With such an expansive library and some heavy-hitters, it’s easy for certainXbox Onesoftware to get lost in the shuffle. This is especially true now as much of the hype has shifted towards the upcomingSeries X. It’s a shame, as there are quite a few hidden gems for the console spanning various genres, which, for whatever reason, failed to make much noise.
Perhaps they didn’t receive much marketing or had a limited appeal. Maybe they struggled to stand out amongst similar games, or just couldn’t find an audience. Whatever the issue, there are plenty of games that never got the recognition they deserved.
On the flip side, we have some games that grew a bittooinflated for one reason or another. This doesn’t mean that they’re “bad” by any means, but rather, that they fell somewhat short of expectations or marketing hype.
RELATED:Game Pass: The 10 Best Xbox One Games Available Right Now, Ranked
With this list, we’ll take a look at 5 of the most underrated games to hit the Xbox One, along with 5 of the mostoverrated.
10Underrated: Superhot
It’s not easy to stand out on a console so populated with first-person shooters. Yet,Superhotmanages to pull this off with its obscure gameplay and basic polygonal visuals – at least to those who know it exists.
The game essentially blendsFPSgameplay with puzzles, as players will be relying on angles and precision rather than reaction time. What truly makes this indie shooter shine is its unique time-manipulating mechanics. Being trapped in a wonky computer program, players are able to freeze, slow down, and speed up time with simple joystick movements. This interesting feature adds a fun new dynamic and puts a cool little twist on the typical FPS formula.
Whoa, there, cowboy; before reaching for that pitchfork, we should make it clear that we certainly find plenty of merit in this open-world epic,especiallyon a cinematic level.
In terms of its detail, craftsmanship, and flashy visuals, there’s much to love about Rockstar’s sequel to the 2010 hitRed Dead Redemption. Yet, upon further examination, it’s tough to look past its somewhat slow-moving gameplay and convoluted controls.
The notion that this is a “sandbox” experience is a tad overexaggerated, as well. Missions will typically lock players into a designated route towards a designatedzone, which is bloated with cutscenes and arduous traveling. TheGTA-meets-Old-West premise has its charm, though it feels a bit dated at this point.
8Underrated: Tales Of Vesperia: Definitive Edition
It’s easy to overlook this hidden JRPG gem for a number of reasons. For one, the Xbox One audience that doesn’t tend to gravitate towards this type of game as a whole. There’s also the fact that this is aremasterof a decade-old game, which may turn some gamers off. Still, at the end of the day, Namco’sTales of Vesperia: Definitive Editionis simply thebestway to play one of the besttitlesof the renownedTalesseries.
RELATED:10 Biggest Xbox One Games By File Size, Ranked
In typicalTalesform,Vesperiaoffers some majestic settings and an epic fantasy-laced plot, with exciting real-time combat and solid co-op support. This remastered version, along with more vibrant, spruced-up visuals, also sports new content and added characters. This is really one of the best JRPGs on the console.
7Overrated: Forza Horizon 3
On its own merits, there’s plenty this robust racer doesright, as it expands upon the solid formula of the previous twoFHgames in many ways. But ultimately, Playground Games' third entry in theHorizonseries is a bit more tepid than its sky-high scores let on. It certainly doesn’t help that it’s beensoeclipsed by the renownedFH4, which truly dazzles on a technical and mechanical level.
Put simply, there’s not much this sequel does that the other games in the series do not also do to some degree. The Australian setting has its fun moments, though its emptier scenes and emphasis on Outback off-roading won’t be for everyone.
6Underrated: Dragon’s Dogma
It’s odd that a game from a big name like Capcom managed to really fall under the radar. Still, it’s perhaps easy forDragon’s Dogmato get lost amidst a sea of fantasy ARPGs on the Xbox One and elsewhere.
Though it’s not flawless, there’s much to enjoy about this adventure, with its balancing of action and strategy, lavish settings, and some epic, large-scale battles. The combat is particularly thrilling, with its array of skills/weapons and in-depth class system to keep things interesting. The game blends a bit ofDark Souls,Monster Hunter, andThe Witcher, making for a majestic, gripping RPG.
5Overrated: Gears Of War 4
Much likeFH3, this 4th entry in the critically acclaimedGearsfranchise looks evenmoretepid now, as it’s been outdone by both its successorandpredecessors in various ways.
Gears 4changes things up to a degree, but not to the extent ofGears 5, which fleshes out the campaign with semi-sandbox areas and hosts fun new multiplayer options. At the same time, the areas thataretweaked tend to be a lateral move or even a stepbackfrom theGearsgames on 360. The multiplayer feels like “more of the same,” while the campaign is uninspired, even with the addition of the robotic “DeeBees” which fail to add much.
It a relatively solid shooter overall, but it’s a low point in this otherwise grand series;Judgmentnotwithstanding.
4Underrated: Halo Wars 2
The fact this is anRTSon a home console is enough to turn off large swaths of the gaming population. It’s understandable, as the micromanaging and detail in these games usually demand a keyboard and mouse setup. And though the interface isn’t perfect,HaloWars 2really is a console strategy romp done right.
RELATED:10 Best Launch Games For Xbox One, Ranked (According To Metacritic)
The game truly seems to do its best to make the interface as sharp and intuitive as possible, with convenient button shortcuts and clearly outlined controls. The content itself is robust and addictive, even when opting for the enthralling campaign. The multiplayer brings near-endless replayability with a slew of unique modes and customizable options.
3Overrated: Middle-Earth: Shadow Of War
We should first address the elephant in the room, which is the overabundance of microtransactions that thisLord of the Ringsromp is notorious for. And yes, that certainly doesn’t help matters.
Still, even when disregarding those, this is a mixed bag, which doesn’t do much to stand out from its 2014 predecessor. The game injects a few changes like additional ARPG elements and an expanded Nemesis System. Overall though,Shadow of Warfeels like a lukewarm retreading, with a familiar system ofAssassin’s Creed-style combat among barren open-worlds. It doesn’t exactly live up to the majesty theLord of the Ringsname implies.
2Underrated: Sunset Overdrive
It’s tough to pin down why this title was somewhat brushed aside, other than the fact that, being anearlyrelease for the Xbox One, it was quickly buried by various other big games down the line. Whatever the reason,Sunset Overdriveis an imaginative and fun action romp made by a studio that has the chops and name recognition, Insomniac Games.
The game fuses arcade-action and shooter mechanics withTony Hawk-style movement. You’ll be bouncing and grinding around a lively, vibrant world while blasting mutated fizzy-drink monsters with everything from freeze bombs to Teddy Bear launchers. Yes, this is just as enjoyably insane as it sounds.
1Overrated: Fallout 4
While it may look a bit more appealing when compared to the vacant wasteland that isFallout 76, the Xbox One’s debut of the mainlineFalloutseries tends to fall flat more often than not.Fallout 4does have the inventive new ability to construct settlements and build robots, but these feel chore-like compared to the typical action-laced combat.
At the same time, the areas where this sequeldoesring similar to its predecessors fail to really impress and lack the “wow” factor they possessed 10 or 15 years ago. With the prominent grey hues, bombed-out landscapes, and endless shooting,Fallout 4tends to feel more like a gaming cliche these days than anything else.
NEXT:10 Best Xbox One Games That Don’t Require An Internet Connection
