The Most Underappreciated Games Of 2021

When it comes to video games, players have never had more options than they do right now. As budgets increase and technology allows them to become more impressive and immersive, the world of games just keeps getting bigger. It's no surprise that the industry is booming, and every year more and more massive titles release and dominate the public conversation. Over 3,000 games were released on the Steam store in 2021, so it's natural for a few games to slip through the cracks and be missed by audiences and critics

Even really great games can go unseen and unsung when there's so much out there to play, especially when flashier titles push them out of the spotlight. Sure, 2021 has been full of excellent games, but you can also dig a little bit deeper and give the underdog a chance. 

From sequels huddling in the shadows of their predecessors, to indie releases without the reach of massive developers, to promising games hampered by mixed reviews or release-day bugs, there are a lot of hidden gems out there. And you don't even need to venture into a cursed cave or flee from an Indiana Jones-style giant boulder to get to them. You just have to buy them and play. 

So, if you've already made it through your gaming wishlist for the year, why not take a chance on one of the most underappreciated games of 2021? You might just be pleasantly surprised.

Housemarque's "Returnal" combines elements of bullet hell, roguelike, and horror games, leveraging the PS5's DualSense controller to allow for quicker combat and more flexible button usage. The game's story follows Selene, an explorer with the ASTRA Corporation who lands on a planet called Atropos in search of a mysterious signal. There, she finds herself trapped in a time loop. 

From a developer not known for action-adventure titles, but rather one that largely came on the scene with indie retro-inspired arcade-like shooters, "Returnal" came seemingly from out of nowhere. And according to outlets like Pocket-lint, a combination of underwhelming marketing and the lack of name recognition kept it from being a larger part of the gaming conversation.

After its release, "Returnal" has divided PS5 gamers, with some users citing issues with the long runtime, with an average run through the ever-changing world lasting 90+ minutes and no way to save in the middle of a run. Others insisted that it can be a plus when game time can be blocked out in clear increments. Whether this style of game is for you or not, IGN's review argued it is a challenging, immersive shooter than rewards its players handsomely.

• Release Date: April 30, 2021
• Available On: PlayStation 5
• Genre: Third-person shooter, roguelike
• Game Modes: Single-player
• Metacritic Score: 85 (PlayStation 5)

If you were a supervillain, how would you run your evil empire? How would you manage your lair, corral your henchmen, and keep your enemies from destroying you before your wicked plans come to fruition? Those are the questions posed by 2004's "Evil Genius" — and now, by its sequel, "Evil Genius 2: World Domination". 

The game, published by Rebellion Developments after the collapse of the first game's developer, Elixir Studios, tasks the player with building a villainous lair on a tropical island under the guise of a casino. There are four playable evil geniuses: Emma the former spymaster, Red Ivan the ex-henchman, Maximillian the gold-obsessed tyrant, and Zalika the mad scientist, each of whom bring something dastardly to the table. 

Fans were excited about the sequel, interested to see a follow-up to a game they already considered underrated. Luckily for those fans, "Evil Genius 2" has delivered for critics. A review from Cultured Vultures praised its cartoonish style, wide range of content, and the different benefits of both the campaign and sandbox modes. Why not try your hand at taking over the world (virtually)? You might just be in for a wicked good time. 

• Release Date: March 30, 2021
• Available On: PC
• Genre: Strategy, simulation
• Game Modes: Single-player
• Metacritic Score: 75 (PC)

If you're a fan of 2D role-playing games like "Undertale", then you might just be interested in "Everwood," a rhythm-based dance battle game that takes its aesthetic inspirations from the Toby Fox title (per IGN). 

In "Everhood," the player takes on the role of Red, a wooden gnome whose arm is stolen, who must make a strange journey to find the thief that took it. The world of "Everhood" is filled with doors that lead to different strange places and bizarre creatures. The cast of characters includes a vampire with a chronic case of the sneezes (delightfully named Nosferatchu), a banjo-wielding frog, and a floating goldfish. 

The game received critical praise from outlets like RPGFan for its whimsical setting, rhythm combat, and surprising plot twists, which mostly make up for slight gameplay issues and technical glitches. Fans who have experienced "Everhood" feel that the game is criminally underrated, with some hoping that the indie title will eventually become "a household name." 

• Release Date: March 4, 2021
• Available On: Nintendo Switch, PC
• Genre: Adventure, RPG, rhythm 
• Game Modes: Single-player
• Metacritic Score: 81 (Nintendo Switch), 84 (PC)

Anyone who plays video games is familiar with the notion of living in two worlds at once. Maybe you're physically in your living room, but you're also in the middle of a medieval adventure, exploring an abandoned castle, or throwing a ball at wild animals until you catch one of them so you can watch it fight. 

While all gaming involves having a foot in two worlds at once (to some extent), Bloober Team's "The Medium" employs this concept in a much more literal fashion. The player, through the perspective of protagonist Marianne, is able to navigate two worlds at once: the world of the living, and the world of spirits. The Verge noted that the game takes a little while to get going, but its slow burn builds as the player makes their way through the puzzles and unravels the story. 

The game may have a slow build, but critics have praised "The Medium" for its strong protagonist, brilliant use of the split-screen mechanic, and frightening imagery. No spoilers, but sometimes you have to slice through curtains of skin with a knife made of bone in order to move forward.

• Release Date: Jan. 28, 2021
• Available On: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Genre: Psychological horror
• Game Modes: Single-player
• Metacritic Score: 75 (PC), 75 (PlayStation 5), 71 (Xbox Series X)

Welcome to the planet of "Oddworld," a land with a surface area ten times the size of earth, full of giant craters and strange creatures. This is the setting of "Oddworld: Soulstorm," a remake of "Oddworld: Abe's Odysee" and direct sequel to "Oddworld: New n' Tasty." "Soulstorm" features the return of the heroic Abe, who works to rescue his fellow Mudokins from exploitation while reckoning with the aftermath of massive social change. 

"Oddworld: Soulstorm" arrived as a welcome addition to a franchise that fans consider "undeservedly forgotten." As noted in Impulse Gamer's review, the game is gritter and darker than its predecessor, placing the protagonist in more danger than he has ever experienced before. Critics highlighted the iconic design elements of the game, with Ramapo News calling it "both grimy and beautiful" and particularly praising its 2.5D style and attention to detail. Don't be intimidated if you haven't played previous games in the series, as "Soulstorm" it is a great introduction to this rich, bizarre, and completely unique world. 

• Release Date: April 6, 2021
• Available On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
• Genre: Action-adventure, platformer, stealth
• Game Modes: Single-player
• Metacritic Score: 73 (PC), 66 (PlayStation 5)