Games - hidden gems.

[crank_case]

Roboquest - it's on Xbox Game Pass, but only via Xbox Game Pass for PC for now, but a console version will be on the way eventually and that will also be on game pass.

This has got to be one of the best things I've played in ages, shoot robots, die, upgrade, repeat, gotta go again! again! again!

[crank_case]

Wouldn't worry too much about the "hidden" part of this thread title and more on the "gems" part. There's some AAA titles out there that are great but got ignored due either a lack of promotion, poor reviews at the time, or not being good on launch but massively improved over time. The digital download nature of games now means games are often a totally different beast a year or two later compared to their initial release.

One AAA game that I think got ignored at launch, and sadly will never get a sequel is Sunset Overdrive.

It was developed by Insomniac who are now a Playstation studio - they're the same people responsible for Spyro the Dragon and the Ratchet and Clank series. If features a lot of similar mechanics to the Ratchet and Clank games - rail grinding, BIG guns (but turned up to 11 compared to even R&Cs silliness), but a much more adult and irreverent tone. (but without seeming forced like Conkers bad fur day, whos brand of humour always seemed a bit try hard for my taste). It was also an open world game rather than having levels like most platformers

It was probably a hard sell at the time - People expect their 3D platformers to be Mario cutesy and are generally seen as "kids games", while it doesn't have "gritty realism" or darkness people associate with post apocalyptic zombie games. The nearest game I can think of in tone is maybe Segas Dead Rising 4, but it's even more off the wall than that game. It's kind of odd - that distinction didn't exist so much in the 2D era. Even Nintendo gave us Metroid.

What really makes this a great open world game is getting around it is just stupidly good fun - made all the more impressive by the fact that it doesn't use vehicles. A lot of open world games have to use vehicles to take the tedium out of traversing the open world (which is where the Assassins creed games of late and over-rated Zelda Breath of the Wild fall down in my view, as they can't include vehicles by design). Realism is thrown totally out the window in favour of being able to bounce, grind and wall run over everything.

It's probably the most genuinely "Punk Rock" feeling AAA game I've ever played, it even features a cameo by The Melvins.

[Mike205]

I'm not sure it's hidden but did anyone played "Disco Elysium - The Final Cut" ? https://www.theverge.com/22412485/di...ps4-ps5-mac-pc

[hi-rev]

I don't know how "hidden" it is, but I have been playing Northgard a lot lately. It is a RTS in the style of Warcraft 2. Pretty graphics, good building and not too complicated.
Some of the balancing is a bit off, and the combat is a bit of a messy affair, but its quite captivating due to its style.

And speaking of subnautical themes, SOMA is a good walking sim with a great story behind it. There are a few jump scares, but mostly it gets you up using its atmosphere.

And if atmospheric walking sims are your thing, then Firewatch is an excellent game. But its hardly what I would call "hidden" at this point.

[crank_case]

Have you played Unravel? Really enjoyed the first one

Yeah, it was nice enough, but couldn't really get into it.

[evin]

Have you played Unravel? Really enjoyed the first one

[crank_case]

Played Gorogoa on Game Pass. Only about 30 minutes play time but really great little game. On lots of platforms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorogoa

I've been playing that too, the puzzles aren't especially difficult, but very satisfying in how they're solved. A good game to chill out with.

[evin]

Played Gorogoa on Game Pass. Only about 30 minutes play time but really great little game. On lots of platforms. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorogoa

[crank_case]

A bit of an oldie, bit the good thing about that is it's available on most platforms- Race The Sun.

It's a very simple, arcadey type premise, no real story, no real "ending", just about getting as far as you can with as high a score as you can. You've got a solar powered aircraft which moves at ridiculous speed that you have to keep powered up (so stay out of the shadows) but while dodging obstacles at the same time. A game you'll only really play for a quick blast at a time, but it's perfect for that and you'll go back to it again and again.

[Boris]

A mobile game but maybe on other devices, plaforms Mini Motorways is keeping me entertained at the moment. Easy to play but engaging.

[crank_case]

This is a lovely little game - simple rhythm action, great music (it is a game about music), a nice storyline... and it doesn't hang around too long, could be finished in a session easily enough.

Yeah, I quite enjoyed it. It's more of a mostly linear mildly interactive story than a game, so come at it expecting much gameplay and you'll be disappointed. Take it for what it is and it's a really entertaining love letter to spacey prog rock with great visuals and some top acting talent.

[VeeAte]

This is a lovely little game - simple rhythm action, great music (it is a game about music), a nice storyline... and it doesn't hang around too long, could be finished in a session easily enough.

[zero86r]

The Procession to Calvary caught my eye looks interesting, currently playing through The Ascent which I'm really enjoying visually but gameplay is average I would say. It does make me nostalgic for Syndicate Wars though!

[crank_case]

The Procession to Calvary, it's an incredibly stupid, twisted and hilarious point and click adventure game made entirely from images from renaissance paintings. It's on game pass too.

Superflight - it's a simple but very enjoyable wingsuit game game that costs like 3 euro on steam. Pretty much any PC can run it, but be aware that if you're installing it on a PC you use for work, certain remote access products stop it working. You should have no problems on a regular home PC though.

[crank_case]

The only problem with Locoroco is I CAN'T GET THAT SONG OUT OF MY HEAD!