Great Forgotten Video Games that Deserved More Attention

Outcast

Outcast is the greatest open-world action-adventure game almost no one knows about. What a shame!

The game puts you in the shoes of an ex-Navy Seal named Cutter Slade. You know, he’s the wise-cracking 90s action hero with a pretty stupid, but of course very memorable name. He gets a chance to save not one, but two worlds at once. An experiment gone wrong poses a threat to the existence of Earth and Cutter ends up on the planet of Adelpha where he is the propecied Ulukai, a savior of the people known as the talan.

The game lets you explore these lands pretty much freely. You complete quests, collect new weapons and gadgets, fight enemy soldiers and hostile creatures, gather resources necessary to craft more ammo, and work towards undermining the rule of the evil Fae Rhan. It’s a fantastic adventure. Couple that with an incredible orchestral soundtrack by Lennie Moore and you’re in for a wild, wild ride.

Outcast is available in the 1.1 version with various tweaks to make the game more playable on modern setups and as a remake titled Outcast: Second Contact . A sequel titled Outcast 2: A New Beginning, is in development.

Outcast 1.1

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Outcast - Second Contact

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Anachronox

Video game developers in the late 90s and early 2000s had a knack for creating unusual stuff. Anachronox is a part of that trend.

Gameplay-wise, Anachronox draws a lot of inspiration from Japanese RPGs, as it’s primarily turn-based. The whole thing takes place in a 3D environment and its theme is science fiction, inspired by cyberpunk and film noir. It’s all infused with a healthy dose of unorthodox humor.

The game is set on the titular planet of Anachronox where you play as Sylvester “Sly Boots” Bucelli, a former private investigator. He’s your typical overconfident, wise-cracking and brash hero. Over the course of the game you’ll be joined by a diverse cast of characters with unique personalities and abilities. In general, it’s one of the most overlooked oldies that nevertheless packs unique gameplay and is an amazing adventure that you might really enjoy.

Anachronox

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Sacrifice

Sacrifice is set in a fantasy world and follows the journey of a wizard who must save his world from destruction.

Sacrifice features various creatures that can be summoned, each with its strengths and weaknesses, and players must choose wisely to achieve their goals. The creatures can be upgraded and customized.

The combination of action, strategy, and customization make Sacrifice a truly unique and challenging game that deserves more recognition.

Original War

Original War is a real-time tactics and strategy game set in a science fiction world where players control a team of soldiers and scientists on a mission to collect resources and secure territory.

Players control a team of soldiers and scientists and must navigate through a science fiction world, collecting resources and securing territory. The game combines real-time action and base-building, challenging players to manage resources, build structures, and make strategic decisions to succeed.

The game’s real-time nature adds an extra layer of challenge, as players must make quick decisions and react to changing conditions on the battlefield.

Original War

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Giants: Citizen Kabuto

Giants: Citizen Kabuto is set in a fantastical world, where players control one of three unique characters, each with their abilities and objectives.

Giants: Citizen Kabuto is a third-person action-strategy game where players must navigate a fantastical world filled with mythical creatures, aliens, and otherworldly landscapes.

The game features action and strategy elements, challenging players to make quick decisions and react to changing conditions on the battlefield.

Scrapland

In Scrapland players control D-Tritus, a scavenger who is tasked with solving a series of mysterious events. The game features a large and detailed open world, filled with a wide range of characters and vehicles.

Scrapland is a third-person action-adventure game with an immersive gameplay experience. Players must use their skills and wits to overcome obstacles and enemies and can choose from many weapons and gadgets to aid in their quest.

Innovative character transformation mechanic, allows players to take on the form of various non-playable characters. Despite its commercial shortcomings, Scrapland remains a highly regarded title among fans of the genre and is certainly underrated by the crowd.

Hype: The Time Quest

Hype: The Time Quest follows the story of Hype, a young hero on a quest to save his kingdom by traveling through time. The game features an epic storyline, challenging puzzles, and memorable characters. Hype: The Time Quest was a standout game of the 90s, garnering critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase.

The gameplay in Hype: The Time Quest focuses on puzzle-solving, exploration, and interaction with characters in the game world. Players must use Hype’s abilities and the items he collects to overcome obstacles and progress through the game.

Players explore the game’s environments, search for clues and items, and talk to characters to gather information and advance the story.

Two Worlds & Two Worlds 2

Two Worlds and Two Worlds 2 follow the story of a hero in a large open world filled with quests, enemies, and loot. Both games offer single-player and multiplayer modes, with Two Worlds 2 introducing new features such as improved combat and magic systems. Two Worlds and Two Worlds 2 are regarded as standout games in the action RPG genre of the 2000s.

