5 Most Underrated Games of 2025

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2025 is shaping up to be an amazing year for video games. Highly anticipated titles like Hades 2, Hollow Knight: Silksong, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, and Death Stranding 2: On the Beach are already generating a lot of excitement and could all be contenders for Game of the Year. But beyond these big names, there are also some fantastic, lesser-known games that deserve attention.

When a game is called ‘underrated,’ it doesn’t mean nobody noticed it. It simply means the game was well-made, offered unique ideas, and created a memorable experience, but didn’t get the attention it deserved. These five games from 2025 stand out as particularly underrated – they were either lost in the shuffle of bigger releases or lacked strong promotion, and they deserve to be played.

5) Eternal Strands

Eternal Strands introduced some really interesting concepts, but it didn’t quite capture a wide audience. The game combines fast-paced action RPG combat with a magic system based on realistic physics. Players can control elements like fire, ice, wind, and gravity in unique and interactive ways. Instead of just learning enemy attack patterns, battles focus on thinking on your feet and finding clever solutions, particularly when facing many enemies at once.

Eternal Strands is visually striking, featuring beautifully painted environments and impressive lighting. The landscapes feel dynamic and interactive, with elements you can destroy, which makes you feel powerful and encourages you to try different things. The characters have a classic fantasy look but with a unique style, giving the game a warm and inviting feel.

The story centers around restoring a broken world, exploring what we owe to the future and the impact of our actions. It’s a heartfelt and engaging tale, not overly complicated, with a comforting and inviting atmosphere. The music is a perfect fit, featuring grand orchestral scores that make both discovering new areas and fighting feel more impactful.

Many people haven’t heard of Eternal Strands, and that’s mostly because it came out around the same time as several very popular RPGs, making it hard to stand out. The game encourages players to try different things, but this can be a bit confusing at first. However, players who persevered discovered a truly satisfying and unique game that deserved more recognition.

4) Avowed

As a huge RPG fan, I was so hyped for Avowed leading up to its release in 2025, but it felt like it didn’t quite get the love it deserved. Everyone had these massive expectations for a sprawling, endless world, and when the game turned out to be a more focused, streamlined experience, a lot of people seemed to write it off quickly. I think it got unfairly labeled as underrated because of that gap between what people wanted and what the game actually was. It wasn’t trying to be a genre-defining epic; it was a really well-made RPG with a strong sense of self. It’s been gaining more appreciation over time, which is great, but honestly, it still deserves way more recognition for knowing what it wanted to be and sticking to it.

Like a spiritual successor to Skyrim, Avowed focuses on player choice in both combat and exploration, but within smaller, more detailed areas. Combat – whether you prefer swords, magic, or ranged attacks – is quick and satisfying, and encourages you to try out different skills. Instead of a huge, sprawling world, Avowed aims for impactful, meaningful locations where everything feels deliberately placed.

This game takes place in the world of Eora, continuing the story begun in Pillars of Eternity. The game’s rich history is revealed through conversations and the environments themselves, making it worthwhile to explore and listen carefully. Characters are complex, and you’ll often face choices that aren’t simply right or wrong, which adds to the immersive role-playing experience. While it helps to have played Pillars of Eternity, it’s not required to enjoy this game.

Avowed’s graphics blend realistic details with a distinct art style, resulting in a world that feels both believable and magical. While the new look surprised some, it perfectly matches the game’s atmosphere and makes its unique perspective stand out. The music enhances this feeling with immersive tracks that change depending on what the player is doing, from battles to peaceful exploration.

3) Atomfall

Released in 2025, Atomfall is a uniquely compelling game that often gets overlooked when people talk about the year’s best titles. It combines the challenges of surviving in a harsh world with a story-rich exploration of an alternate history rooted in Cold War fears. Players will focus on managing resources, moving stealthily, and investigating their surroundings. When combat does happen, it’s carefully paced and requires strategic thinking. More often, the game rewards players for exploring and paying attention to details in the environment, encouraging them to uncover the story piece by piece.

The game’s art style focuses on creating a strong mood. You’ll explore deserted towns, crumbling buildings, and unsettling environments that build a persistent feeling of dread. The game relies heavily on lighting and sound to tell the story – sometimes, what isn’t happening is just as important as what is. The overall feel is distinctly British, and the world really reinforces that. While Atomfall shares similarities with Fallout, players were hoping for a more ambitious experience.

Atomfall excels at telling its story through mystery. Instead of giving players straightforward answers, it offers bits and pieces of information that they need to figure out. This puzzle-like approach is engaging and keeps players invested. The game’s atmosphere and music enhance this feeling, changing to match the mood.

Despite limited marketing, Atomfall created a good amount of buzz. However, it was released alongside bigger games, and players were eagerly awaiting the next Fallout title. Atomfall also deliberately didn’t try to appeal to everyone. It’s a slow-paced game with challenging combat and a subtle story. But for those willing to embrace its unique style, Atomfall delivers a surprisingly immersive experience, especially considering how overlooked it is.

2) South of Midnight

South of Midnight is a game that aims to create a strong atmosphere through its art style, visuals, and the player’s connection to the world. It’s heavily inspired by the stories and traditions of the American South, offering a unique setting rarely seen in games. The game weaves together myths, history, and a personal story about loss, family, and overcoming hardship. Music is also key, using a mix of blues, folk, and orchestral scores to enhance the emotional experience.

The game is played from a third-person perspective and focuses on fast-paced action, skillful movement, and using special abilities in combat. Battles are designed to feel like a dance, where precise timing and understanding the environment are key. You’ll also explore the world by solving puzzles that tie into the game’s rich folklore.

South of Midnight is a visually striking game. It features a unique art style that uses color, texture, and animation to make the American South feel like a dreamy, stop-motion film. The characters look like they’ve stepped out of folklore, and the game’s environments are beautifully designed, but also hint at danger.

Although critics loved the game, it didn’t become very popular, probably because of its unique world and low-key advertising. The story was excellent, but the gameplay wasn’t as strong. Players who experienced it often say it was one of the most moving games of 2025, which makes its limited success all the more disappointing.

1) The Alters

In 2025, The Alters was a hidden gem – a seriously underrated game with a truly original idea. It combines the challenge of survival games with a story that experiments with how narratives work. Players have to manage different versions of their character, each one developed by the choices they make. It was a game that really made you think and feel, delving into complex themes like who we are, the things we regret, and how our decisions impact our lives – something very few games try to do.

The game blends building and managing your base with exploring the world and making tough choices. You’ll encounter diverse characters, each with their own abilities and quirks, and you’ll need to find a balance between getting things done and dealing with the emotional impact of your actions. There aren’t easy answers, and setbacks can feel deeply personal, especially considering the different versions of yourself you encounter. Ultimately, every choice has far-reaching consequences that affect you in multiple ways.

The Alters features a realistic science fiction style, with bleak settings and understated visuals that emphasize the feeling of being alone. Characters move and express themselves naturally, making conversations feel believable. The game also cleverly switches between different viewpoints – sometimes showing you an overview like in an isometric game, and other times letting you see things from a closer, third-person perspective – depending on what you do.

Many people haven’t fully appreciated this game because it’s quite complex. It’s not about quick wins or flashy moments; it demands patience and careful planning. But for players who are willing to invest the time, The Alters is a deeply engaging and unforgettable experience, and it deserves to be much more well-known.

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2025-12-28 18:18