Video Gamers Podcast - Overrated or Underrated? - Gaming Podcast

Episode Date: April 23, 2025

Gaming hosts Ace, Josh and Ryan are bringing you a gaming episode that is sure to cause some gaming controversy as we play a round of overrated or underrated. That’s right, we’re taking some of the most beloved indie video games and deciding if they’re overrated or underrated, and the reasoning behind our hot video game takes. It’s another can’t miss indie gaming episode from your favorite video game podcast! Connect with the show: Support us on Patreon: patreon.com/videogamerspod Join our Gaming Community: https://discord.gg/Dsx2rgEEbz Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/videogamerspod/  Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/VideoGamersPod  Subscribe to us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VideoGamersPod?sub_confirmation=1    Visit us on the web: https://videogamerspod.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Intro Hello fellow gamers and welcome to the Video Gamers Podcast. Video games are an incredible passion and hobby, but one man's trash is another man's treasure. What might be overwhelmingly positive for one person might be a big thumbs down for someone else. Today, we're going to be playing overrated and underrated with some of the most popular indie titles, so you can decide which of us you love and hate. But first, some introductions are in order.

I am your host, Josh, and joining me, we're starting off this episode as best of friends, but depending on his answers, we might be mortal enemies by the end. It's Ryan. You wanna fight me now, bro? Let's go. Let's go. Let's go.

Yeah, I dare you. I know what you're talking about. There's one game, as long as you do not Slander my game and call it overrated. We'll be alright, right? Alright. Alright And joining us he's the indie man himself, but there's no playing it safe in this episode Will he invoke the wrath of the internet and speak truth or will he try to play it safe? It's ace Bring it on baby. The truth's, whether you want to hear it or not. Ace is like this whole Minecraft thing, dude.

This, this, I'm a new man. Yeah, forget what people think of me, man. Just don't call me fool. It's Kaliskin. Yeah, it's Kalis now, man. Just turn up your hearing aid so you can, you can like listen to what we're saying, you know, and then we're good to go

Okay, so guys I I'm a little over excited for this episode man because goodness gracious This is going to this is gonna be one that people are gonna wind up commenting on. Oh, yeah I mean ace I gotta give you credit. This was your idea. You are a glutton for punishment, my friend, because you were like, dude, indie episode, what if we do the most overrated and underrated indie games? And then we were like, that is a slippery slope, my friend.

But we have never shied away from sharing an opinion. And you know, that's what we're gonna do today, man. We are going to take some of the most beloved Indie titles out there and we are going to decide whether they are overrated or underrated. There is no, I think it's perfectly rated guys. This game, you don't get to pick in between the lines. No, you got to go one or the other. Yep. And then you got to explain yourself on top of that. So we...

Listen, I feel like this episode needs to come with a disclaimer because I know that Greg is gonna make some fire reels from some hot take out of us. I'm in so much trouble. They're gonna get put on the social media and then like social media does,'re gonna be like you guys are idiots How dare you say this game is overrated and then we're gonna be like did you listen to the whole episode? And of course, they didn't listen to the whole episode. No look they didn't I could tell you they didn't sing

That these games are bad games. In fact, these might be some of the best indie games in existence All timers. That's not the question. The question is, do you feel like this game is overrated or do you feel like it's actually underrated a little bit? Because that can happen too. And so yes, it's gonna be hot takey. Yes, it's gonna be a little bit controversial,

but that is the fun of it. We've got some honorable mentions that we're gonna mention later on because I have a game that I am, well, a couple actually, that I am absolutely against the flow on. You'll make some enemies with those ones, I could promise you that.

That's fine, that's fine, man. You know, I can take the heat, man. I can take it. But yes, so let's just preface this by us saying we understand these games are fantastic We are not slandering these games whatsoever In fact, I'm pretty sure with the exception of one game maybe two games actually now that I look at three games They're on this list that I adore

Except for these three games, which I think maybe are not quite so I'm gonna get in trouble guys You are I mean if people are gonna hate me, let's make them hate me right off the rip guys right away First game up this is a game that we have all played star do Valley Okay, what say it together? Things that we're gonna do is we're gonna tell you the score so that people can see how beloved these games are Okay, and to be fair to our you know our console gamers. We pulled the Metacritic scores as well

As the Steam score so on Steamardew Valley is sitting at an insane 98% overwhelmingly positive rating. We don't have the totals on this, but I saw it. It's like 750,000 reviews, dude. I feel like so many people in the world have played Stardew Valley. It's sitting at an 89 on Metacritic. The one thing I've realized is Metacritic. The one thing I've realized is Metacritic people are harsh, dude. Listen, PC gamers, 98% Stardew

Valley is one of the best games ever made. Metacritic people like, I don't know how to ask you about playing this on my console. Dude, what is it with the console people? Y'all some hard to please man. 89% on Metacritic. You're gonna see this for every game we talk about. Every game, it's like massive steam rating Metacritic. Nah, not for me. Not for me.

