Most gaming anniversaries are spent with the big numbers, as in ten, twenty, and so on. Five year anniversaries are lesser celebrated occasions but are worthy milestones nonetheless as they build up to grand celebrations such as Mario last year. Now that the PS5 and Xbox Series X are here, it might be a good time to look back at some games that released within the past five years.
Some games didn't quite get the praise they deserved, whether that was perhaps due to a particular flaw or few sales due to a poor launch time. There are a number of reasons why good games get left in the dust, but their time to shine has come once more.
10 Alienation
Alienation came out in 2016 as a downloadable game. It’s best described as Halo meets Diablo in a twin-stick shooter. Players either go through levels alone or with friends in co-op, slaying hundreds of aliens all while collecting loot. It was relatively overlooked when it launched, but it did get decent reviews, so at least that still holds up for this game’s legacy.
9 Odin Sphere Leifthrasir
Technically, Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is older than five years old. The PS2 original launched in 2007 with this remaster coming out in 2016. Since it is more than just a remaster, which is to say mechanics were changed along with the upgrade in visuals, this game counts. Either way, the original and remaster were under appreciated 2D action RPGs with some of the best visuals in gaming history.
8 Final Fantasy Explorers
Final Fantasy Explorers was this series’ take on Monster Hunter. Released on the 3DS in 2016, players would create a character and job. They would then venture off into the great unknown, either alone or with friends, in a repeating loop. Slay enemies, get materials, go back to town to claim quest rewards or make gear, and repeat. Some of the mechanics and overall progression were archaic, but it was still an interesting twist for Final Fantasy and one that a sequel could improve upon.
7 Metroid: Samus Returns
The big gaming sensation of 2017 was the Switch, along with its launch game, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. This meant that any 3DS game that came after was met with questions about why that game wasn’t on the Switch instead.
That is to say, a lot of games, like this complete remake of the Game Boy Metroid, was overshadowed. It may not have been the new 2D Metroid fans wanted, but it was still good.
6 Fire Emblem Warriors
Fire Emblem Warriors was the second collaboration between Koei Tecmo and Nintendo. The first was for the Zelda series with Hyrule Warriors. Fire Emblem Warriors works as both a Fire Emblem game, in that it adds strategy to the mix along with weapon strengths, but it is also a hack and slash game that fans of Dynasty Warriors crave. It’s not as deep as the main Fire Emblem games, but this 2017 spinoff still works.
5 Hand Of Fate 2
Both Hand of Fate games put a little twist on the roguelike and card game genres. The path one lays out before themselves is done with cards gathered in the game, sort of like an Oregon Trail scenario. Once battles erupt, the game turns into an action RPG. It’s a simple pick-up-and-play game for any console. Despite good reviews, it didn’t smash any video game box offices, but it is still worth a look.
4 Starlink: Battle For Atlas
Starlink was overlooked because it entered a dead genre a little too late. That would be the Toys To Life genre. By 2018, Lego Dimensions, Disney Infinity, and Skylanders were no longer as big as they once wear. Starlink, then, was a lot to ask of gamers to care about. Plus, it was expensive. The game had a lot riding against it even though it was a fun starship shooter mixed a little with Destiny. Plus, the Switch version had Star Fox and pals.
3 Moss
Moss was one of those VR games that had to be played to be believed. Unfortunately, PSVR headsets were still expensive in 2018 so not a lot of people were invested enough to see this through. This adventure is like a Zelda game, starring a mouse in a top-down, diorama-like set of environments. It had some motion controls, but the character was primarily controlled with the normal PS4 controller.
2 Void Basterds
Cel-shaded games have been done a lot before this, and yet Void Basterds still managed to standout. The vibrant colors mixed with the flat, comic-book-like character cutouts was a cool visual choice.
It’s also a funny game wherein players are tasked with trying to break free from prison, one step at a time. It’s a roguelike shooter that is filled to the brim with weird scenarios, places, and weapons.
1 Astral Chain
This action game from the masters at PlatinumGames was like a police version of Persona. Characters could summon these guardians to aid them in battle which were literally chained to their bodies. It was one of those games that reviewed well in the press but didn’t translate as well into sales. Now it’s just another forgotten Switch game from 2019. Don’t worry Astral Chain, there will always be those that remember, even if that audience is small.