Great games that everyone loves except me

Games are a highly subjective matter. Even the biggest fighters can't always please everyone, and I've had my fair share of big games that I've tried a million times but just can't get into (looking at you, The Witcher 3). At the same time, there are games that I absolutely love that are incredibly unpopular right now, like Fate 2. There is no such thing as a perfect game, but if one comes close to me, this would be it Baldur's Gate 3. And this game is by no means without its flaws.

However, there are a few titles that often raise eyebrows when I mention that I don't like them. My “hot shots” as people like to say. I'm not saying they're objectively bad games – they're actually incredibly popular for very good reasons, but they just didn't do it for me. Some info: I'm a dedicated gamer with three decades of experience and an embarrassingly large number of hours spent sitting at a computer or console. Here's which widely popular games I find lukewarm at best.

The Sims 4

The nostalgia of past posts is too strong to deal with

The Sims 4 is the technological culmination of the beloved franchise. With the base game now free, it's accessible, modern and the least clunky. Build mode is the deepest of all the items, to the point where it's a bit of a learning curve to master, but it's so rewarding to play with. There is a huge community of modders and countless creators who have also contributed to some of the newer expansions. This makes it easy to see why so many people enjoy it and return to it again and again. There are simply no limits to it.

That said, it breaks my heart that a lot of the chaos and eccentricities of the earlier games are seemingly gone. Maybe it's a matter of nostalgia, but the world seems too happy and peaceful to me, and I often find myself bored and longing for something that I can only complete with game mods. i'm glad The Sims and The Sims 2 have been re-released as I return to the chaotic randomness that first popularized the franchise.

Terrariums

Nice RPG flair, but Minecraft immersion is better

Many swear by it Terrariumsand I can see why: it has a lot more direction and attractive RPG elements that are not present in its main source of inspiration, Minecraft. Even as a “hater” I can appreciate the details, as well as the cute pixel art style and catchy music. There are tons of cool eldritch bosses to conquer and items and features like Wormhole potions and NPCs that I personally wish were added. Minecraft. Lots of mods and freedom Terrariums Grant players have cemented it as one of the best games of all time. The mods alone will probably keep it going for many years.

I think my main problem is that everything Terrariums does in 2D format, I feel I can do and experience in more depth in modded Minecraftlike RLCraft Dregora. With the former, I'm often very aware that I'm looking at the screen the game is on, but with MinecraftI'm instantly drawn into a rich, endless game world that responds to everything I do. Sure, it might be a little unfair to compare modded Minecraft to vanilla Terrariumsbut this extra graphic dimension works very hard Minecraft advantage.

Undertale

There is such a thing as playing the game too late

Everyone around me kept shouting Undertalehe insisted that I had to play it and that it would change my life. Those people probably contributed to my tepid moods. Yes, Undertale he is really creative and resourceful. It tells an important story that we can still learn from today, and I loved the music. I also think it was all even more so at the time of its release. Back then, there were far fewer games that really pushed the envelope in terms of storytelling and meta-commentary (except maybe The Stanley Parable), and which were truly unique.

However, playing it while living in the current world where I'm spoiled with such great, deep writing and meta commentary between indie and AAA games, it's just “okay”. In short, even among indie games, there is so much more competition and goodness that it will always be difficult for me. Jumping on Undertale a train this late definitely cost me the magical experience people had with it 10 years ago.

Hogwarts heritage

The beautiful world left me wanting more depth

First Harry Potter games were iconic but clunky so when I entered the world Hogwarts heritageI was quickly charmed by the carefully crafted environments and fun combat that made full use of all the famous spells – even the Unforgivable Curses. The attention to detail is astounding and the ability to explore the world on a broomstick is incredible. Just walking around Hogwarts is magical because there is always a secret around the next corner waiting to be revealed with Revelia. There's no doubt about it: this is the best game the franchise has received to date, the entry everyone has always hoped for.

I mostly enjoyed my time with Hogwarts heritagebut by the end I felt like some of the content was repetitive enough that it pulled me out of my immersion, the very thing that kept me hooked. I love that there's a huge world, but I'd be so happy to just focus on Hogwarts and its nearby town, grounds, and forests if it meant those locations were packed with truly unique, never-the-same content.

Valiant

The tactical shooter genre requires the patience of a saint

One of my favorite games of all time was the first one Overwatch. It was the most impressive competitive experience, a game that made many lifelong friends that I still play with. Then Overwatch 2 happened and I lost interest. Valianttactical shooter, it was rising in popularity and I naively believed I would enjoy it as much as I did Overwatchwhen I saw my friends praising it. Poorly.

There's no denying that Riot has something special, a hit that has become massive enough for a huge esports site. The secret sauce for the right player Valiant it's addictive: you want to play one more match, have one more exciting fight and unlock that gorgeous weapon skin that will be the envy of others. It's the same sauce that made the original Overwatchalthough a different kind of shooting game, so popular.

for me Valorant's pace walking feels out of place and fights are over in seconds so I sit in spectator mode for the next few minutes. It's definitely a skill thing, I'll admit, but it blows my mind how much patience is required for this type of shooter. Sitting around corners, occasionally peeking in – I get where the excitement is coming from, but I prefer the cheesy chaos of the first one Overwatch any day. Let me pop up and go again in a few seconds please.