As a gamer, it really hits me how tough it is out there. So many amazing games are released every week that, sadly, a lot of really good ones just don’t get the attention they deserve. It’s a shame, because there’s so much quality stuff being made!
You know, even getting nominated for an award at something like The Game Awards isn’t always enough. It’s amazing to be recognized, absolutely, but it doesn’t automatically mean everyone will get why a game is so special and truly understand how great it is. Sometimes a fantastic game just doesn’t connect with everyone, even with all the hype!
These ten games were all nominated for Game of the Year, but didn’t win. Despite that, I believe they’re all incredibly worthwhile and deserve to be played, so I’ve put together a list of recommendations for you.
10. Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor
Meet Your Nemesis
It might be because I’m getting older and feeling nostalgic, but action games from the early to mid-2010s felt really special. They hit a perfect balance – they weren’t bogged down by the constant updates and in-app purchases that are so common in games today. They were simply enjoyable and well-made. Does anyone else remember that feeling?
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor truly stands out as a fantastic game. As a longtime fan of Lord of the Rings, I remember being incredibly excited for its release, and playing it confirmed that it lived up to the hype – it was a lot of fun!
Man, the Nemesis System in Shadow of Mordor was seriously something else. Enemies actually remembered me and what happened in our past fights, even after hours and hours of gameplay! It felt so personal and dynamic. I honestly don’t get why more games haven’t copied it – it’s still one of the biggest head-scratchers in gaming, as far as I’m concerned.
9. Psychonauts 2
More than Fine
I’m a huge fan of platformer games, and that will become clear as I go through this list. Platformers are a great starting point for many gamers because they’re usually easy to learn – the objectives are straightforward, and the controls aren’t complicated.
Psychonauts 2 is a fantastic 3D platformer that feels like a throwback to the best games of the mid-2000s. It’s a shame such a creative and fun game didn’t stay popular for very long.
It’s strange—even though this game was originally made for Xbox but also released on PlayStation, I’ve never heard anyone talk about actually playing it. If you haven’t played it, I highly recommend giving it a try!
8. The Outer Worlds
Fallout in Space
Calling The Outer Worlds ‘Fallout in space’ might be an oversimplification, but it’s hard to deny that’s the vibe Obsidian Entertainment – the team behind the beloved Fallout: New Vegas – was going for. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing! Fallout is incredibly popular, so applying its successful formula to a space setting feels like a winning move.
Obsidian really delivered with both The Outer Worlds and its planned 2025 sequel. These first-person role-playing games are consistently fun, and I think they build on the best parts of Fallout, often making them even better.
Even though The Outer Worlds has been well-received and has a dedicated fanbase, it hasn’t achieved the same lasting popularity as Fallout. That’s a high standard, but I’m surprised by how many people adore Fallout while having never even tried The Outer Worlds – you really should give it a chance!
7. Inside
Stuck in Limbo
When Inside came out in 2016, it really made an impact. Many people familiar with the game had to be very careful when discussing it, so they wouldn’t reveal the surprisingly wild events that happen in the last ten minutes.
Even though this new game is excellent, it hasn’t resonated with gamers quite as much as Playdead’s earlier hit, Limbo. However, in my opinion, it’s a significant improvement and surpasses Limbo in every way.
Honestly, even getting a Game of the Year nomination was amazing for a small indie game like Inside. But it’s so much more than that – it’s a truly masterful game, especially when it comes to creating a creepy, atmospheric experience. Even now, years later, it still feels like the best of its kind. Seriously, don’t read any spoilers or look up anything about it. Just go in blind and play it – you won’t regret it!
6. Titanfall 2
Peak FPS Campaign
First-person shooters are hugely popular right now, and many focus on keeping players engaged for months through online multiplayer and ongoing updates. But it wasn’t always this way – many of us used to be most excited about playing through the game’s single-player story campaign when a new shooter was released.
Titanfall 2’s single-player campaign is arguably one of the best first-person shooter campaigns ever made. Even ten years after its release, it’s still a strong contender for the best campaign of the last ten years.
