The Problem with Too Many Games
I spend a lot of time looking for games.
It's part of my routine now. I check Steam discovery queues. I scroll through festival demos. I read threads on forums I've been visiting for years. I keep a notebook with names of games I want to try.
And I keep finding games that deserved better.
They're not bad games. They're not unfinished. They're not broken. They're just... quiet. They launched without fanfare. They got a few reviews and then faded away.
Some of them launched in the wrong week. Some of them had bad marketing. Some of them just didn't catch a break.
This list is for those games. Nine indie games from the last 18 months that deserved better.
Why These Games
I picked these games for a reason.
They're all games I played and enjoyed. They're all games I think other people would enjoy too. They're all games that got overlooked.
None of them are perfect. Some of them are rough around the edges. Some of them are short. Some of them are weird. But they're all worth your time.
I've included games from different genres, different styles, and different budgets. Some are narrative-focused. Some are mechanics-focused. Some are just... strange.
The only thing they have in common is that they deserved better than the attention they got.
1. A Quiet Puzzle Game with No Marketing
Title: Dordogne (2023)
Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Reviews at time of writing: ~600
Dordogne is a hand-painted puzzle game set in the French countryside. You play as a woman returning to her grandmother's house, uncovering memories and solving gentle puzzles.
The art is stunning. The music is beautiful. The puzzles are clever but not frustrating. The story is warm and reflective.
Why did it get buried? It launched in June 2023, a month full of big releases. It had a marketing budget, but it couldn't compete with the noise. It's a quiet game in a loud season.
Why it's worth your time: Dordogne is beautiful, thoughtful, and short. You can finish it in a weekend. It's the kind of game that stays with you.
2. A Clever Roguelike That Was Too Subtle
Title: Cobalt Core (2023)
Platforms: PC
Reviews at time of writing: ~400
Cobalt Core is a deck-building roguelike with a twist. You build a ship, assemble a crew, and fight battles in space. The combat is turn-based and strategic. The characters are charming and well-written.
The game is smart. The combat is satisfying. The progression is rewarding.
Why did it get buried? It launched in November 2023, right in the middle of the AAA release season. It got good reviews but got buried under the noise.
Why it's worth your time: Cobalt Core is polished and clever. The combat is addictive. The characters are memorable. If you like Slay the Spire, you'll like this.
3. A Weird, Wonderful Walking Simulator
Title: Europa (2023)
Platforms: PC
Reviews at time of writing: ~300
Europa is a walking simulator set on a terraformed moon. You glide through the world, explore ruins, and uncover a story about loss and hope.
The movement is the game's secret weapon. You glide, slide, and float through the environment. It feels like a dream.
Why did it get buried? It launched in early 2023 with minimal marketing. The developer had a small following, but the game never broke through.
Why it's worth your time: Europa is short, beautiful, and meditative. It's the kind of game you play when you want to feel something.
4. A Short Narrative Game About Grief
Title: A Space for the Unbound (2023)
Platforms: PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One
Reviews at time of writing: ~700
A Space for the Unbound is a narrative game set in 1990s Indonesia. You play as a young woman who can dive into people's minds. The game is about friendship, grief, and growing up.
The story is emotional. The visuals are gorgeous. The puzzles are simple but effective.
Why did it get buried? It launched in early 2023 with good reviews but limited marketing. It's a narrative game in a crowded genre.
Why it's worth your time: A Space for the Unbound is a beautiful, emotional experience. The story stuck with me for weeks.
5. A Physics Puzzle Game with a Twist
Title: Paper Trail (2024)
Platforms: PC, mobile
Reviews at time of writing: ~200
Paper Trail is a puzzle game where you fold paper to solve puzzles. You control a character who walks through folded environments. The mechanics are simple but clever.
The art is hand-drawn and beautiful. The puzzles are satisfying. The game is short but sweet.
Why did it get buried? It launched in early 2024 with minimal marketing. It's a niche game in a niche genre.
Why it's worth your time: Paper Trail is clever, creative, and unique. It's a puzzle game that feels fresh.
6. A Cozy Game That Isn't Just Cozy
Title: Little Kitty, Big City (2024)
Platforms: PC, Switch, Xbox
Reviews at time of writing: ~500
Little Kitty, Big City is a game about a cat in a city. You explore, cause chaos, and solve quests. It's cute, funny, and charming.
But it's also smart. The game has depth. The quests are creative. The world is full of secrets.
Why did it get buried? It launched in May 2024, right around the same time as a bunch of bigger games. It got good reviews but got lost in the noise.
Why it's worth your time: Little Kitty, Big City is fun, smart, and polished. It's a cozy game with substance.
7. A Horror Game That Was Sold Wrong
Title: Chasing the Ghosts (2024)
Platforms: PC
Reviews at time of writing: ~150
Chasing the Ghosts is a short horror game about a detective investigating a disappearance. It's atmospheric, tense, and smart.
The problem? It was marketed as a jump-scare horror game. It's not. It's a slow-burn atmospheric horror game. The marketing didn't match the product.
Why did it get buried? It launched with the wrong marketing. People expected one thing and got another. The reviews were good, but the word-of-mouth was confused.
Why it's worth your time: Chasing the Ghosts is a smart, atmospheric horror game. If you like slow-burn horror, you'll like this.
8. A Platformer with Heart
Title: Penny's Big Breakaway (2024)
Platforms: PC, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series
Reviews at time of writing: ~400
Penny's Big Breakaway is a 3D platformer with a yo-yo mechanic. You swing, bounce, and trick your way through colorful levels.
The game is fun, polished, and charming. It feels like a 90s platformer without the jank.
Why did it get buried? It launched in early 2024 with good reviews but limited marketing. It's a platformer in a genre that's not as popular as it used to be.
Why it's worth your time: Penny's Big Breakaway is a polished, fun platformer. It's the kind of game that makes you smile.
9. A Short RPG with a Big Heart
Title: Moonlit Path (2024)
Platforms: PC
Reviews at time of writing: ~250
Moonlit Path is a short RPG about a young woman traveling through a mysterious forest. It's about loss, healing, and finding your way home.
The game is short—about 4-5 hours. The combat is simple. The story is emotional.
Why did it get buried? It launched in early 2024 with minimal marketing. It's a short RPG in a genre where people expect long games.
Why it's worth your time: Moonlit Path is emotional, thoughtful, and short. It's the kind of game you can finish in a weekend and remember for weeks.
What These Games Teach Us
These nine games teach us something.
They're all good. They're all interesting. They're all worth your time. And they all got buried.
Some were launched at the wrong time. Some had bad marketing. Some just didn't catch a break.
But they're all worth playing. And they're all worth mentioning.
The Bottom Line
If you're tired of the same big games, try these.
They're not perfect. They're not masterpieces. But they're good, interesting, and overlooked.
This is the kind of game that needs someone to mention it.
Not a masterpiece. Still worth your time.
Not everything loud is worth your time. Not everything quiet should be missed.
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