8 Little-Known RPGs From Famous Developers

One of the consequences of the growth of video games has been the specialization of developers, so they rarely stray from the genres and styles that have proven successful for them.

Just as FromSoftware hasn't made another horror game or Naughty Dog another platformer, numerous companies have abandoned the diversity they were once known for, leaving many of their projects in obscurity.

As a result, countless titles have been forgotten over time despite their creators' identity, buried under a mountain of commercial sequels and new IPs that have demonstrated their low profitability and, therefore, the apparent reluctance to give them the spotlight.

8 Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood

BioWare (Mass Effect, Dragon Age)

BioWare has always been devoted to role-playing games, so much so that at the dawn of its flagship franchises, Mass Effect and Dragon Age, it carved out a small window of opportunity to create Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood.

It's the kind of game I wouldn't recommend unless you're an extreme fan of the original material, as its RPG qualities are rather limited, but the charm of being set in the Sonic world with its characters is immense.

Especially considering it arrived at a time when every video game related to the blue hedgehog's franchise was worse than the last, it was a breath of fresh air, particularly because of how it utilized the capabilities of the Nintendo DS.

There are better RPGs, and there are better Sonic games, yet Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood scratches an itch you didn't even know you had, which becomes increasingly valuable as time goes on.

7 Sudeki

Climax Studios (Silent Hill: Origins, Shattered Memories)

Silent Hill: Origins and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories are two of the most mixed-received installments in the entire franchise (unfairly, if you ask me), but they are Climax Studios' work, which also produced unusual gems like Sudeki.

With its magnificent atmosphere and art direction, which were quite a contrast to the rest of the team's catalog, as well as a persistent Japanese RPG feel, it's one of the reasons buying an Xbox was worthwhile.

Its alternation between real-time third-person action and first-person shooting mechanics was sensational, as it was constantly switching between characters to take advantage of their different abilities and solve the numerous puzzles you faced during the campaign.

Thinking of a developer today that can make a good horror game as well as a good RPG is practically impossible, but Climax Studios achieved it, and in a way I remember it with considerable fondness.

6 Lost Kingdoms

Developed by FromSoftware, from Dark Souls and Elden Ring

FromSoftware's initial mention wasn't accidental, as the studio was among the 2000s' most diverse developers before striking gold with the Soulsborne series, as reflected in Lost Kingdoms.

It doesn't even crack the top ten of their release history, and yet it's a captivating game whose concept of combining cards, summons, and real-time action is so strange yet functional that you can't help but be enthralled.

The lack of depth and production values ​​is unmistakable, though its mere existence is yet another reason to yearn for those times when studios could experiment with outlandish ideas that, despite any criticism, were genuinely fun.

Lost Kingdoms won't be a particularly memorable work, but if I haven't been able to forget it after so many years, even though I didn't recognize who FromSoftware was back then, it's for a reason that, at the very least, is positive.

5 Silver

Infogrames (Alone in the Dark)

Many people don't remember that, before reverting to its Atari name, Infogrames helped shape the horror genre with Alone in the Dark, and even fewer will recall this same developer was responsible for Silver.

The art style and detailed environments made a reappearance, but on a much grander scale that truly conveyed the magnitude of the journey in this remarkable party-based action RPG.

Even though the combat was simple, traversing its pre-rendered, Final Fantasy-esque environments was truly phenomenal, as the real heavy lifting was done by its stunning visuals, voice acting, and soundtrack.

Playing it on the Dreamcast wasn't nearly as comfortable as playing it years later on PC, but as time goes by, I still think Silver is among the most underrated titles in a genre that tends to value other aspects where it doesn't shine as brightly.

4 Alpha Protocol

Obsidian (The Outer Worlds, Pillars of Eternity)

Even though the constant conversations about underrated games have brought it up with renewed regularity, Alpha Protocol is among the most overlooked titles in Obsidian's select catalog.

Rarely has being a secret agent been as cool as in this game, whose ability to make you feel like an infiltration machine and a one-man army is only matched by the profound impact of every decision.

The studio has always done a magnificent job of turning the player into a transformative agent of the universes they explore, and seeing the consequences of our actions unfold immediately provides an immersion few can match.

It was definitely a clunky title with many unrefined features, but if there's an adventure with enough quality to make you overlook any of its numerous flaws, it's Alpha Protocol.

3 Anachronox

Ion Storm (Deus Ex)

Ion Storm created one of the century's most important games when they made Deus Ex, and years later replicated several of its most prominent features in Anachronox.

While all of these elements are related to audiovisuals and narrative, it demonstrates the studio's talent for creating a cyberpunk setting with remarkable characters and a compelling plot, enhanced by a magnificent visual and musical style.

Mechanically, it replaces Deus Ex's immersive sim qualities with turn-based combat featuring a remarkable presentation; from the animations to the particle effects and camera perspectives, everything works wonderfully to energize the static mechanics.

However, the main reason to consider Anachronox a magnificent video game is its narrative, a point where the studio reminds us how painful it was that they couldn't continue doing what they did for more generations.

2 Tyranny

Obsidian (Pentiment, Fallout: New Vegas)

Tyranny is a far more well-known name compared to those mentioned on this list so far, but when you see it alongside Obsidian's more popular contemporaries, you can't help but feel a sense of injustice.

It's understandable, considering the company is among the longest-running and most talented RPG developers in history, though that doesn't lessen the sadness that a gem like this isn't more widely recognized.

Tyranny adheres closely to the fundamental pillars of the studio's design philosophy, but under an engaging premise where evil triumphs, forcing you to grapple with anything but heroic scenarios, yet still granting you the same ability to shape the world around you.

Add to it a superb and unique spell creation system, and it's impossible not to fall in love with Tyranny, just as you fall in love with the rest of Obsidian's games, only with far fewer people to discuss its brilliance with.

1 Arx Fatalis

Arkane Studios (Dishonored, Deathloop)

Arkane Studios is a developer that cemented its place in the modern consciousness thanks to Dishonored and, to a lesser extent, projects like Deathloop and Prey, so, inevitably, its first title is also its most underrated: Arx Fatalis.

With one of the most immersive atmospheres I can remember, coupled with a fascinating worldbuilding that radiates ideas that could only have come from such talented minds, it's a surprising RPG that draws you in so profoundly that it makes it seem effortless.

As with everything the developer has done, its flirtation with the immersive sim genre allows it to offer unparalleled customization of the experience, especially through its reactive environments and spontaneous mechanics that truly make you feel its fantasy.

Its glyph-based magic system remains a marvel even more than 20 years later, seamlessly integrating with first-person melee combat to serve as the prototype for almost everything bearing Arkane's signature.

Arx Fatalis is an unforgiving title, but also one that rewards you immensely if you're willing to endure its challenges, something that was advisable both in 2003 and remains so today.