10 Most Underrated PC Video Games

by Cynthia Keever

Video games are a fantastic way to pass time. When you’re having a sleepover with your friends, or sitting by yourself with a computer and a controller, video games are a great way to have fun! I’m here to give you a list of the most underrated single-player video games of all time. We’ll be counting down ten of the most underrated video games of all different genres, all for the PC!  

10. Richard & Alice

Richard & Alice is an independent point-and-click adventure game, developed and published by Owl Cave in February of 2013. The game centers on two characters, Richard and Alice, who are located in an unusual prison for most of the game. The setting is an unspecified future time, in which unexpected weather issues have covered most of the planet in snow and ice. The government were not planned for this catastrophe, which led to the overall fall of society. The player alternates throughout the game, from the present, where they play Richard, to the past where they play Alice. Metacritic reviewed the game as a 3.5/5, while Jay is games rated it at a  4.2/ 5. For when you’re in the mood for an immersive story, or want to do a backseat gaming episode with a friend, Richard & Alice is a wonderful rollercoaster for anybody to play!

9. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a horror-adventure game that was created by an independent studio; The Astronauts. The game has you play as a paranormal investigator named Paul Prospero. When Paul receives a fan letter from 12-year-old Ethan Carter, he is inspired to visit Ethan’s hometown in Wisconsin. Upon arrival to the town of Red Creek Valley, Prospero begins to uncover paranormal phenomena, and some chilling evidence of a recent violence in the tiny village. The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a game that has the player on the edge of their seat at all times, preparing for the uncovering of the mystery of Red Creek Valley. Metacritic reviewed the game as a 4/5 , while IGN.com gave the game an 8.5/10. If you’re the kind of person who loves a good mystery, or who loves to get immersed into a story, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter is a great game to play by yourself!

8. Ib

Ib is a puzzle-adventure game developed by the Japanese artist kouri. In the game, you play nine-year-old Ib, who is taken to an art museum by her mother and father. Ib wanders off, with her parents’ permission, and discovers that she can enter a painting of the sea. When she does so, she enters an alien, painted world. Ib eventually finds another human, Garry, and the two go on a quest to exit the odd world within a painting. Metacritic reviewed the game as an 8.5/10. If you’re looking for a psychological-horror game that immerses you into another world, then Ib is the game to play, whether you’re by yourself or with a backseat gamer!

7. Always Sometimes Monsters

Always Sometimes Monsters is a narrative role-playing game that was created by Justin Amirkhani and Jake Reardon, developed by Vagabond Dog, and published by Devolver Digital. The character you play is an author who receives notice that their love interest is marrying somebody else across the country. The player then has to earn the money to travel across country and intercept the wedding to earn the love of your life back. The game is a role-playing game, in which you can pick who you play and who your character falls in love with. Throughout the game, the player can interact with NPC’s, choose their dialogue, and choose their path throughout 30 in-game days. Metacritic reviewed the game as a 3.5/5. If you’re in the mood for a role-playing story that has you feeling like you’re inside the game, then Always Sometimes Monsters is a great pick for a game night!

6.  The Crooked Man

The Crooked Man is a supernatural horror game made by Uri, who is a Japanese RPG game maker. During the course of the game, you play David Hoover, who recently bought an apartment with the help of his two friends. When David begins experiencing a haunting in his new apartment, he goes on a quest to find the previous owner. Throughout his quest, David follows notes that the previous owner left, and meets people who have similar problems to his own. Jay is games gave the The Crooked Man a 4.3 /5. The Crooked Man is based on an old nursery rhyme called There Was a Crooked Man. If you’re the kind of person who enjoys being scared, and loves immersing yourself into a story, then The Crooked Man is the ideal game for you!

5. Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons

Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a adventure game developed by Starbreeze Studios and published by 505 Games. The game consists of an in depth story, in which two brothers mourn their mother, while also trying to help their father, who has a terrible illness. The boys are told by the town doctor to travel to the Tree of Life, where they can retrieve some water, which will heal their father. The boys embark on a journey together, in which they beat many enemies, make many friends, and help as many people as they can. One aspect that makes Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons unique, is the fact that in game dialogue is spoken with a fictional language, which means that the story is conveyed by actions, gestures and expressions. Some reviews of the game include Metacritic, who rated the game a 4.5/5, and IGN.com, who rated it 8.2/10. If you’re looking for a game with emotion and adventure, then Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons is a perfect game for you!

4. Mad Father

Mad Father is a freeware survival horror role-playing puzzle game, developed by the Japanese developer Sen and published by Miscreant's Room. In the game, you play as 11-year-old Aya Drevis, who lives with her father, mother, and maid. Her mother passed away a year prior to the events in the game. Her father performs secret research in his downstairs laboratory with help from the maid, Maria. Aya wakes up one midnight to find that her father's test subjects have escaped the lab. A mysterious salesman shows up and tells Aya that the only way to figure out what’s going on is to solve puzzles and get into her father’s lab, where all the answers are. With her father’s secret only inches away, Aya has to solve puzzles and escape killer test subjects to discover what's really going on in her home. Jay is game gave Mad Father a 4.4/ 5. Mad Father is a great game for those who love horror, jumpscares and mysteries galore!

3. Valiant Hearts: The Great War

Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a puzzle adventure game developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and published by Ubisoft. The game takes place during World War 1, where the player switches between 4 characters; the Frenchman Emile, his German son-in-law Karl, American soldier Freddie, and Belgian nurse Anna. During the game, you not only enjoy an emotional storyline full of puzzles and characters, but you can also uncover different pieces of memorabilia and learn about the real events of World War 1. The game also has a canine compadre named Walt, who you can give different commands to. Metacritic rated the game a 4/ 5, and IGN.com rated it a 7.7/10. If you’re looking for a historical fiction game full of emotion, then Valiant Hearts: The Great War is a wonderful world to immerse yourself into.

2. To The Moon

To The Moon is a role-playing adventure game that was developed and published by

Freebird Games. In the game, a corporation called Sigmund Corp. uses new technology to create artificial memories for people on their deathbed. Two Sigmund Corp. employees, Dr. Eva Rosalene and Dr. Neil Watts, are given the task of fulfilling the dying wish of Johnny Wyles; to go to the moon. The employees of Sigmund Corp. enter his mind and travel backward through mementos to insert his desire to go to the moon. However, the insertion does not work and the employees must figure out why. The game received a review from Metacritic of 4/ 5 and a review from Jay is games of 4.7/5. To The Moon is a wonderful rollercoaster of emotions, ranging from grief to thankfulness. This game is perfect for anybody looking to fall in love with a character, and immerse themselves into somebody else's mind.

1 . Tales from the Borderlands

Tales from the Borderlands is an episodic graphic adventure comedy game based on the Borderlands series, and developed by Telltale Games. In the game, you play two different characters; Rhys and Fiona. As Rhys, you attempt to overthrow your new boss, Vasquez, by traveling to the planet Pandora and intercepting a vault key. As Fiona, you create a fake vault key with the help of your sister, Sasha, and your fatherly-figure, Felix. Fiona and Rhys meet after the fake vault key is broken, and the two are stuck together as they try to retrieve the money that Rhys had, but was stolen. Throughout the game, you make dialogue choices that tailor your gameplay, which makes the game far more difficult than usual. Tales from the Borderlands received a review from Metacritic of 4/ 5, and from IGN.com of 8.7/10. Tales from the Borderlands is a great game to play with a back seat gamer, and a great game to play by yourself. Think carefully with each choice you make throughout the game, and make note of all the characters you meet along the way, because some are from the original Borderlands series! You’re bound to have loads of fun with this game, no matter what decisions you make!

*My Top 10 Most Underrated Video Games list is made up primarily of games that I have played, and games that are specifically single player, all for the PC.