12 Overlooked Video Games That Deserve A Second Chance

Days Gone is another game that seems like it has a slam dunk premise: the player controls Deacon St. John, a former outlaw biker turned post-apocalyptic survivor. Like other open-world zombie games, Days Gone requires the player to navigate an undead-riddled world while collecting scarce resources and concocting homemade weapons to survive. Unlike other open-world zombie games, the player also gets a motorcycle, which is customizable to boot. 

So, where did the 2019 PlayStation 4 title go wrong? For some reviewers, the game was just too formulaic and unimaginative. There wasn't much in the way of a plot beyond “survive, and help your injured biker friend Boozer survive, too.” 

Still, it's a solid zombie game that developer Bend Studio has worked to improve. In October 2020, it released a PlayStation 5 version with a 60fps frame rate and 4K resolution, cleaning up many of the visual issues at launch. At the very least, if you enjoyed games like The Last of Us and Left 4 Dead, Days Gone is worth picking up. 

If you're the sort of gamer who likes action games set in the modern world with slick combat and state-of-the-art graphics, you should probably check out the latest Call of Duty or Rainbow Six title. But if you're the sort of gamer who likes games that make you think long after you're done playing them, go with Spec Ops: The Line. 

In the game, the player controls a soldier sent to war-torn Dubai to battle insurgents, and then take down a rogue special forces unit. After the player is complicit in the killing of insurgents using white phosphorous munitions (banned by the Geneva Convention), the game forces the player to question violence - especially video game violence. If you've ever thought it was strange that so many video games allow the main character to kill hundreds of NPCs without feeling any remorse, this is the game for you. 

The Mafia franchise is a lot like the Grand Theft Auto franchise. Both let the player take control of a low-level criminal who's moving up in the world, while also allowing them to explore a large open-world city. Like the names suggest, the Mafia games offer an organized crime twist on the concept. 

When Mafia III came out in 2016, it took players to an unusual setting - a fictionalized version of 1960's New Orleans. They also let them control an unusual character for a blockbuster game, a young, African-American Vietnam War veteran returning home to deal with racism. For many reviewers, the game's handling of themes like racism, its complex characters, and its compelling story are all reasons to play the game. 

Unfortunately, Mafia III lacked some basic features that have become standard for open-world games, like fast travel. It also didn't have much in the way of dynamic side quests. Still, anyone who likes a good story in their game, or anyone who just enjoys committing mayhem in a fake city, should probably check it out. 

An espionage RPG seems like a no-brainer of a video game. The world of espionage - specifically, modern and realistic espionage, as opposed to the campy James Bond variety - is full of deception, stealth, gadgets, and occasional action. All of these are great ingredients for a video game. On top of that, giving the player the freedom of choice on how to handle various espionage operations would seem to allow for endless replay value. 

That's what 2010's Alpha Protocol tried to be, but it came up short of accomplishing its aspirations. Many reviewers felt that while Alpha Protocol was full of intriguing ideas, the execution was lacking. Specifically, reviewers pointed to the sluggish controls and rote story. Despite the PC version only getting a 72% positive rating on Metacritic (and the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions coming in about 10 points lower than that), it still developed a cult following. And, hey, maybe someone will build off what Alpha Protocol did and unleash a perfect open-world spy RPG. We can hope. 

If a video game holds a Guinness Book World Record for “most critically divisive survival horror game,” it should probably be on this list. In Deadly Premonition, the player controls an FBI investigator tasked with solving a series of brutal murders that resemble a notorious cold case. When it debuted on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC in 2010, it did indeed receive many harshly negative reviews. For example, IGN complained about everything from the wonky camera to the clumsy controls to the irritating sounds made by NPCs as they die. 

However, “polarizing” doesn't mean “entirely negative,” and plenty of outlets praised the game for its atmospheric horror vibes that borrowed from David Lynch and Stephen King, as well as its unique depiction of psychological trauma. 

Despite negative reviews, the game developed a cult following. It received a Director's Cut re-release in 2013, and a 2020 sequel on Nintendo Switch. 

It's never a good thing when a game's launch is compared to that of No Man's Sky, which had one of the most notoriously disappointing releases in modern memory. But that's what happened with the 2018 Xbox One and PC exclusive title Sea of Thieves. The game promised an open-world pirate simulator that let the player command their own ship, conduct raids on enemy vessels and bases, and explore a lush tropical setting. At launch, the game delivered repetitive quests, dull combat, and no single-player option.  

However, also like No Man's Sky, Sea of Thieves has improved considerably after launch. Developer Rare has continually added new content to the game. Now, it has more than 15 million players, as well as a thriving Twitch community.