5 Games That Are 10/10 But Nobody Remembers Them

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The most impactful games are often those we remember for years to come. Titles like Chrono Trigger and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic are still widely recommended by veteran gamers to new players, even long after their initial release. However, being a great game doesn’t automatically guarantee lasting recognition.

Many games that were once considered perfect can eventually lose their popularity. Even those with large fan bases may be forgotten over time as fewer people suggest them to new players. This can happen if the game series declines, or simply because the developers move on to other projects.

Skies of Arcadia Let Players Live Out Their Sky Pirate Dreams

Skies of Arcadia is a standout game from the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube era. It follows Vyse, a member of the Blue Rogues, a band of sky pirates fighting against the powerful Valuan Empire. When the Empire uncovers dangerous ancient weapons that could destroy the world, Vyse and his friends must work to disable them before the Empire becomes too powerful to stop.

Developed by Overworks, Skies of Arcadia truly immersed players in the life of a sky pirate. Almost immediately, players gain control of an airship, allowing them to freely explore the expansive world. The game was revolutionary for its sense of discovery, letting players actually map out an initially blank world to find their own path.

Players can also gather a large number of companions to join them on their adventure. Though not all of these characters fought alongside Vyse previously, they complete his team and create a believable pirate crew.

Despite being a fan favorite, Skies of Arcadia faced a challenge because it first launched on the Dreamcast. Although a later version, Skies of Arcadia: Legends, was released on other consoles, it still didn’t achieve the same level of recognition as games on more advanced platforms.

Freedom Force Gave Fans a New Superhero Universe

Launched in 2002, Freedom Force was a unique superhero game for its time. Set in Patriot City, the story begins when mysterious energy beams give ordinary people superpowers. Some become heroes and join the Freedom Force, while others become villains, leading to conflicts that the Freedom Force must resolve.

Freedom Force feels remarkably forward-thinking, like it arrived before its time. When it came out, superhero games weren’t as popular as they are today, but Freedom Force still created a rich and detailed superhero world for players to explore. What’s even more impressive is that it drew inspiration from the Silver Age of comics – a period that wasn’t considered trendy by most at the time.

Despite all this, the game received fantastic reviews, earning a Metacritic score of 90. It even won awards from GameSpot for “Best Story on PC” and from Computer Games Magazine for “Best Voice Acting.” However, today, despite the praise it received, very few people seem to remember the game.

I think a lot of people don’t remember Freedom Force because the studio behind it, Irrational Games, went on to make huge games like System Shock 2 and BioShock. Plus, it was mostly a PC game, and back then, way fewer people played on PC compared to consoles. It’s a shame, because the game even got a pretty good sequel, but now it feels like hardly anyone even remembers it, let alone asks for a new one!

Jade Empire Finally Gave Fans a Martial Arts RPG

In the game Jade Empire, you play as a Spirit Monk, a martial arts expert trained by Master Li. When Master Li is captured, you embark on a journey to rescue him. As you travel, you gather a diverse group of followers, each with their own combat abilities and strengths. Ultimately, your search for Master Li brings you into direct conflict with Sun Hai, the ruler of the Jade Empire.

Following the success of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Jade Empire quickly became popular. BioWare was on a roll, consistently releasing fantastic games, but Jade Empire stood out. Its unique blend of RPG elements with the wuxia genre—inspired by Chinese martial arts and adventure—offered players something truly different.

Jade Empire kept the focus on player choice that BioWare games were known for, but it also introduced a lot of interesting new features. Players could learn unique skills and techniques from different groups within the game, helping them grow more powerful. Many people, including GameSpot, considered it to be one of the…

It’s not surprising fans still want a new Jade Empire game, but BioWare’s situation is unique. Given their track record of successful games, most fans are focused on getting Mass Effect fixed, and possibly Dragon Age too, before hoping for a revival of a less popular title like Jade Empire.

Grandia Is the Ultimate Adventure JRPG

Originally released in 1997 for the Sega Saturn, Grandia is a beloved classic JRPG. The game centers around Justin, a young man who dreams of becoming an adventurer like his father. His search for information about a family heirloom leads him on an epic journey that eventually takes him to a new continent.

From the start, Grandia received rave reviews, earning top marks from sites like GameSpot and RPGFan. Players and critics both praised the game’s beautiful environments and memorable characters, who were likable despite not being particularly original. The game really stood out for its fast-paced combat system, which kept things engaging even though it was turn-based.

While many role-playing games were becoming more serious and mature, Grandia stood out by offering a compelling story with a more optimistic and cheerful feel. It’s remarkable and may be one of the best of its time.

The original Grandia was successful enough to be ported from the Sega Saturn to the PlayStation 1, and it spawned several sequels. The series continued for almost ten years with four games in total, but after Grandia III, it faded into obscurity.

It’s unfortunate, but like many classic Japanese role-playing game series, Grandia struggled to adapt to modern game development, which is much more costly. The fact that even after receiving an HD remaster a few years ago, there hasn’t been much demand for a new Grandia game speaks volumes.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance Was a Worthy Successor to the Original

Man, I remember when Final Fantasy Tactics Advance came out on the Game Boy Advance in 2003! It was awesome going back to the world of Ivalice, but it wasn’t quite what I expected – it was totally different than previous games, in a really cool way.

In Tactics Advance, players lead a group of children from the town of St. Ivalice. These children discover a magical book called the Gran Grimoire, which allows them to enter a fantastical world where they can reinvent themselves and leave their troubles behind.

With a title like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, many fans might have expected a letdown compared to the complex and politically driven original Final Fantasy Tactics. But when Yuichi Murasawa, previously of Tactics Ogre, took over development, the game took a positive turn. While Tactics Advance was designed to appeal to a younger audience, it still offered the same compelling strategic battles as its predecessor.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was both a commercial and critical hit. Within a year of its release, it sold over 1.5 million copies and received a score of 87 on Metacritic. The game’s popularity led to a sequel, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, just a few years later, demonstrating strong player interest in this reimagining of the Final Fantasy Tactics series.

In the end, people primarily remember the original Final Fantasy Tactics as a truly remarkable game. It’s been updated and re-released many times since, but Square Enix hasn’t bothered to do the same for the Tactics Advance titles.

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2026-02-25 19:15