Overhated Video Games That Didn't Deserve the Criticism

Given the current state of video games, it's easy for the internet collective to pile on their hatred on games that aren't deserving of it.

I'm not going to sit here and say that every bad game has some redeeming qualities, but let's be honest here for a second. There are far too many games that get an average review score of 7/10 that are deemed "unplayable." In reality, a 7/10 is still a good score; Cs do get degrees, after all. Plus, there are plenty of games that were reviewed well that could easily flop today (looking at you, Stray).

Sometimes, these overhated games are able to make a comeback when enough time has passed. Other times, we start feeling nostalgic for these games only to realize that they weren't as bad as we remember. Whatever the reason, these are the games that we may have judged unfairly.

8 The Last of Us Part 2

A Visceral Ending

The most impactful stories in any medium, whether it's video games, movies, or television, are the ones that elicit visceral feelings from you. You're watching what's happening on the screen, hoping and pleading for things to go differently, resulting in you being emotionally affected by the outcome.

That's how you know you're hooked. You care about what's happening despite being unable to control it. In the world of games, this feels a little different since, more often than not, you can control it. Modern games have evolved to the point where our actions have direct consequences that alter the story, characters, and the world we're playing.

Having said that, The Last of Us 2 isn't that type of game. Instead, it's steadfast in telling the story it wants to tell, and as a result, it left us having pretty strong opinions about it. At the end of the day, it may not be as good as its predecessor, but it's still an incredible work of art that stays true to its central message.

7 Star Wars: Battlefront 2

A Continued Success Story

I have a confession to make: I kind of liked the 2015 Star Wars: Battlefront reboot. Was it perfect? No, but if you were playing the game in small bursts, it was an absolute blast.

Enter 2017's Star Wars: Battlefront 2, which greatly expanded on its predecessor and delivered non-stop action that remains a blast to play today. Now, was it perfect on release? Of course not; the game's stability was rough, the campaign was weak, and the microtransactions were offensive.

The core gameplay, however, was solid through and through, and it's something that becomes more apparent every time I boot the game back up today. This game is fantastic and, dare I say, never deserved the widespread hate it received. Thankfully, more and more people are now seeing the light of day.

6 Dragon Age Veilguard

A Solid RPG, Just Not as Good as Origins

Here's a fun realization about the Dragon Age franchise: every new release is generally regarded as the worst in the series until the perception around it completely changes a few years later.

Veilguard's biggest "crime," like every other Dragon Age game, is that it's not Dragon Age: Origins. It's a "critique," I understand; Origins is an excellent RPG and one of BioWare's best games. But that shouldn't mean we're viewing the other games as bad, Veilguard included. The gameplay is fun, the writing is solid, and the DNA of what makes Dragon Age great is alive and well.

Arguably, the biggest reason for Veilguard being overhated is how it handles modern representation, which meant a certain part of the internet was primed and ready to unfairly review bomb the game. I promise you, play this game, and you'll very much enjoy it.

5 World of Warcraft

Retail Is Still Great, It's Just Different

I realize that there is a certain level of irony when it comes to me, someone who primarily plays Classic World of Warcraft, defending the current retail version of the game.

The reality is that when something has been at the top of a genre for so long, it's going to attract all sorts of haters. MMORPG fans hate what it did to the genre; older WoW fans hate the direction the game has taken. There are so many arguments you can make against WoW.

Here's the truth as we head into the Midnight expansion: World of Warcraft offers an impressive amount of content for people of all skill levels and backgrounds. There's an overarching narrative that isn't as bad as people make it out to be. Player housing is a huge hit. Endgame PVE content remains one of the most challenging and rewarding things you can do in an MMORPG. There's a lot to love here, no matter what the haters may think.

4 Diablo 4

It's Only Getting Better

I'm convinced that it's just super cool to hate on Blizzard games in recent history. The reality is that they're still putting out great content outside of World of Warcraft, and Diablo 4 is a shining example of that.

First and foremost, Diablo 4 had a far better launch than Diablo 3 did. We also now live in a world where there's a decent-sized playerbase that, believe it or not, prefers Diablo 3. It feels like we're about to get there with Diablo 4 as well.

With the recent update leading into the upcoming Lord of Hatred expansion, headlined by the Paladin class, Diablo 4 has never played better.

3 Fallout 4

"Too Mainstream"

Fallout fans really ​​​​​​do not like this game, as they see it as an indictment of the future of the iconic franchise.

In an attempt to make things more mainstream and accessible, the argument is that the magic of what makes Fallout great is being left behind. It's a good open world RPG, sure, but is it a good Fallout game? That, in the eyes of diehard fans, is up for debate. Well, not really; they absolutely hate this game and everything it represents, especially when it comes to its writing.

Ironically, Fallout 4's Far Harbor writing and questline are excellent, proving that Bethesda indeed has the chops to deliver. I have a theory: in an attempt to make the game more accessible for a wider audience, Bethesda is making the game more streamlined in the way Mass Effect 2 is far better to play than its predecessor. It's something I, along with many, are okay with; Fallout 4 is great and doesn't deserve the hate it gets.

2 Final Fantasy XIII

Worth the Investment

There are plenty of valid critiques against Final Fantasy XIII, especially when it comes to its opening moments. Yes, the first handful of hours is far too linear, leading to a poor first impression. Once you get past that, however, things really open up. Literally.

Final Fantasy XIII's graphics remain as impressive today as they did nearly two decades ago. Do they feel a little dated by today's standards? Sure, but they're still impressive. Add in an acclaimed battle system, an inspired presentation, and a beautiful soundtrack, and you have a game that's easy to immerse yourself in.

There's even a valid argument to be made that the game's opening linearity and slowness serve a deliberate purpose. Yes, it's annoying to have to play through hours of the game to get to the good part, but I promise you, it's worth it here.

1 Dark Souls 2

It's Still Dark Souls

Dark Souls 2 had a lot going against it before it was even released.

Hidetaka Miyazaki wasn't returning as the game's Director; there were countless nitpicks over the gameplay from every pre-release trailer, and when the game finally released, it looked like it had a visual downgrade compared to pre-release materials.

I'm not here to say that Dark Souls 2 is a perfect game. It has plenty of flaws, notably its difficulty, but it's still a fantastic game that isn't afraid to rest on its predecessor's laurels. As time went on, it becomes more apparent that Dark Souls 2 was being overhated simply because Miyazaki wasn't involved. At the end of the day, it's still Dark Souls, and that's very much a good thing.