5 Easily Overlooked Games You Should Own

It seems like between indie games and AAA blockbusters, every week we’ve got something new to play. This is a great thing on the grounds that the gaming industry (despite its issues) is thriving. However, it also means that you may have missed out on seeing (and playing) a game that could be your favorite. Let’s look at a few games that you could pick up — whether they’re on sale or not — that you might have overlooked.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

You might be thinking, “This is a Ubisoft game in a popular franchise, why would it be overlooked?” Well, behind what seems like a particularly standard Metroidvania exterior is a surprisingly well-crafted, tight, impeccably made experience. Everything from the combat to the exploration feels purposeful in its development and the dev team were clearly mindful of their development choices.

On top of the stellar craftsmanship that built the game, it should be noted that The Lost Crown is probably one of the more mechanically-accessible Metroidvanias that I’ve played in recent years. The game was built with accessibility in mind, which is something to be praised. Sadly, a sequel is likely out of the question since the development team was moved to other projects, but you’d be missing out if you ignored The Lost Crown’s masterful gameplay and narrative.

Vampire Therapist

From a AAA game to a lesser-known indie, we have Vampire Therapist. I’m not a visual novel fan in most cases, but Vampire Therapist sets itself apart in a lot of ways. It utilizes real mental health research to craft a narrative built around helping immortals heal from their cognitive distortions and pain. The cast (with voice acting included) is stellar, the storyline is fantastic, and there is new content being crafted regularly, including a DLC coming in 2025. I could gush about Vampire Therapist for days, but what am I, an artery? Go buy it!

Arcade Paradise

I’ve talked at length about Arcade Paradise already, but for a list of easily overlooked games this still takes the cake. The development team is still crafting new arcade machines for DLC, and there’s just something about managing a laundromat/arcade combo that is satisfying. I’ve gone back several times and started over just to enjoy the chill gameplay loop.

Games like Supermarket Simulator and TCG Card Shop Simulator match some of the simulation elements, but Arcade Paradise has a certain something that sets it apart. I’d love to see a sequel in the future, but until then I highly recommend playing Arcade Paradise at your earliest opportunity.

Stray Gods: A Roleplaying Musical

I’m a mythology buff, I always have been. Playing Stray Gods for the first time was a merge of multiple passions of mine. It’s strange that I’m recommending two visual novels on this list, but Stray Gods is much more than that. Crafted as a fully-realized interactive musical with choice changing the music that you play, Stray Gods is an impressive feat.

The story is something that stuck with me long after I finished playing, the music is well crafted, the acting is superb, and overall Stray Gods is a masterpiece. There was a recent Orpheus-themed DLC as well, so if you haven’t played Stray Gods yet, now is the perfect time.

The Thaumaturge

Set in an alternate-history 1900’s Poland, The Thaumaturge is a strange creature. The best way I can describe it is to say it’s what you’d get if Disco Elysium bred with Persona and had a dark-history lovechild. With a variety of endings, great combat, and lore-drenched environments, The Thaumaturge is a unique beast of its own design. It has a few warts here and there, but if you’re looking for a unique CRPG then this is one you shouldn’t miss.

There you have it, folks: Five games you shouldn’t overlook. I could have tossed around a dozen more, but this gives you an idea of some of the great gems from 2024. I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings, since the gaming industry is bringing more and more creative ideas to the table.