The video game industry is a dynamic landscape, often marked by unexpected downturns despite its multi-billion-dollar status. A game’s commercial success significantly impacts its future, influencing whether franchises receive sequels or new content. However, financial performance isn’t always an accurate reflection of a game’s quality. Many critically acclaimed titles are tragically overlooked due to various factors.
This article delves into the realm of underrated video games that captured the hearts of both gamers and critics, yet failed to achieve the sales necessary for commercial viability. Causes of their misfortune range from poor timing and insufficient marketing to a general lack of market interest.Despite their quality, these games didn’t reach their potential audiences.
15 Sunset Overdrive
Like A Mid-2000s Cartoon
From the development team behind iconic franchises like Spyro, Ratchet & Clank, and Marvel’s Spider-Man, Insomniac Games delivered Sunset Overdrive, a vibrant action-adventure game that unfortunately didn’t achieve the success it deserved. This Xbox exclusive features engaging third-person shooter mechanics set against a creatively colorful world, prioritizing dynamic movement and speed.
With its humor and unique identity reminiscent of Jet Set Radio and Saints Row: The Third, Sunset Overdrive is remembered fondly by players. Despite its 49.7 million in sales, the game struggled to break even against a substantial budget of 42.6 million, yielding a mere $567 profit. This financial shortfall hindered the potential for a franchise expansion.
14 Gravity Rush 2
Can You Handle The Gs?
Another title that flew under the radar is Gravity Rush 2, the sequel to a popular PS Vita game. This unique action-adventure title allows players to manipulate gravity, creating an innovative gameplay experience in a beautifully designed floating city. Players control Kat, utilizing her gravity manipulation to navigate and battle foes with flair.
Despite garnering critical acclaim, the game failed to make a significant impact commercially, selling just over 100, 000 units in Japan by February 2017 and receiving minimal recognition outside its home country.This lack of market visibility has dashed hopes for a follow-up installment.
13 Sleeping Dogs
14 Is An Unlucky Number
Sleeping Dogs stands out as one of the most impressive open-world titles despite its underwhelming sales performance. Notably, its authentic portrayal of Hong Kong within a gripping crime narrative impressed audiences, showcasing a robust combat system and engaging gameplay. The game achieved over 1.5 million sales and was particularly successful upon release, yet it fell short of Square Enix’s sales expectations.
The situation worsened for Sleeping Dogs, as it became embroiled in corporate decisions after its developer, United Front Games, was shut down in 2016. Despite the franchise’s strong fan base and continued demand for a sequel, its fate remains uncertain as the IP now belongs to Square Enix.
12 Marvel’s Midnight Suns
Turn-Based Supernatural Heroes
Despite the immense popularity of Marvel properties, Marvel’s Midnight Suns failed to garner the attention expected from a superhero game. This card-based tactical RPG by Firaxis, while well-received critically, faced fierce competition upon release. It was overshadowed by blockbuster titles like Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and God of War Ragnarok, which dominated the gaming landscape.
Even with its rich narrative and diverse roster of characters, including lesser-known superheroes such as Blade and Ghost Rider, Midnight Suns‘ release window was less than ideal, contributing to its commercial pitfalls.
11 Guardians Of The Galaxy
It’s So Flarking Good
Square Enix’s Guardians of the Galaxy is yet another example of a Marvel game that did not achieve its full potential in the marketplace. Despite the characters’ newfound fame from their cinematic adaptations, the game, which allows players to engage with the beloved ensemble, struggled to meet the high expectations that followed Square Enix’s previous franchise misstep with “Avengers.”
Although Guardians of the Galaxy quickly became a fan favorite and was one of the year’s top sellers, it ultimately did not align with the ambitious sales targets set by the publisher.
10 Spec Ops: The Line
“You Are Still A Good Person.”
Spec Ops: The Line has gained notoriety for its shocking narrative and its powerful commentary on the realities of war. While it drew critical acclaim for its engaging, subversive storyline and its stark depiction of violence, it fell short of commercial expectations.
The game sold poorly relative to its acclaim, leaving Take-Two disappointed, despite the cult following it garnered over time. Tragically, many gamers primarily recall it only for its infamously impactful white phosphorus scene.
9 Immortals Of Aveum
I Cast: Unfortunate Timing!
Breaking the trend of remakes and sequels, Immortals of Aveum sought to introduce a fresh original IP to a crowded market. This first-person shooter that integrates magical mechanics was Ascendant Studio’s ambitious debut. Unfortunately, the timing of its late August release placed it in direct competition with heavyweights like Armored Core 6 and Starfield.
As a result, the game failed to attract a significant player base, leading to immense financial difficulties for the studio. The unfortunate fate of Ascendant Studios resulted in layoffs and lingering uncertainty about the future of this promising IP.
8 Beyond Good And Evil
Forever In Limbo
Launched in 2003, Beyond Good and Evil is an action-adventure game that many retro gamers fondly recall. This title, however, struggled commercially upon release, overshadowed by other well-established franchises and hampered by inadequate marketing.
Its lack of initial sales led to significant price reductions shortly after launch, diminishing whatever momentum it had. Despite its cult status that secured both an HD remaster and a sequel in the pipeline, actual progress towards new content remains elusive, leaving fans in a state of anticipation.
7 Psychonauts
Insane In The Membrane
Psychonauts represents an unforgettable chapter in gaming history, beloved for its distinctive charm and its imaginative cast of characters during its original release. This debut title from Double Fine was lauded for its originality and creativity.
Despite winning multiple accolades, including E3’s “Best Original Game, ”Psychonauts shunned commercial success, leading to considerable financial loss for its publisher, Majesco. Over time, however, digital distribution revitalized the title’s prospects, ultimately allowing it to flourish and leading to the successful release of a long-awaited sequel, Psychonauts 2.
6 Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines
Bloodsuckingly Underrated
In the realm of action RPGs, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines stands as an iconic title based on the acclaimed tabletop RPG. Players step into the shoes of a fledgling vampire in modern-day Los Angeles, navigating the complexities of both society and supernatural politics.
The game suffered from extensive development challenges, resulting in an incomplete release in 2004. Competing against significant titles such as Half-Life 2 made its success even more difficult to achieve, leading to disappointing sales figures. Despite the acclaim it received from players and critics alike, Bloodlines was deemed a commercial failure, contributing to the eventual downfall of Troika Games.
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