The 10 Most Overlooked Single Player Games

10 Most Overlooked Single Player Games

Welcome to MojoPlays and with so many great games releasing every year, there’s bound to be some that don’t get nearly the attention they deserve. Until now!

“Darksiders” Series (2012-19)

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and while the Darksiders series initially just seemed like a more violent Legend of Zelda clone, it quickly carved out its own identity with fans. Building its own deep mythological lore based around the biblical apocalypse and the four horsemen, the story of War and the other Horsemen battling against the forces of heaven and hell to clear War’s name for kickstarting the end of the world became far more engaging than it initially seemed. With solid combat, inventive puzzles, an impressive voice cast, as well as each game managing to feel distinct with its own mechanics and playstyles, it’s a shame the Darksiders series has had such a disappointing sales record to the point where fans continue to wonder if the series will be able to resurrect itself once again. Here’s hoping the promised upcoming entry will finally give the Horsemen the reckoning they deserve.

“Binary Domain” (2012)

There was no shortage of 3rd person shooters in the mid-2000s. So many in fact that some of the best ones got overlooked by higher profile titles. Such is the case of Binary Domain, a futuristic 3rd person shooter from the creators of the Yakuza series. One of the biggest innovations that set Binary Domain apart from its ilk was its “Consequence System”. Not only did this system affect the way your squad would react and treat you depending on your actions during gameplay, but it could also affect the storyline itself, which is something rarely seen outside of player-choice driven RPGs. Players were also able to upgrade and customize not only their skills but their companions as well, which is crucial to survive encounters with the game’s adaptive AI. Sadly, Binary Domain was simply ahead of its time as the game would have fit right in with nearly every modern title incorporating RPG elements.

“Alpha Protocol” (2010)

These days Obsidian is known as one of the primary rivals to Bethesda as the premiere developer of western RPGs, but they had an uphill battle to reach that point in the early and mid-2000s. One of their few titles that wasn’t already an existing property, Alpha Protocol attempted to apply the player choice driven narrative to the spy genre, but despite an engaging story, world and characters, the game was held back by numerous technical issues and bugs at launch. Attempting to give players the chance to inhabit the espionage world of Jason Bourne was crippled by clunky combat, shoddy cover system and abysmal enemy AI. Everything else about the game was as solid as you’d expect, particularly the customization and conversation system, which was designed to force players to react quickly, just as they would in real life scenarios. The game has developed a cult following but is still widely overlooked in Obsidian’s portfolio.

“Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands” (2010)

Despite a widely acclaimed trilogy during the PS2 era, Ubisoft’s return to the beloved Prince of those titles was overlooked due in large part to Ubisoft’s other major franchise Assassin’s Creed, despite being one of the best entries in the Prince’s catalog of adventures. Set canonically between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, in addition to the Prince’s time manipulation powers, he was also granted control over elements such as water, earth and wind. Combat was also greatly improved with the Prince now being able to take on larger groups of enemies at once. The puzzles, a staple of the franchise, were some of the best in the series, with the final level a true gauntlet of both the Prince and the player’s abilities. However, despite being a true return to form for the series, The Forgotten Sands has been almost completely forgotten to time along with the entire franchise.

“Vanquish” (2010)

The poster child of cult classics and yet another Platinum Games gem that is unfairly overlooked, Vanquish was the biggest shot of adrenaline to action video games since the original Devil May Cry. The game’s over-the-top action was only fueled by the protagonist’s power suit which allowed him to zip around the battlefield at lightning speed and even slow time to dodge incoming attacks, make precision shots, and even combine all elements at once to become an unstoppable force of nature. The plot itself and characters were as equally over-the-top as the gameplay, bordering on Br-movie cheese, but anyone who played Vanquish was only there for the slick combat and power suit abilities anyways. Paired with the game’s relatively short length made for the ultimate summer blockbuster encounter that could be beaten in an afternoon. We’re here for a good time, not for a long time.

