Kentucky Route Zero: TV Edition (PS4)
Hidden deep in Kentucky is the mysterious Route Zero, and you have to navigate it. Operating as a point and click story unfolding over five episodes, Kentucky Route Zero is a surreal journey all about the personal growth of main character Conway and the people he meets as he travels. Critically acclaimed but not often spoken about, this is a pretty essential play for fans of indie games, puzzlers, and the obscure.
The Gardens Between (PS4)
Some games struggle to find a unique mechanic that keeps players invested in the gameplay. This is not the case with The Gardens Between. Controlling time to alter the world around two young boys, this heart-warming indie evokes strong emotion thanks to the beautiful backgrounds and the clever integration of story and puzzles.
Bendy and the Ink Machine (PS4)
There’s a gloriously eerie vibe to the abandoned Joey Drew animation studio, the sepia-toned setting of this highly rated indie. Bendy himself is a cartoon who has come to life and apparently murdered his way through the animators that created him. Equal parts wicked and cutesy, Bendy and the Ink Machine isn’t your usual survival-horror.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth (PS4)
JRPG fans that never watched the Digimon show may have overlooked Cyber Sleuth, but we beg of you, give it a chance. The game features wonderful turn-based combat and an engaging techno mystery that will appeal to JRPG players, regardless of whether they know what an Agumon is. There’s also a pretty good sequel in the form of Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker's Memory.
Gravity Rush 2 (PS4)
Gravity Rush 2 is surely one of Sony's most overlooked games in recent memory. One heck of a topsy-turvy adventure, players alter gravity to travel in any direction, or to increase the power of their attacks – an ingenious central mechanic. There's also a beautiful open world to explore which, no matter how many times you revisit it, always remains breathtaking. The online functionality is missing these days, but this remains a fun, stylish action adventure.
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Comments 51
Great article, Rebecca. It's probably not massively overlooked, but Everybody's Golf is a great game that I think a lot of people missed out on. Highly recommended.
Remnant from the ashes.darkest dungeon.resonance of fate.last remnant.battle chasers nightwar.all those are all that and a bag of chips.word up son
What a great list, thanks for this. I’ve only played OnRush and GR2 from this list and it is amazing that they didn’t attract more interest as both are very well done. I’m going to try Erica for sure and Plague Tale. Also Kentucky Route Zero probably and I like the look and sound of Tokyo Dark.
I’d like to add Salt and Sanctuary to this list! And maybe Rogue Legacy 😄
Some titles here I've had my eye on for a while.
So many games!
@ztpayne7. Yep salt and sanctuary is amazing.im still playing that games.especially as a mage.word up son
Absolutely fantastic list. Thanks, Rebecca.
Are there any decent third person randomly generated dungeon crawlers on ps4?
Great list! The Sexy Brutale and Gorogoa are two unique little gems that deserve a shout here from me as well.
@ztpayne7
I love Rogue Legacy. I just finished it again after the sequel announcement. I guess I should try Salt and Sanctuary.
Weirdly, I really want to play Bee Simulator. Also, shout out for Lovers In A Dangerous Spacetime
I'd add Ruiner too!
Not exactly overlooked, but I know a few gamers who haven't tried these;
Kingdom New Lands or Two Crowns but I think Two Crowns is much better.
Children of Morta
Dragons Dogma. It's a last gen game remastered but worth picking up if you haven't played it.
Not a Hero. Simple pixel art side scrolling shooter. It isn't very long but I got the deluxe edition on sale so it was worth it.
I love when yall highlight these smaller games that deserve it.
@Akimi do you like souls games? Salt and Sanctuary feels like an amazing 2D Dark Souls type.
In your review you gave “Bee simulator” 4 out of 10 - I’d hardly call that a “hidden gem”!
Arise a Simple Story.... Makes a grown man cry, give it a chance
Speaking of hidden gems, could you do a similar list for PS Now games?
From the list, I own:
Digimon Story
Erica (pre-Plus)
Gravity Rush 2
Kentucky Route Zero (thanks to the Push Square review)
Mad Max
Onrush
Just FYI, Zombie War 4 is on sale in the U.S. at the PSN store for $27.49.
If you are a Terminator fan, I'd suggest Terminator: Resistance as a good game to pick up on sale, I waited for a sale and was a compelling budget title.
Like others have said Salt & Sanctuary is brilliant as is Hollow Knight Voidheart Edition, Blasphemous.
Ni No Kuni 2. It's so much better than it looks.
@ztpayne7
Somewhat at least. I played quite a bit of the first Dark Souls, but I never beat it.
Wholeheartedly recommend Gravity Rush 2 to everyone.
I should give OnRush a try, it looks like fun.
