Games That Are Way Better Than Their Sales Numbers Suggest

Video game success is usually judged by how well a game sells. However, many excellent games don’t become blockbusters because of bad luck with release timing, a specialized target audience, or difficulties with marketing. Often, these games receive praise from critics and build a loyal following over time. This list showcases critically acclaimed games that offered unique experiences, even though they didn’t achieve massive sales figures.

‘Okami’ (2006)

Okami is an action adventure game created by Clover Studio and published by Capcom. Players take on the role of Amaterasu, a white wolf, with the goal of bringing color and life back to a world plagued by a curse. Known for its beautiful sumi-e ink art style, the game received high praise from critics when it first came out. However, despite winning numerous Game of the Year awards, it didn’t achieve widespread commercial success on the PlayStation 2.

‘Psychonauts’ (2005)

Psychonauts is a creative platforming game developed by Double Fine Productions and published by Majesco Entertainment. Players control Raz, a young boy who goes undercover at a summer camp for psychic spies to improve his powers. The game is unique because each level takes place inside the mind of a different character, offering a variety of settings and gameplay challenges. Although it didn’t sell well initially, Psychonauts gained a dedicated following and later found success through digital distribution.

‘Beyond Good & Evil’ (2003)

This adventure game, created by Ubisoft, follows Jade, a photojournalist uncovering a secret plot on an alien planet. Players use a mix of stealth, action, photography, and racing to explore the game’s unique world. Though reviewers liked the story and setting, the game didn’t sell well when it first came out due to competition with other popular titles. Despite this, it’s remembered as an important game that inspired many open-world games that came after it.

‘Spec Ops: The Line’ (2012)

Developed by Yager Development and published by 2K Games, this third-person shooter offers a fresh take on the typical military shooter by focusing on the psychological effects of war. Players find themselves in a Dubai devastated by sandstorms, facing tough moral decisions that change the story’s outcome. Despite positive reviews praising its writing and mature themes, the game didn’t sell as well as hoped.

‘Grim Fandango’ (1998)

This adventure game, developed and published by LucasArts, is a darkly atmospheric story set in the Land of the Dead. Players take on the role of Manny Calavera, a travel agent who discovers a conspiracy surrounding the passage of souls. The game blends the visual styles of Aztec mythology and classic film noir. While widely considered a masterpiece of the adventure game genre, it didn’t sell enough copies to keep the genre thriving at the time.

‘EarthBound’ (1994)

This unusual role-playing game was created by Ape and HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo. The game centers around Ness and his companions as they journey across a contemporary world to defeat an alien called Giygas. It stood out from other games of the time by replacing typical fantasy elements like swords and magic with things like baseball bats and psychic abilities. Although initial sales in North America were low due to limited promotion and expensive cartridges, the game eventually became incredibly popular with a dedicated fanbase.

‘Eternal Darkness: Sanity’s Requiem’ (2002)

Developed by Silicon Knights and published by Nintendo for the GameCube, this psychological horror game tells a story that jumps across different time periods, following characters as they face a powerful, ancient evil. A special ‘sanity meter’ adds to the experience, creating unsettling effects and illusions as your character becomes more frightened. Although critics liked the game’s fresh ideas, it didn’t become very popular.

‘System Shock 2’ (1999)

System Shock was a groundbreaking survival horror game created through a partnership between Irrational Games and Looking Glass Studios, published by Electronic Arts. Players navigate and attempt to survive on a damaged spaceship, facing off against a dangerous artificial intelligence named SHODAN. The game uniquely blended in-depth role-playing elements with a truly immersive and frightening atmosphere, laying the groundwork for the popular BioShock series. However, its complicated gameplay and difficulty made it challenging for many players at the time of its release in the late 1990s.

‘Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines’ (2004)

I remember when Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines came out. Troika Games, the devs, really tried to bring the tabletop RPG to life, and Activision published it. You got to pick a vampire clan and basically live out a dark, gritty life in modern LA. Honestly, the game had a rough development, and it launched right alongside a ton of other huge titles. It was super buggy at first, but a really dedicated group of fans kept it alive for years, creating patches and fixes to keep it playable. It’s still a game people love and support, even now!

‘Ico’ (2001)

Developed by Team Ico and published by Sony for the PlayStation 2, this game is a beautifully simple puzzle platformer. It tells the story of a young, horned boy trying to escape a large castle while keeping a girl named Yorda safe. The game relies on its environments and easy-to-learn gameplay to create a strong emotional experience for players. While it didn’t sell well in North America, it had a big impact on other game developers, including those who made ‘Dark Souls’.