“Sunset Overdrive” (2014)

Another entry that should have been a smash hit especially for a brand-new console, Sunset Overdrive was not only one of the most original games of the 8th generation, but also one of Insomniac’s best titles, full stop. Sunset Overdrive was the culmination of everything Insomniac was known for over the years, solid combat with inventive weaponry, a hilarious and ludicrous plot, and most importantly, one of the best and most unique movement systems in all of gaming. Combining elements of their Ratchet and Clank titles with the many bizarre weapons the player can acquire, the game forced players to remain constantly on the move with a world and levels meticulously designed to make the most out of their momentum. With these mechanics and the talent behind the game Sunset Overdrive should have been a megahit in Insomniac’s catalog but was unfortunately exclusive to the Xbox One which fumbled their launch and never recovered.

“Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning” (2012)

Kingdoms of Amalur is what happens when you manage to assemble a dream team but still end up coming up short. With big names such as Todd McFarlane as character designer and a massive almost MMO-scale fantasy world for players to explore, Amalur had all the ingredients to rival even the almighty Elder Scrolls for the fantasy RPG crown. The game’s art style, world design and lore, as well as its open-ended gameplay and combat which allowed players to tailor their playstyle were all widely praised, the overuse of fantasy tropes were criticized. Kingdoms of Amalur was planned as the launching pad for a series of games including a true MMO as well as numerous sequels, but unfortunately, the game failed to turn a profit and ultimately led to the studio’s closure shortly after release. Thankfully there was a remastered release which any fan of fantasy RPGs should absolutely check out.

“Enslaved: Odyssey to the West” (2010)

The end of the world is fertile ground for video games and while we’ve certainly had no shortage of apocalyptic adventures, Enslaved: Odyssey to the West, a reimagining of the classic Chinese tale, remains an underrated gem. Developed by Ninja Theory, Enslaved gave players a surprisingly bright and overgrown look at the end of humanity as the world had been reclaimed by nature and overrun by robots. With motion capture maestro Andy Serkis bringing Monkey to life, Enslaved made the most out of the advanced motion capture tech in video games and crafted a story with two characters that immediately endeared themselves to players as their journey continued. Although exploration was traditionally linear, the world and environments were wonderfully detailed, and the combat was appropriately impactful, and the use of Trip’s abilities added additional strategy to encounters. As the genre was growing increasingly darker, Enslaved offered an entertaining alternative to the dreary apocalyptic scenario.

“Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy” (2004)

The PS2 era was one of the greatest generations for developers to get experimental with new mechanics and gameplay. Psi-Ops managed to differentiate itself from other 3rd person shooters with its use of telekinetic abilities and physics. With these mechanics, players were let loose in environments that rewarded experimentation and thinking outside of the box. Players could grab enemies and turn them into ragdolls or grab objects from the arena to use as cover or makeshift weaponry. They were also able to hijack enemies and take control or use their powers and cause them to spontaneously burst into flames. These powers were also crucial in solving the game’s numerous environmental puzzles. The narrative tying all this gameplay goodness together might have been as ridiculous as the powers themselves, and unfortunately ended on an unresolved cliffhanger but the gameplay more than made up for these shortcomings.

“Singularity” (2010)

Gritty first-person shooters were all the rage in the mid-2000s, making it difficult for anything to stand out from the crowd, but Singularity’s unique use of time bending mechanics managed to do just that. Dropping players onto an island of failed experiments and giving them control over time itself, players could speed up or rewind an object's timeline, either causing it to decay or rebuild, which was critical for solving the game’s many environmental puzzles. This mechanic was also useful in the game’s combat too. Players could not only rebuild cover or grab objects and hurl them across the environment, but also rewind or fast forward an enemy’s timeline and turn them to dust or piles of fleshy goo. The wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey storyline managed to tell a surprisingly compelling and well-designed narrative designed around the time manipulation device and the effects it had on the island with a satisfying conclusion determined by the player.

Which game do you feel has been criminally overlooked? Share your favorites in the comments.