2019 had some absolutely massive video game releases. Death Stranding, Gears 5, and Pokemon Sword and Shield headlined their respective consoles, while Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, The Outer Worlds, and Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order were among the juggernaut multiplatform releases. Even games of yesteryear, such as the Resident Evil 2 and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening remakes, made waves with fans and critics alike.
While few would argue that any of these games were undeserving of the attention given to them, some great games flew under the radar. While such labeling is certainly a subjective exercise, it's worth giving attention to these great games that you may not have picked up yet. The Metacritic score listed will be the median rating given across all platforms and will be rounded up.
Updated by Madison Lennon on February 8, 2020: We're a couple of months into 2020 now and we thought it would be wise to revisit this list concerning the best games from 2019. There were a lot of fantastic games released last year, after all.
With so many coming out, it is easy to miss some that received less of a marketing push. Before some of the big 2020 video games release like Animal Crossing and The Last of Us 2, we thought it would be nice to add a few more hidden gems from last year to the list to tide you over until then.
15 Greedfall (72)
Greedfall has been dubbed one of the best new RPGs, and yet it still fell under the radar upon its release last year. But it has a sweeping world for you to explore that allows you to get deep into your character and their progression. You get to customize their appearance and build on their skills and abilities throughout your playthrough.
The game is set in a remote island filled with fantastic creatures, hidden treasure, and buried secrets. Your job will be to find companions and help out factions, and you'll need to become part of the world and help it evolve through whatever means necessary.
14 Pathologic 2 (69)
This survival horror game combines all the things we love about survival gaming with everything we love about roleplaying games. The town is dying from a deadly outbreak and it's your job to contain it, but doing so won't be easy considering the town's healer is dead and you're the only medic left standing while insanity rages with the remaining citizens.
It's a very atmospheric and haunting game that will leave you on edge the entire time you're playing. It's not quite like anything else you've ever played before in the horror genre.
13 Frostpunk (84)
Despite receiving great reviews from critics and fans alike, Frostpunk primarily flew under the radar last year. The game first released on PC in 2018 but then got a wider release on Xbox and Playstation last year. The game is about a frozen world where people are developing new steam technologies to survive in frigid conditions.
You'll be in charge of saving the survivors in the unrelenting ice age. But in addition to the challenge of making sure the conditions are bearable, you'll also have to create a system of justice and make difficult decisions to ensure humanity prevails. A DLC pack called The Last Autumn was recently released.
12 Minoria (73)
Minoria is an action platformer game by the studio Bombservice, who also created Momodora. While it's perhaps not the glossiest and smoothest game out there, it has a very interesting storyline involving witches, heresy, and a realm in dire need of saving.
It's a fantasy epic that derives its inspiration from Medieval England. Your job will be to stop an impending Witch War by fighting alongside Sisters Semilla and Fran, who serve as missionaries for the church. If you enjoyed Momodora, you should love Minoria as it's something of a spiritual successor.
11 Rebel Galaxy Outlaw (77)
Rebel Galaxy Outlaw is a prequel to the Rebel Galaxy games. It's a space Western action-adventure game. If you're a fan of the lawlessness of Star Wars then you should enjoy this game, and it will set you up for the Rebel Galaxy franchise if you decide you want to continue playing.
The game primarily involves a lot of dogfights in space, but you also get to do other activities like trading and in-depth customization of your ship. The graphics are great and there's even an in-game radio where you can listen to a variety of fitting tunes for your adventure.
10 Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night (81)
A spiritual successor to the famed Castlevania series, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night started as a Kickstarter project with promises to come to almost every major console and computer operating system. Some of the weaker platforms eventually were removed from the project due to difficulties porting or an end of the console's lifecycle, but players using the supported devices can hardly be disappointed with the game's release.
While the game is available on the Nintendo Switch, it is probably best to opt for a different platform when possible. The Switch version scored significantly lower than other versions at 74, while PC, PS4, and Xbox One all scored 83 or 84 on Metacritic.
9 What the Golf? (84)
Golf fans beware: this game might not be for you. What the Golf? is the perfect PC or phone game for people who do not understand golf, do not want to understand golf, and prefer hitting almost anything other than golf balls with golf clubs instead. Comedy and silliness reign in this entertaining "golf" experience.
