Each new year seems to bring an ever-larger host of new titles, good, bad and ugly alike, with 2019 being no exception. While many games got the attention and applause they deserved, there are plenty that may have slipped under the radar. It’s often hard to quantify what makes a hidden gem, as the smaller a game’s marketing budget, the more its success hinges on word of mouth, the effect of which can vary greatly from person to person.
It’s certain that not one of the games on this list will be completely unheard of, but to discover even one great game that was missed in the year is an achievement in itself. So without further ado, here’s our list of the games that may have slipped under the radar in 2019.
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Disco Elysium
For a game to be both on this list and ourTop 10 RPGs of 2019list is something of a shame, as it means that a lot of people have missed out on a truly great title.Disco Elysiumis something that is becoming increasingly rare in the sea of remakes and remasters: a truly unique concept that challenges traditional game-play assumptions. Despite its classic Isometric CRPG format, there is no combat inDisco Elysium, no party of colorful characters to recruit and level up.
The only character players ever control is a crusty, hungover and amnesiac detective, struggling to put his identity back together. The game is played mostly through skill checks and dialogue choices, either with suspects, witnesses, or the fractured aspects of the detective’s own psyche, and features some of the finest and most intelligent writing this year. Players who were initially put off by its old-school style or text-heavy mechanics should really consider givingDisco Elysiuma try.
Greedfall
From its first announcement and game-play reveal,Greedfallhas been compared to theDragon Ageseries, with some even going to so far as to call it theDragon Ageof 2019. This prejudgment, coupled with a lukewarm critical reception, may have caused many players to overlook Focus Home Interactive’s attempt to match up in the RPG genre. This is a shame, as many of the minor flaws that plagued early reviews have since been fixed, leaving a deep RPG that pairs a popular game-play style with a new and exciting setting. Whether as a Warrior, Mage, or Technical (Rogue), players diving intoGreedfall’s colonial-themed adventurewill find well-written characters, a compelling story, and classic third-person RPG combat.
Outer Wilds
Launching in the same year as Obsidian’s much bigger, and much more hyped,Outer Worldsdidn’t do the similarly-namedOuter Wildsany favors. For those players who managed to separate the two, however, there was a fascinating blend of exploration and sci-fi storytelling to discover, with a unique time-loop mechanic that reset the world every twenty-two minutes. The game’s progression is based on knowledge, and the more a player knows, the deeper they’re able to delve into its mysteries.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Coming from Asobo Studio, a developer previously known for Pixar movie tie-in games,A Plague Tale: Innocencemay be one the years' most unexpected successes. A unique and innovative stealth-horror,Plague Taleplayers take on the role of thewonderfully-rounded Amicia de Rune, as she and her brother avoid bloodthirsty guards and swarms of plague-rats across medieval France. With a well-written narrative that ties the whole game together, there’s good reason to pick upA Plague Tale: Innocenceeven if its quiet launch and unexpected studio caused it to be overlooked the first time round.
Mordhau
First-person melee combat has always been a mechanic that games struggle with, often over or under-compensating for the sudden turns and lack of mobility. Combine that with the twitchy, high-speed chaos of a multiplayer PvP arena, and the result seems almost unworkable. Somehow though,Mordhauhas managed to pull it off, building a brutal rock-paper-scissors of parries, thrusts and dodges that is as satisfying to use in a swirling brawl as it is in aone-on-one duel. Players who were unwilling to take a chance on a different style of multiplayer PvP may have letMordhaupass them by.
Observation
Developed by small-scale Scottish studio No Code, and published by Devolver Digital,Observationwas one of the years' most intriguing games. Billed as an adventure-puzzle title, players ofObservationtake the role of SAM, the AI in charge of monitoring a multi-national space station in orbit above earth. Through SAM’s fixed cameras and limited control of the station, players must discover the secret behind the crew’s mysterious disappearance. Comparisons to 2017’s Tacoma are inevitable, butObservation’s realistic graphics, unique gameplay, and lo-fi tech help to give it its own voice.
Risk of Rain 2
Risk of Rain, the 2013 2D rogue-like from the tiny Hopoo Games studio was an indie success, quickly building a respectable cult following from its clean, simple style and addictive game-play. It’s a bit of a surprise, therefore, thatRisk of Rain 2launched so quietly this year. The reason for this may be the radical transition from 2D side-scrolling to a third-person, 3D world, not a style that people usually associate with quality rogue-likes. For those able to look past this, however,Risk of Rain 2is a challenging and addictive rogue-like experience which shines best whenplayed in co-op.
Devotion
Developed by the Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games,Devotionwas a slick first-person horror with a unique style and some truly unsettling visuals. Unfortunately the past tense is very applicable here as, unlike a lot of games on this list, the biggest reason that players may have overlookedDevotionthis year is that it wasn’t available for very long. After an Easter Egg was discovered that made fun ofChinese President Xi Jingping, the game was pulled from online stores and has yet to return. As a well-crafted and immersive horror that compares favorably to games likePTandLayers of Fear, here’s hoping thatDevotionwill be back on digital shelves at some point in the future.
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Void Bastards
The second uniquely-styled rogue-like to appear here, and to appear on our15 Best Indie Gameslist too, Void Bastardsis a first-person sci-fi shooter that revolves around looting spaceships, gathering scrap, and using strange weapons to defeat stranger enemies. Developed by former members of theBioshockteam,Void Bastardswears itsShock-games influence proudly on its sleeve, with perhaps the closest comparison being the genre-definingSystem Shock. Though players may have been put off by its comic-book styling,Void Bastardsis a unique rogue-like experience that mixes endlessly-diverse level generation with tense shooting and resource management.
Judgement
With its vague title and quiet Western launch, many players could be forgiven for overlookingRyu Ga Gotoku Studio’sJudgement. Released in Japan back in 2017, though not for long, what isn’t obvious at first glance is thatJudgementis actually a spin-off of the extremely popularYakuzaseries of games, and hits many of the same game-play beats. A third-person action-adventure title, Judgement sees players take control of lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami as he and his compatriots investigate a series of bodies discovered with gouged-out eyes.
