Each new year seems to bring an ever-larger host of new titles, good, bad and ugly alike, with 2019 being no exception. While many games got the attention and applause they deserved, there are plenty that may have slipped under the radar. It's often hard to quantify what makes a hidden gem, as the smaller a game's marketing budget, the more its success hinges on word of mouth, the effect of which can vary greatly from person to person.
It's certain that not one of the games on this list will be completely unheard of, but to discover even one great game that was missed in the year is an achievement in itself. So without further ado, here's our list of the games that may have slipped under the radar in 2019.
Disco Elysium
For a game to be both on this list and our Top 10 RPGs of 2019 list is something of a shame, as it means that a lot of people have missed out on a truly great title. Disco Elysium is something that is becoming increasingly rare in the sea of remakes and remasters: a truly unique concept that challenges traditional game-play assumptions. Despite its classic Isometric CRPG format, there is no combat in Disco Elysium, no party of colorful characters to recruit and level up.
The only character players ever control is a crusty, hungover and amnesiac detective, struggling to put his identity back together. The game is played mostly through skill checks and dialogue choices, either with suspects, witnesses, or the fractured aspects of the detective's own psyche, and features some of the finest and most intelligent writing this year. Players who were initially put off by its old-school style or text-heavy mechanics should really consider giving Disco Elysium a try.
Greedfall
From its first announcement and game-play reveal, Greedfall has been compared to the Dragon Age series, with some even going to so far as to call it the Dragon Age of 2019. This prejudgment, coupled with a lukewarm critical reception, may have caused many players to overlook Focus Home Interactive's attempt to match up in the RPG genre. This is a shame, as many of the minor flaws that plagued early reviews have since been fixed, leaving a deep RPG that pairs a popular game-play style with a new and exciting setting. Whether as a Warrior, Mage, or Technical (Rogue), players diving into Greedfall's colonial-themed adventure will find well-written characters, a compelling story, and classic third-person RPG combat.
Outer Wilds
Launching in the same year as Obsidian's much bigger, and much more hyped, Outer Worlds didn't do the similarly-named Outer Wilds any favors. For those players who managed to separate the two, however, there was a fascinating blend of exploration and sci-fi storytelling to discover, with a unique time-loop mechanic that reset the world every twenty-two minutes. The game's progression is based on knowledge, and the more a player knows, the deeper they're able to delve into its mysteries.
A Plague Tale: Innocence
Coming from Asobo Studio, a developer previously known for Pixar movie tie-in games, A Plague Tale: Innocence may be one the years' most unexpected successes. A unique and innovative stealth-horror, Plague Tale players take on the role of the wonderfully-rounded Amicia de Rune, as she and her brother avoid bloodthirsty guards and swarms of plague-rats across medieval France. With a well-written narrative that ties the whole game together, there's good reason to pick up A Plague Tale: Innocence even if its quiet launch and unexpected studio caused it to be overlooked the first time round.
Mordhau
First-person melee combat has always been a mechanic that games struggle with, often over or under-compensating for the sudden turns and lack of mobility. Combine that with the twitchy, high-speed chaos of a multiplayer PvP arena, and the result seems almost unworkable. Somehow though, Mordhau has managed to pull it off, building a brutal rock-paper-scissors of parries, thrusts and dodges that is as satisfying to use in a swirling brawl as it is in a one-on-one duel. Players who were unwilling to take a chance on a different style of multiplayer PvPÂ may have let Mordhau pass them by.
Observation
Developed by small-scale Scottish studio No Code, and published by Devolver Digital, Observation was one of the years' most intriguing games. Billed as an adventure-puzzle title, players of Observation take the role of SAM, the AI in charge of monitoring a multi-national space station in orbit above earth. Through SAM's fixed cameras and limited control of the station, players must discover the secret behind the crew's mysterious disappearance. Comparisons to 2017's Tacoma are inevitable, but Observation's realistic graphics, unique gameplay, and lo-fi tech help to give it its own voice.
Risk of Rain 2
Risk of Rain, the 2013 2D rogue-like from the tiny Hopoo Games studio was an indie success, quickly building a respectable cult following from its clean, simple style and addictive game-play. It's a bit of a surprise, therefore, that Risk of Rain 2 launched so quietly this year. The reason for this may be the radical transition from 2D side-scrolling to a third-person, 3D world, not a style that people usually associate with quality rogue-likes. For those able to look past this, however, Risk of Rain 2 is a challenging and addictive rogue-like experience which shines best when played in co-op.