Well, it is called Metacritic. So, you know. All right, listen, I have made no qualms about this, so I'm just gonna kick it off. I think Stardew Valley is insanely overrated, dude. It is one of the games that I think is the most overrated game in existence. So we're just starting this episode off on fire.

I know people are like, dude, Josh, you are the dumbest guy I have ever seen or heard. I hate you right now. And listen, I get it. I get that people love their little farming Sims and I get they love their little pixel graphics and I get that they love the little blob slaughter fast that happens in the dungeons. And I like that they like their little dating Sims where you get to talk to the little people in the dungeons and I like that they like their little dating sims where you get to talk to the little people in the town and try to give them presents and all that. Dude, Stardew Valley is one of the most mind-numbing games I think I have ever played. Like, do I like farming? Sure! Do I like growing crops? Sure! Does that make this one of the highest rated games of all time? No!

Apparently you're wrong about that. Because, yeah. Listen, this has always been a hot take of mine, always. And I will stand up for it. I have put, I probably played Stardew Valley for a solid like eight hours. This is not a game that I put like 40 minutes into and went, no, this isn't for me.

I don't, somebody help me understand, dude. What is the love for this game? You're not going to find it for me. Yeah, you somebody help me understand dude. What is the love for this game? You're not gonna find it for me. Yeah you're gonna find it here on the fortunately either. I think it's over my man. Yeah I think it's overrated. This is my safe spot. You're in a safe. We're in the trust tree right now. It is wildly overrated. What I mean just like you don't have to be a graphics knob to just hate on this. It's the graphics are ridiculous.

It's a cozy game. What is that code for? Just like not trying, like boring to like make something that's just meh. So I mean, I get it. We're gonna get a million messages of how horrible it is. Hopefully, cause that's engagement. Why is so much trouble? Why is so much trouble?

Three old men hate on most beloved game of all time. Why would you want to waste your time playing this? I understand that there's aspects that make people feel good and kind of just can sit back and unwind, but that doesn't make an amazing game. It just makes something that's good for you. You tell me you don't like to do your virtual chores every day, Ryan, and go talk to all the people in the town and build relationships in the game instead of in real life.

You know, one thing I like to do after chores at the house is more chores virtually. You know, it's like, it's not an indie game, but the Sims. It was good for its time back in like the late nineties, early two thousands. Why? Why are people still playing The Sims, dude? Because it's got vampires and werewolves too. Yeah. So at least it has something. It's the sandbox element. I get it. Listen, so starting Valley. And this is a thing. Cozy games are not for me. My wife absolutely loves cozy

games, dude. In fact, it's one of the few like genres that she'll actually play. She's playing the Kirby's dream Island or whatever the Kirby cozy game knockoff of, of animal crossing is. And she loves it, dude. She loves it. This is her piece and her, and I love that for her, you know, and this is not to slander Cozy Games as a genre because I get it a lot of times after a hard day's work and you wanna just de-stress, this is the perfect way to do it. But the goal of this episode,

is it overrated or is it underrated? And it sounds to us like we all agree that Stardew Valley is overrated now. Overrated. With that said, it's not a bad video game and I get it. There's a lot of aspects of the game that people like and when you put them all together, people really, really love it. So not slandering Stardew Valley, just saying it's overrated video game.

It's overrated. It's overrated. It's still good. It's just overrated. It's not good. It could be a good game. It could be a good game and enjoyable for a lot of people, but that doesn't mean the score reflects that, is what we're saying.

Yeah. All right. Well, we got that one out of the way, boys. Next! If anybody is still listening to this, I'll say, for all the listeners still here. Oh. All right, let's move on to, guys, here's the problem.

Every one of these games is beloved. Every single one of these is beloved. So if we say overrated on any of these, like people are gonna be like, what do you mean it's overrated? How dare you? Oh, torches and pitchforks are coming. Yeah. Oh yeah.

Okay. Well, let's go on to another one, man. Here we go. Oh my goodness. Here it comes. It was Hollow Knight. It was Hollow Knight. Quite possibly one, in my opinion, quite possibly one of the best Metroidvanias in existence. I remember going into Hollow Knight

thinking I was not gonna like this game. I don't care for Metroidvanias that much. What's up with the weird little bug mask that this little guy wears and all this stuff? And then Hollow Knight just started to suck me in with his super good environment that controls are tight as anything, dude. It's responsive. The boss sites were like, what?