‘Shenmue’ (1999)

Okay, so I recently played this Dreamcast game, and it was seriously ahead of its time. It’s an open-world adventure where you play as Ryo Hazuki, and the whole story is about him tracking down the guys who hurt his dad. What blew me away was how detailed everything was – they really nailed the look and feel of 1980s Japan. It even had stuff like day and night cycles and those quick-time events, which felt super innovative back then. It’s a shame it didn’t sell super well, though. Apparently, making it cost a ton, and not enough people had a Dreamcast to really make it a hit, which is a bummer because it’s a fantastic game.

‘Mirror’s Edge’ (2008)

DICE created this fast-paced, first-person parkour game, and Electronic Arts released it on various platforms. Players control Faith, a messenger navigating a clean but oppressive city. The game focuses on smooth, flowing movement and building speed rather than typical combat, offering a distinctive experience. Though critics liked the game’s style and how it played, it didn’t sell as well as Electronic Arts had hoped.

‘Binary Domain’ (2012)

This team-based shooter was created by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by SEGA. The story follows a special unit investigating unlawful robot technology in a future Tokyo. A key feature is how much your squad trusts you – their performance and the story itself change based on your relationships. While the game has strong gameplay and a compelling story, it faced challenges gaining attention in a market full of similar shooters.

‘Sleeping Dogs’ (2012)

Sleeping Dogs is an open-world action game created by United Front Games and published by Square Enix. Originally cancelled by a different company, the game puts players in the role of Wei Shen, an undercover police officer working to take down a Hong Kong Triad. Gameplay focuses on hand-to-hand combat and using the environment to your advantage, along with driving and shooting. While critics praised the game’s immersive atmosphere and compelling story, it didn’t sell as many copies as Square Enix had hoped.

‘The World Ends with You’ (2007)

I recently played this really cool RPG that Jupiter and Square Enix made for the DS. The story takes place in Shibuya, and it’s about these teenagers who get forced into a seriously dangerous game. What I loved was how it used both screens – you had to manage two battles happening at the same time, which was a really unique combat system. It’s got a dedicated fanbase, but honestly, it didn’t sell as well as some of the bigger Square Enix games, so it’s kind of a hidden gem.

‘The Wolf Among Us’ (2013)

Telltale Games created an adventure game, released in episodes, based on the ‘Fables’ comic books. Players play as Bigby Wolf, the sheriff of a secret community of fairytale characters living in New York City. The game is known for its dark, detective-style mood and choices that affect how other characters see you. Despite receiving great reviews, the game’s future was affected by the financial problems at the studio.

‘Katana ZERO’ (2019)

Askiisoft created this stylish action platformer, and Devolver Digital published it on multiple platforms. The game is known for its quick, intense combat, letting players use time manipulation to quickly defeat enemies. It tells a compelling, dark story about an assassin who has lost their memories, using conversations and dreamlike scenes to unfold the narrative. Despite being an independent game, many consider it to be of higher quality than many bigger, mainstream titles.

‘Alan Wake’ (2010)

This psychological thriller was created by Remedy Entertainment and published by Microsoft for the Xbox 360. Players follow the story of a popular author searching for his wife, all while being stalked by mysterious shadows in a quiet town. The game uniquely features light as a key weapon against ghostly enemies called the Taken. Despite being a strong game, it didn’t sell as well as hoped initially because it was released around the same time as several other big titles.

‘Prey’ (2017)

Developed by Arkane Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks, this game puts players in the role of an explorer on the Talos I space station. You’ll battle aliens that can change shape and unlock incredible powers. The game is known for letting players approach challenges in their own way, and the environment itself tells a story through its detailed design. While critics loved it, it didn’t sell as many copies as other big-budget, first-person action games.

‘Titanfall 2’ (2016)

Respawn Entertainment created this fast-paced action game, which Electronic Arts released during a busy time for new games. Players have praised its story-driven single-player mode, focusing on the connection between a soldier and their giant robot. The game also offers smooth character movement and a variety of multiplayer options, improving on the original. Unfortunately, releasing it so close to two major shooting games meant it didn’t sell as well as it should have.

Tell us which of these underrated gems you think deserves more recognition in the comments.

2026-02-03 12:18