I try to recommend Ys VIII to all my friends and never have any takers. Probably a top 3 game of all time for me, and I never see it get any love.
@andreoni79
Have you played redeemer?
I’d probably recommend The Silver Chair, the Zero Escape games, Iconoclasts and Clustertruck. This is a really good list though, some great games in here that definitely were a bit overlooked.
Operencia: stolen sun is great for people who like first person turn based dungeon crawler rpg's.
Very nice.
@Powerpellet No, since I ignored it even existed! XD
I checked some reviews but the high price and the lack of polish don't make it very appealing. Thanks for the tip!
To be fair Plague Tale has just sold over a million copies so it wasn't that well hidden or overlooked....
Plagues Tale I really enjoyed. Erica is on PS+ this month might take a look. OnRush is fun in short spells, shame we didn't get a DriveClub 2 I loved that game. Subnautica I picked up in the sales 👍 Good list gave me a few more to look at 😎
Interesting list and a good read, thanks 👍👍
Great to see Mad Max getting some love, I was so surprised by how good this game was back in the day, it had some of the best skies I have seen in a game, it just made the desert plains feel so huge.
I have seen it mentioned elsewhere in the comments, but more love for Darkest Dungeon would make me happy, what a great game. Also, for goodness sake people, all go and play Dead Cells RIGHT NOW!!
Nice to see A Plague Tale: Innocence on the list. One of my favorite games this gen.
So a game rated with 4 stars is a gem? Bee simulator was rated 4 stars by push square.
@JON22 proper third person? I didn't know there were any.
@Akimi it's a tough one. Sekiro is much better in my opinion. I would say it's much more difficult though.
@andreoni79
No I havent played it I was wondering what you thought of it. I saw the same reviews but couldnt find out if it was patched by now. It looks great if it works right. Made by the same people as Ruiner. Its been going on sale recently but if its still buggy then no.
I'm a bit confused here... PushSquare gave Bee Simulator a 4/10 in its own review....
https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/bee_simulator
Does that justify being classified as a underrated gem??? Mad Max totally I get, it was one of my most memorable games on Ps4 and criminally underlooked. (Same with Mafia III.)
@darklaw I agree wholeheartedly!
Just wanted to add Mother Russia Bleeds. Better than Streets of Rage 4 by a country mile in my humble opinion. If you love beat-em-ups, for my money it's the undisputed king of the genre since the PlayStation Network launched. Don't put too much stock in reviews for the game - it seems to me beat em ups in general get dogged on in official reviews...
I wouldn't call zombie army a gem , not a recycled repetitive zombie shooter
Would love to see a review for Tokyo Dark. It’s the only game of this list I haven’t heard of. I’ve played through most of these and they’re good recommendations. Actually started Olija last weekend, but I’ve not played any games since the weekend because I’ve been a bit scarred by recent tragic events. Was really enjoying what I played of Olija though. Truly exceeding my expectations. I wish Voice of Cards would’ve been in the Black Friday sale because I’ve been wanting to jump on it for a sale. Honestly need a relaxing distraction.
@playstation1995 I give a like for remnant, and I'd give one extra for "all that in a bag of chips", not heard that in years! Haha
Always loving Mad Max and happy to give it a shout!
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Didn't expect to find anything new here, but this feature is excellent. I can here the sound of my Buy list straining under the pressure!
Bought HotShot Racing as soon as it was out and the free DLC was always a bonus.
Meant to try Curse of the Dead Gods but never got round to it?
OnRush suffered because it was from Codemasters Evo (or the late, great Evolution Studios as we used to know and love!) and it was always going to be up against their previous releases and, against those masterpieces, it falls well short.
Codies should let them make "Storm Of Motors" and then we'll all be happy!
This is a fantastic list! Appreciate it much more than An article stating how great God of War and The last of us is for the millionth time.
I'd definitely add Sakura wars, 13 sentinels, mad max, shenmue trilogy, Furi, hyper light drifter, the swapper, deadly tower of monsters.
Add Xuan Yuan Sword 7 to that list. Bloody fantastic and not enough folks know about it.
Zombie driver immortal edition
X morph defense
Hong kong massacre
These three is awsome games you must check them out
I'll mention a few nobody has talked about.
Valfaris - Contra meets Slain
Transistor - best game SGG has made
Ender Lillies - solid Metroidvania
Unsighted - underrated indie
Galak Z - amazing. Period.
Pyre - if u likes Hades umm..
Death's Gambit - if u like S&S
Nex Machina - u should know this..
Pixel Ripped - VR
I haven't actually played it, but there's a game called Echo that looks fantastically unique and seems like it belongs on the list. Has anyone here played it?
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