movement with deep, strategic fights. The game’s wordless storytelling and stunning hand-drawn art style make it a hidden gem.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ Unique hybrid of action-platforming and turn-based combat.
✔ A mesmerizing and emotional journey.
✔ Beautiful, dreamlike visuals.

5️⃣ Jusant – A Meditative Climbing Adventure 🧗‍♂️🏔️

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: No combat, slow-paced gameplay may not appeal to everyone.

From Don’t Nod (Life is Strange), Jusant is a peaceful, atmospheric climbing game where you scale a mysterious tower. The game features realistic climbing mechanics, dynamic weather, and a wordless but emotional story.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ A refreshing, stress-free adventure.
✔ Climbing feels incredibly satisfying and realistic.
✔ Beautiful, serene environments.

6️⃣ Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew – A Pirate-Themed Stealth Strategy Game ☠️⚔️

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: The studio (Mimimi Games) closed right after release, leading to low visibility.

From the creators of Shadow Tactics and Desperados III, this stealth strategy game puts you in control of a crew of supernatural pirates. You can rewind time, possess enemies, and use magical abilities to execute strategic heists.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ Excellent stealth mechanics and deep strategy.
✔ A unique pirate setting with supernatural twists.
✔ One of the last games from an incredible indie studio.

7️⃣ Cocoon – A Puzzle Game from the Creator of Limbo & Inside 🌀🌍

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: Indie puzzle games often get overlooked.

Jeppe Carlsen, the mind behind Limbo and Inside, brings us Cocoon, an innovative puzzle adventure where you carry entire worlds on your back. The layered world-jumping mechanic creates mind-blowing puzzles.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ Deep, satisfying puzzles with a unique mechanic.
✔ Beautiful art and atmospheric sound design.
✔ If you loved Inside or Limbo, this is a must-play.

8️⃣ Lies of P – A Dark, Soulslike Take on Pinocchio 🦾🎭

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: Overlooked in the crowded Soulslike genre.

A Soulsborne-style RPG inspired by Pinocchio, Lies of P features dark, Victorian-inspired cities, brutal combat, and a deeply engaging story about choice and humanity.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ A fresh take on the Soulslike formula.
✔ Engaging in combat with unique weapon mechanics.
✔ One of the best narrative-driven action RPGs of the year.

9️⃣ El Paso, Elsewhere – A Max Payne-Style Shooter with a Horror Twist 🕶️🧛‍♂️

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: Released alongside bigger action titles.

A neo-noir third-person shooter, El Paso, Elsewhere plays like a supernatural Max Payne, where you battle werewolves and vampires in a creepy, shifting motel.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ Bullet-time action reminiscent of Max Payne.
✔ A unique horror-noir atmosphere.
✔ A strong narrative with a standout protagonist.

🔟 The Invincible – A Thought-Provoking Sci-Fi Adventure 🚀📖

🎯 Why You Might’ve Missed It: Slow-paced, story-heavy games don’t appeal to all players.

Based on the classic sci-fi novel by Stanisław Lem, The Invincible is a narrative-driven adventure with hard sci-fi themes, philosophical dilemmas, and breathtaking alien landscapes.

🔥 Why You Should Play:
✔ A gripping, mature sci-fi narrative.
✔ Gorgeous visuals inspired by 1950s sci-fi art.
✔ Thought-provoking moral choices.