Devotion
Developed by the Taiwanese studio Red Candle Games, Devotion was a slick first-person horror with a unique style and some truly unsettling visuals. Unfortunately the past tense is very applicable here as, unlike a lot of games on this list, the biggest reason that players may have overlooked Devotion this year is that it wasn't available for very long. After an Easter Egg was discovered that made fun of Chinese President Xi Jingping, the game was pulled from online stores and has yet to return. As a well-crafted and immersive horror that compares favorably to games like PT and Layers of Fear, here's hoping that Devotion will be back on digital shelves at some point in the future.
Void Bastards
The second uniquely-styled rogue-like to appear here, and to appear on our 15 Best Indie Games list too, Void Bastards is a first-person sci-fi shooter that revolves around looting spaceships, gathering scrap, and using strange weapons to defeat stranger enemies. Developed by former members of the Bioshock team, Void Bastards wears its Shock-games influence proudly on its sleeve, with perhaps the closest comparison being the genre-defining System Shock. Though players may have been put off by its comic-book styling, Void Bastards is a unique rogue-like experience that mixes endlessly-diverse level generation with tense shooting and resource management.
Judgement
With its vague title and quiet Western launch, many players could be forgiven for overlooking Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio's Judgement. Released in Japan back in 2017, though not for long, what isn't obvious at first glance is that Judgement is actually a spin-off of the extremely popular Yakuza series of games, and hits many of the same game-play beats. A third-person action-adventure title, Judgement sees players take control of lawyer-turned-detective Takayuki Yagami as he and his compatriots investigate a series of bodies discovered with gouged-out eyes.
Baba is You
A unique and endlessly-clever puzzle game from Finnish indie developer Arvi Teikari, Baba is You is one of 2019's quietest sleeper hits. In the game, players take control of a little creature called Baba, who navigates a world where rules are written on moveable tiles, which can be used to delete or rewrite their meaning. This simple combination of word-based and block-sliding puzzles drives the unique game-play, challenging players both on PC and Switch to think outside the box with each new level.
Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark
With its paper-doll character art and blocky, simplistic-looking levels, it would easy to mistake Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark for a cheaply-made strategy game with little new to offer. This would be a mistake, as the game's true strengths lay well-hidden beneath this rough exterior. As an indie tactical RPG from the new 6 Eyes Studio, Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark expands and improves on the formula of genre-classic Final Fantasy Tactics, offering a deep class system, well-designed levels with a myriad of tactical decisions, and a surprisingly engaging story.
Age of Wonders: Planetfall
With its first title being released way back in 1999, alongside such strategy titans as Homeworld and Command and Conquer, the Age of Wonders series boasts a long 4X pedigree. While the subsequent games in the series have all built on the original's success, they never broke from the traditional fantasy mold to try something new, until now. Age of Wonders: Planetfall is a sci-fi turn-based strategy with a deep hero customization system, interesting lore and addictive game-play. Built around a combination of grand strategy on a world-map, and fast turn-based combat when two of the game's many diverse armies meet in battle, Planetfall offers a classic 4X experience that no strategy gamer should miss out on.
Remnant: From the Ashes
Between Code Vein, the Surge 2, and even Jedi: Fallen Order, there was a host of Souls-like games released in 2019. Easily lost in the crowd was Remnant: From the Ashes, a third-person Souls-like set on a post-apocalyptic Earth besieged by supernatural horrors. While many of its mechanics were true to the Souls-like mold, Remnant distinguished itself through its firearm-based combat and emphasis on a full co-operative experience. The game's entire campaign was playable with up to two friends, and scales based on the number that have joined.
Telling Lies
Coming from the same developer as 2015's Her Story, Telling Lies is a narrative game described by its creator as a "desktop thriller". This means that the player experiences the game as if they were sitting at a computer in its world, viewing video logs, searching for keywords and attempting to piece together a complex mystery. There is an assumption in some parts of the gaming community that FMV, or full-motion video, games tend to lack the quality of their more traditional compatriots, or that they should be considered a separate form of media entirely. With its slick story-telling, professional actors, and innovative interface, Telling Lies helps to debunk these myths.