While What the Golf? may or may not appeal to certain hardcore golf fanatics because of its ridiculous antics, the game is worth picking up as a great way to pass time or just to enjoy the creativity of the developers.
8 Devotion (85)
Devotion, a psychological horror, distinguishes itself from other games on this list by no longer being available to purchase. After players noticed that the Taiwanese developer had inserted an easter egg that disparaged a Chinese political leader, the studio removed the game from Steam amid review bombing from upset players.
While the game may no longer be purchasable, the game reviewed well and could be worth the effort of finding legitimate methods of playing. Since it has been almost a year since Devotion was delisted, it seems unlikely to return to Steam or any other platform.
7 Sunless Skies (86)
The sequel to Failbetter Games' Sunless Sea, Sunless Skies succeeds in world-building. Perhaps the area where its success shines brightest is in its written stories; with depth and cleverness infiltrating the writing, Sunless Skies creates an inviting atmosphere for a challenging world.
PC owners who find the gameplay difficulty excruciating may find these pains pailing in comparison with the top-notch writing. Sunless Skies's claim to fame is undoubtedly its atmosphere, and its writing is nothing but stellar. Any challenges playing this game will be assuaged for fans of storytelling.
6 Baba Is You (86)
Baba Is You is an extraordinary game for a somewhat niche market. While some players will get frustrated by the difficulty curve inherent in this genre, lovers of logic will enjoy this puzzling experience. PC and Switch gamers willing to test their mettle get challenged with unique puzzles based on shifting rules (which appear as tiles designed to be moved).
The logic puzzle game market may not be the same industry juggernaut as open-world role-playing games or online shooters, but this game is good enough that anyone not frustrated too easily should give Baba Is You a chance.
5 Asgard's Wrath (88)
VR games often get neglected by players for the high cost of entry for still developing technology. Paying hundreds of dollars for a VR headset and risking possible nausea can serve as a severe turnoff. While Asgard's Wrath cannot solve these problems for the budding platform, it can serve as one of the must-play options for trailblazing users.
Instead of offering one of the notoriously short experiences that infamously plague games specifically developed for VR, Asgard's Wrath has hours of content that will surely delight any RPG fan willing to take a risk with the improving technology.
4 Slay the Spire (88)
Slay the Spire brings together the unlikely combination of the deck building and roguelike genres. While it had already been available in early access on PC, the game was officially released on PC, Xbox One, Playstation 4, and the Switch in a staggered release schedule this year.
While some potential players may make the mistake of discounting this game because of its technical chops (the game is apparently getting future ports to phones next year), Slay the Spire is worth checking out for its innovation and its available nearly anywhere.
3 Unity of Command II (89)
Many gamers find war games to be overly complicated and difficult for beginners. Unity of Command II breaks this stereotype while maintaining its genre's core components. For longtime strategy players, there is deep gameplay to be explored and mastered. At the same time, Unity of Command II is one of the more accessible games of the war games genre.
While this style of gameplay is not for everyone, it isn't every day that such an approachable example of this genre's finest is released. Anyone willing to take a risk on this PC exclusive is unlikely to be disappointed.
2 Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (90)
A grueling Dark Souls style game by the aforementioned's studio, FromSoftware, Sekiro is certainly not for the faint of heart. While those who are easily discouraged by challenging gameplay may find this game to be a chore, patient gamers will enjoy a stellar experience as a ninja in medieval Japan during an actual historical period of social unrest.
Players can expect strong stealth elements, demanding boss battles, innovative mechanics, and no mercy as they explore this setting that is often ignored by blockbuster titles. Gamers brave enough for this challenge will certainly be rewarded with a game of the year caliber experience.
1 Disco Elysium (91)
This RPG may not be as massive as some other open-world experiences, but this indie title is worth playing by anyone who loves player freedom and great dialogue. The game, which stars a detective struggling with amnesia from too much alcohol, relies primarily on its conversation pieces to advance players through the world.
With PS4 and Xbox One ports planned for release sometime in 2020, more gamers will get the chance to play the isometric adventure. Considering the universal acclaim the game received, owners of these consoles should be excited.