What 'hidden gem' of a game did you enjoy the most, that you haven't played in a long time?

[Space Lynx]

To be clear, not your favorite game of all time, but just a game you have really fond memories of? Let's try to keep this at least 10+ years ago.

For me, it's I Am Alive, I played it on launch and it was honestly fantastic. Very atmospheric, unique take on the graphics, and it legit had me on my toes several times and made me think things through. It's a shame it didn't seem to score well, I thought it was great. Another game in this category for me is the Darkness II, I think I beat that in 2015 and it was honestly just a random game I picked up one day and ended up being one I couldn't put down until I finished, was a blast. Surprised hidden gems like these never get a follow up game. I was also going to add the main Prince of Persia trilogy here, but that's not really a hidden gem I guess.

I Am Alive on Steam

I Am Alive casts the player as a lone survivor in a believable, dark and insecure post-apocalyptic world.

store.steampowered.com

Darkness II Steam Link

(mods I looked around and did not see a thread similar to this one, just thought it could be interesting, if there is one already like this just point me in that direction please)

(please include a link if you post a game, so we have quick access to what its about)

 

[JIWIL]

Absolute Zero - the first game I experienced on a 1280x1024 17" Trinitron. I remember getting a few inches away from the screen and going holy balls that pixel is a spaceship! I'm not sure if the game was actually good or not though.

 

[Space Lynx]

Absolute Zero - the first game I experienced on a 1280x1024 17" Trinitron. I remember getting a few inches away from the screen and going holy balls that pixel is a spaceship! I'm not sure if the game was actually good or not though.

Hmm, doesn't have to be your first game, just fyi to future posters. Just any game that comes to mind from years ago. I think there are a lot of hidden gems out there, and I am trying to see what other people enjoyed.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I wouldn't call it a hidden gem anymore due to it getting a remake and sequel of sorts but Neir on the OG Xbox 360 was probably that for me pretty sure it got skipped over due to middling reviews and terrible graphics even for its time but it's honestly in my top ten from the PS360 era. I would say Skies of Arcadia on Dreamcast as well.

Although both are probably more games people just didn't buy at launch or many didn't play vs being hidden. Skies got pretty glowing reviews but nobody bought it for example.

 

[dirtyferret]

Skies got pretty glowing reviews but nobody bought it for example.

I bought it! Mostly played PSO on my dreamcast

 

[Space Lynx]

I wouldn't call it a hidden gem anymore due to it getting a remake and sequel of sorts but Neir on the OG Xbox 360 was probably that for me pretty sure it got skipped over due to middling reviews and terrible graphics even for its time but it's honestly in my top ten from the PS360 era. I would say Skies of Arcadia on Dreamcast as well.

Although both are probably more games people just didn't buy at launch or many didn't play vs being hidden. Skies got pretty glowing reviews but nobody bought it for example.

I remember Skies of Arcadia, there was a similar flying game on the original Xbox, I forget the name of it though. I remember having fun though.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I remember Skies of Arcadia, there was a similar flying game on the original Xbox, I forget the name of it though. I remember having fun though.

Crimson skies probably.

 

[Space Lynx]

Crimson skies probably.

THAT IS IT yeah, i really really wish my mom never gave away my old tube tv. I want to play the classics the way they were meant to be played.

 

[Klemc]

Can't say a title, but for sur it's a Point n' Click, my favorites especially 10+ years ago.

//

Allright, it came to my mind so i write a title, lol, my memory opened when i read XBOX (@oxrufiioxo) :

Project Zero aka Fatal Frame, the first.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

Kingdom under Fire would probably be another one for me on the OG Xbox.

 

[wNotyarD]

Don't know if it counts as "hidden gem", but I'll say Mirror's Edge anyway. I simply loved, and still do, its art direction and colors.

 

[rtwjunkie]

I have to say I Am Alive also. I got it from Amazon as a separate download (so not attached to any drm or launcher) and enjoyed every bit of it. Yes it was a bit janky in places, but it captured the feel of such a world very well. Felt invested in the story as well.

 

[TechBuyingHavoc]

Don't know if it counts as "hidden gem", but I'll say Mirror's Edge anyway. I simply loved, and still do, its art direction and colors.

The first Mirror's Edge was a truly gorgeous game. Almost meditative in the flow of the game.

The sequel, not so much.

My hidden gem (not so hidden these days) is the original Beyond Good and Evil. Very atmospheric and stylish game, I fell in love with the game immediately.

I feel that the sequel will disappoint me just as much as Mirror's Edge did with its sequel.

 

[Space Lynx]

Don't know if it counts as "hidden gem", but I'll say Mirror's Edge anyway. I simply loved, and still do, its art direction and colors.

yeah, I mean there are no real rules, just guidelines. I think it counts, it was always kind of under the radar since it was an unusual concept when it released.

 

[Yukikaze]

Valkyria Chronicles isn't a really unknown game and it eventually sold very well, but right when it launched on the PS3 back in 2008 it wasn't much of a commercial success, despite it being very well reviewed. It took a couple of years for it to become a successful game on the PS3 and eventually it sold over 2 million copies in total across multiple platforms having gotten ported to the PS4, PC and the Switch.