I actually replayed it myself just a couple of days ago, and it’s still fantastic! It really shows how great a first-person shooter campaign can be when its main goal is simply to be enjoyable.
5. Super Mario Bros. Wonder
The Most Creative Mario Ever
It’s strange to think of a Nintendo game, particularly one featuring Mario, as ‘underrated.’ Usually, Nintendo games benefit from a lot of hype, potentially leading to them being overrated. However, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is different.
Mario is easily one of my all-time favorite video game series, and it’s probably my favorite overall. I have a huge amount of nostalgia for it and so many great memories of playing Mario games ever since I was a kid, starting with the original Super Mario Bros. on the NES. Games like Super Mario Bros. 3 remain classics, Super Mario World is a true masterpiece, and Yoshi’s Island is just pure fun.
Super Mario Bros. Wonder is a truly exceptional game, and it could even surpass previous Mario classics. It’s incredibly imaginative, offering new experiences that many thought impossible for a series that already seemed to have done everything in the 2D format. While it’s been well-received, many believe Wonder deserves even more recognition as potentially the best 2D Mario game of all time.
4. Deathloop
Things that Go BLAM
In 2026, Dishonored and Prey are the Arkane games everyone seems to be discussing, and for good reason. They’re both incredibly unique, well-made games, and deserve all the praise they get.
Let’s be honest: Deathloop is Arkane’s best game yet. It’s fantastic because you can play it however you want – stealthily or with all-out action – and it’s bursting with a unique style and atmosphere that really sets it apart.
This game is a genuinely fun, clever, and exciting experience from start to finish. While some players feel the time loop element could have been explored further, it offers a surprisingly straightforward story with a lot of hidden depth. I highly recommend completing the game to unlock everything it has to offer – you might just become a fan like me!
3. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Persona Non Grata
Wow, ReFantazio really captured everyone’s hearts, didn’t it? It even won TopMob’s Game of the Year award back in 2024! Honestly, if you’ve played it, you already understand the hype. It’s one of those games where, if you’re a fan, you just get it.
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I really loved Metaphor, and honestly, it’s a bit baffling to me that it hasn’t become as huge as Persona. I know, comparing anything to Persona is tough because that series is massive now! But think about it – a lot of the same team that made Persona 5 also worked on Metaphor, and in some ways, I actually think it’s better. Seriously, if you’re a Persona fan like me, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Have you played it yet?
It’s surprisingly common for people to haven’t heard of Metaphor: ReFantazio, which is a shame. If you enjoy story-focused, modern Japanese role-playing games, you really should check it out – and maybe consider why you haven’t already!
2. Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Desert Island RPG Contender
It’s a shame Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 didn’t get the attention it deserved. It might have been released too soon in 2025, or perhaps the popularity of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 simply overshadowed it. Regardless, it’s one of the best RPGs we’ve seen in years and could have been as big a hit as Skyrim with a little more recognition.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is notoriously difficult to learn at first, but it becomes incredibly immersive, engaging, and satisfying once you understand how everything works. I recognize it probably won’t become hugely popular, which is a shame, but I truly hope it does.
I don’t usually enjoy huge open-world or role-playing games, but Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is exceptional. It’s so good that it breaks the mold of its genre, and I believe any dedicated gamer should experience it.
1. Celeste
An Entire Genre’s Pinnacle
It’s honestly surprising that a small, independent game like Celeste was even considered for Game of the Year in 2018. Knowing that year also included massive hits like the new God of War and Red Dead Redemption 2, its chances of actually winning were incredibly low.
Celeste is an incredible game, and while it’s already highly praised, it truly stands out as nearly perfect. Released in 2018, it revitalized the classic platformer genre, surpassing everything that came before it. In my opinion, it’s the best 2D platformer ever made.
Celeste is a truly special game – it’s challenging but fair, beautifully designed with pixel art, and features an incredible soundtrack. It’s full of charm and emotion, and expertly made from a technical standpoint. More than just fun, it feels meaningful. Even with so many great games released in 2018, Celeste has proven itself as a timeless classic, and I believe it deserves to be recognized as one by everyone.
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2026-02-24 02:41