Community MetaCouncil's Hidden Gems Thread

STHX

MetaMember
Sep 20, 2021
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There was a discussion about it in last month's thread so since I suggested it why not do it?
In this thread let's post some hidden gems that escaped the eye of potential buyers. Post whatever you think someone else would enjoy if they heard about it
But since this is for hidden gems, let's add some "difficulty options" to make things more interesting

I'm too young to die
For games that have 1000+ reviews on Steam. Hidden? Never heard of this word

Hey, not too rough
Between 1000 and 500 reviews. Almost hidden

Hurt me plenty
Between 499 and 100 reviews. Now we're talking

Ultra-Violence
Between 99 and 10 reviews. Things are getting dangerously too hidden

Nightmare!
Less than 10 reviews. How did anyone even find these games?

But remember: these aren't rules. I could probably find various 1000+ games which no one ever heard about, especially when dealing with games from asian developers, uncommon genres, or not translated in english, so don't worry about the "difficulty". And obviously don't let the "gem" scare you into only post 10/10 games, you would be surprised how many people end up enjoying a 7/10 that ticks all the right boxes. Post anything you want to show to fellow members. Even better to do during major sales since a good sale will most likely increase the chance someone decides to get it. This thread doesn't have a year because it can work as a "database" for each mjor sale event

And now, to start the thread I'll post these 2 games. These games are much older than what the steam release date says. I remember playing the first with a fantranslation more than 15 years ago (the original released in 2007, we're talking about actual history of japanese indies, or doujin, games). They're well made mega man clones and have lots of references to many classic NES and SNES series. They both got an official Steam release in 2017 by playism with 417 reviews for the first and 137 for the second. They're on the harder side but the gameplay is pure classic mega man, and the graphics and soundtrack are pretty high quality too. At their sale price they're a steal
 
Nice thread! Here's a hidden point-and-click that every (hardcore) mystery lover should play. I finished it in one sitting. 7 hours straight from start to finish. Absolutely no hand-holding, so be ready to make lots and lots of notes.


Edit: at time of writing, 180 reviews
 
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Some recommendations per category

Ultra-Violence category

Bananitro is a simple game where the objective is to reach the end of the level while doing it fast. Once you get the hang of the physics and game mechanics you start discovering the shortcuts you can do to get better times in the levels. Currently there 30 reviews for this game.



A retro platformer with 4 different characters that you can change at will, once you get them, to pass the level challenges. It's competent and fun, there aren't much to say about it except for it being cheap. It has 35 reviews.




It's a short adventure game set in a cyberpunk future in which you can transfer your mind to synthetic brains. You work for a company that recover those brains when the body dies so the rich owners can get another body and keep living on. The graphics reminded me of late 90 games and a bit of that Blade Runner adventure game. It took me around 4.5 hours to get all the achievements and different endings.

Currently sitting at 37 reviews.



Hurt me plenty

Expelled! is a new game from inkle, the studio that made Heaven's Vault, 80 days, Overboard! and other games. In Expelled you control a sweet girl that was accused of pushing her class mate through a window! Nothing is what it appears and as you keep replaying the day trying to solve the mystery and to not get expelled from the school you'll discover a lot of secrets involving the characters and the school. Currently sitting at 122 reviews.




Wizordum is a frickin' good boomer shooter. The levels are great and packed with secrets to find, there are small tidbits of lore scattered through each level so you can know what exactly happened and why everything went to shit. They released the level editor recently so I hope we can get some fan made content. It has 495 reviews.

 
Hurt me plenty


A very good walking simulator.



Very fun helicopter game, fun gameplay and the visuals are gorgeus.



Ultra-Violence



Very interesting and fun plattformer, difficulty to describe, there's a demo though, try it.
 
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