I bought it together with my PS3 on the recommendation of a friend who lived in South-East Asia and was immediately hooked. It is a really great game and I recently played it again on that very same PS3. It aged very well, even in the graphics department because of its cell-shaded graphics that made it look like a picture book of sorts - A style that was also reinforced by its UI which looked a lot like a book or magazine.

EDIT: To add to the above, it is also a game that is surprisingly deep for a game that is ostensibly "World War 1.5, but it is Anime", including tackling things like racism, prejudice, systemic oppression, mythology vs. history, propaganda, and other things you really would not expect from it to tackle, much less tackle successfully. It isn't perfect in this regard, but it is definitely worthy of note for trying and doing so admirably.

 

[kapone32]

Destroy All Humans 1 & 2. Just pure unabashed arcade magic. Special shout to Redout 2 if you were a FZero junkie back in the day.

 

[dirtyferret]

project snowblind (I played it on the PS2)

Project: Snowblind on Steam

Experience the dramatic intensity of the frontlines of a war through the eyes of the first of a new breed of super soldiers in this gritty and epic first-person action game. An augmented super-soldier must stop a renegade regime from eradicating the civilized world. Hong Kong, 2065. 2nd Lt.

store.steampowered.com

 

[Space Lynx]

project snowblind (I played it on the PS2)

Project: Snowblind on Steam

Experience the dramatic intensity of the frontlines of a war through the eyes of the first of a new breed of super soldiers in this gritty and epic first-person action game. An augmented super-soldier must stop a renegade regime from eradicating the civilized world. Hong Kong, 2065. 2nd Lt.

store.steampowered.com

never heard of this, and after looking at the pictures it does look like a hidden gem indeed, adding this to my wish list. thanks for linking the store page

do you by any chance have a steam deck? i am curious if this works on SteamOS now lol

edit: nm based on reviews, looks like best way to play it is emulation

 

[Nordic]

Natural Selection 2. I played it 20 hours a week average for 6 years

 

[GerKNG]

100% Kings Field IV a very unique experience.
and i love the dark reality soundtrack.

 

[TechBuyingHavoc]

never heard of this, and after looking at the pictures it does look like a hidden gem indeed, adding this to my wish list. thanks for linking the store page

do you by any chance have a steam deck? i am curious if this works on SteamOS now lol

edit: nm based on reviews, looks like best way to play it is emulation

Never played Project Snowblind but it brings to mind TimeSplitters 2.

Hands down, the most zany and fun FPS on the PS2. You fight enemies in 90s Siberia, Great Depression era Chicago, 1800s Notre Dame, 1850s Wild West, 2019 (lol) NeoTokyo, etc. All with era-appropriate weapons. Movement is fast and fluid, you get some interesting gadgets for puzzles, and the multiplayer was very GoldenEye with a more distinctive flavor and updated for the PS2 era.

Fantastic music to boot. (Check out the Notre Dame and NeoTokyo track!). And the atmospheric mood on some levels is downright creepy.

This is what AAA games used to be like. Ambitious and audacious enough to claim the "game" label proudly instead of trying to copy the movie industry constantly.

 

[Space Lynx]

Never played Project Snowblind but it brings to mind TimeSplitters 2. Hands down, the most zany and fun FPS on the PS2. You fight enemies in 90s Siberia, Great Depression era Chicago, 1800s Notre Dame, 1850s Wild West, 2019 (lol) NeoTokyo, etc.

Fantastic music to boot. And the atmospheric mood on some levels is downright creepy.

This is what AAA games used to be like. Ambitious and audacious enough to claim the "game" label proudly instead of trying to copy the movie industry constantly.

TimeSplitters 2 remastered is out now on PC (inside Homefront: The Revolution)

PC players have ensured you only have to play a little Homefront: The Revolution to get to TimeSplitters 2

www.pcgamesn.com

just found this cause it intrigued me... very interesting you can play timesplitters 2 remastered on PC through a "arcade" in homefront revolution game... kind of wild

 

[64K]

One sleeper that came to mind recently that I want to replay. Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay. It came out in 2004 amid a lot of truly great games so it just got lost and passed over by most. It used to be on Steam but it got pulled for some reason.

 

[Dristun]

Not sure how hidden it is but Ridge Racer 7 is simply the best arcade drift-racer I've ever played and nothing comes close. It's just crazy that this series is dead. Maybe it's too goofy and unrealistic for modern audiences, I dunno.

 

[dirtyferret]

never heard of this, and after looking at the pictures it does look like a hidden gem indeed, adding this to my wish list. thanks for linking the store page

do you by any chance have a steam deck? i am curious if this works on SteamOS now lol

edit: nm based on reviews, looks like best way to play it is emulation

it's similar to Deus Ex Invisible War, both published by Eidos and you can tell people from Ion Storm worked on the game. If you enjoyed Invisible War you will probably like snowblind, if you are looking for a clone of the original Dues Ex you will probably be disappointed as many people were with Invisible War (I've enjoyed all the games in the series)