Two Worlds and Two Worlds 2, despite being forgotten games, offer engaging and satisfying gameplay experiences for fans of the action RPG genre. Combat in the game is fast-paced and satisfying, with players able to engage in melee and ranged combat using various weapons and magic spells.

Two Worlds 2 builds upon the gameplay of its predecessor with improved mechanics, deeper crafting and magic systems, and a more immersive game world.

Daikatana

Daikatana is now considered an unknown title in the gaming world. Despite its troubled development and mixed reception, Daikatana remains an interesting footnote in the history of first-person shooters and is a title worth returning to.

Daikatana includes a single-player campaign and multiplayer modes, including deathmatch, capture the flag, and a cooperative mode. The game’s multiplayer modes offer fast-paced and competitive gameplay, challenging players to outwit and outshoot their opponents.

Daikatana

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The Bizarre Adventures of Woodruff and the Schnibble

The Bizarre Adventures of Woodruff and the Schnibble is a point-and-click adventure game following the story of a character named Woodruff as he sets out on a journey to save his world from a mysterious evil force.

The game challenges players to solve puzzles and interact with a quirky cast of characters. It features hand-drawn graphics and a whimsical soundtrack that set the stage for Woodruff’s journey.

Players must navigate through various environments, collect items, and use them to solve puzzles and progress through the story. The game’s puzzle design is challenging but fair, making it a rewarding experience for fans of the point-and-click genre.

MDK & MDK 2

MDK & MDK 2 are action video games set in a quirky and comedic world and follow the adventures of Kurt Hectic and his companions, earning critical acclaim for their unique setting and sense of humour.

MDK & MDK 2 are fast-paced third-person shooter games that offer a unique blend of platforming and puzzle-solving. Players navigate through diverse environments and complete missions, using various weapons and tools to defeat enemies.

The games feature challenging and rewarding gameplay, with a focus on exploration, creative problem-solving, and combat.

Temple of the Elemental Evil

Temple of the Elemental Evil is a turn-based role-playing game set in the fantasy world of Greyhawk, where players take on the role of a group of adventurers who must explore the eponymous temple where a dangerous cult practices dark magic.

In Temple of the Elemental Evil players create and control a group of adventurers, exploring the world and engaging in combat, using various skills, spells, and weapons to defeat enemies.

The game features a deep and engaging storyline, filled with challenging quests and tactical battles, that will keep players entertained for hours on end.

Temple of the Elemental Evil

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Turok & Turok 2

Turok and Turok 2 are first-person shooters released in the late 1990s and they take players on a thrilling journey through dangerous environments filled with challenging missions and fearsome enemies.

Gameplay in Turok and Turok 2 features fast-paced first-person shooter action, where players navigate through diverse environments while fighting against enemies using weapons and abilities.

The games also feature stealth elements, where players decide to avoid combat or use stealth to take out enemies quietly.

Summoner

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Summoner

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Freedom Fighters

Freedom Fighters is a third-person action-adventure game where players take on the role of a resistance fighter battling against an invading army in a fictional version of 1980s New York City.

Freedom Fighters features squad-based combat. Players control a character named Chris Stone and lead a team of up to 12 AI-controlled soldiers in the battle against the enemy army.

The game includes various missions that require players to complete objectives such as freeing captive resistance fighters, capturing strategic points, and destroying enemy facilities.

Summoner

Summoner is a fantasy action role-playing game that takes place in a world where players assume the role of a powerful summoner with the ability to call forth creatures to fight in battles.

Summoner provides a mixture of exploration, combat, and magic. Players take on the role of Joseph, a young summoner with the ability to call forth creatures to fight in battles, and must journey across the land of Medeva to defeat the evil that threatens the world.

Players can upgrade their character’s skills and abilities, and summon various creatures to aid them in battle.

Summoner

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Project Nomads

Project Nomads is a real-time strategy game set in a sci-fi world where players control floating islands and must manage resources and defend against enemies to ensure the survival of their civilization.

Project Nomads tasks players with managing floating islands and defending against enemies. Players must gather resources, build structures, and manage their civilization’s economy to ensure its survival.

The game features both single-player and multiplayer modes, as well as a dynamic weather system that can affect gameplay and resource availability.

BloodRayne

BloodRayne is a hack-and-slash action game set in a supernatural world that follows the adventures of dhampir Rayne as she battles against vampires, demons, and other enemies.

BloodRayne is a third-person game where players control dhampir Rayne and use her enhanced strength, agility, and weapons to defeat many enemies, including vampires, demons, and other supernatural creatures.

The game also features elements of platforming, puzzle-solving, and exploration, as players must navigate through levels.

BloodRayne

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BloodRayne 2

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BloodRayne: Terminal Cut

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