These stupid praying mantis. Three things are kicking my booty over and over. Like, how dare you? And then I just realized, dude, Hollow Knight is legit, dude. It is it is one of the most beloved metroidvania silk song We're getting it this year. Yeah I still can't believe that I'll believe it when I actually see it and it has an actual release date guys instead of just 2025 fair. All right, Hollow Knight sitting at a

97% Rating on Steam again. These are hundreds of thousands of reviews. This is not just a couple. Oddly enough, a 90 on Metacritic. So at least people appreciate a better video game than Stardew Valley. You know? Yeah.

Yeah. Oh, man. I'm going to get myself in trouble here. Okay. Now, here's the kicker. You're not allowed to say 97% is perfect. So is Hollow Knight overrated at a 97% or is it underrated at a 97%?

Ace? Oh gosh, here it comes. So in my time as an indie gamer, I've played lots of Metroidvanias. Your favorite genre. Is that fair to say? It is my favorite genre. Yes, okay. And I've just gotta say, at this point in my life,

I think Hollow Knight is a little overrated. There's better Metroidvanias. Oh my goodness, get this man off the show. Get this man off this podcast right now. How dare you Ace? I, there's better Metroidvanias with better mechanics that deserve a higher spot than Hollow Knight Name one.

In my opinion, Ender Lilies and Ender Magnolia, there's two. One I also need to throw out Blasphemous. Of course he's gonna name those. Let's not forget Blasphemous. Blasphemous is an incredible Metroidvania that nobody pays attention to. Okay. Yeah, you know.

It's a pretty game and it's beautiful and I don't think it's bad by any means, but at this point in my life, I'm gonna say it's overrated. Okay. Yeah, you know, it's a pretty game and it's beautiful and I don't think it's bad by any means, but at this point in my life, I'm going to say it's overrated. Okay. Wow. Wild take. Wow. Ryan, listen, listen, listen, listen, listen. Listen, as amazing as Hollow Knight is, at 97%, based on our parameters, if I was to say, that's pretty fair, that's not allowed. And I can't go higher than that because there is some issues that I have. I hate the map systems in Metroidvanias. Hollow Knight is also one of them. Certain other mechanics that I wasn't a big fan of

within the game. I can't say that it's any better than what it's been rated, so I have to go with it's overrated for me, but not by much. I think it's an amazing game. It's one of my absolute favorite Metroidvanias, and I'm a big Metroidvania guy Castlevania is the one on my top ten probably a little bit nostalgia based on that, but it's also amazing. So

Yeah overrated brother Looking for some new podcast hosts You know, here's my criteria what is the best Metroidvania that I have played in almost forever? Hollow Knight. It's the Metroidvania that I think I enjoy the most, unless we're going to go way, way back to like the old Nintendo days, you know, where it was just straight up Metroid. But again, probably some nostalgia involved there. To me, Hollow Knight is the best Metroidvania that I have played. I am actually going to say, I think it's underrated. If freaking Stardew Valley is sitting at a 98% and that game is boring and not fun,

then Hollow Knight, which perfected the Metroidvania genre in my opinion, incredible environments, incredible music, again, the gameplay is top notch. Is it a perfect game? No, it is not, but that's where that 2% or 3% comes off at the top But I am going to actually say that I think Hollow Knight is actually underrated because to me It's it's the best metroidvania out there. It feels like such a crazy thing to say Hollow Knight's underrated I know right when you think of indie games like that's like one of the first that comes to mind.

You're just like, oh yeah, you should play Hollow Knight. Yeah, I mean, it's true. But, and see, that's the weird caveat, right? Because it's like, do you like Metroidvanias? Like if you love them, like you Ace, you have experienced dozens and dozens and dozens of Metroidvanias. So you have that ability to say,

well, I love what Hollow Knight does. I think there's actually some better metroidvanias out there. For me, I don't play a ton of metroidvanias. So when I think of the genre and the peak of that genre, Hollow Knight is easily the game that comes to mind. And then I go, well, if that's like the absolute peak metroidvania to me, you know, is it a hundred percent? It's not quite a hundred percent, let's be honest. And again, I can't say that I think it's a fair rating because that's lame and that's against the rules. So I'm going to say I think it's underrated, man. Yeah. So, okay. Now I know this is a game that all three of us love, but this is where the rating system comes

in is do we think it's a fair rating? Do we think it's underrated or do we think it's overrated? And that is a game that we all adore. Risk of Rain 2. Yeah! Risk of Rain 2. I mean, I made a little video on it saying, hey, this is one of the best roguelikes

that you can play with friends. We have played Risk of Rain 2 together together many many a time for a long time It is an absolute blast to play it made our list of some of the funnest video games that you can play I think it's just a joy. I mean it is an absolute joy of a game the steam rating on risk of rain to 93% 85% Metacritic Ryan what do you think buddy for risk of rain to it at 90 I mean let's be honest any any indie developer in the world releases a game and it

gets in 93 percent they are doing cartwheels they are celebrating their toasting champagne they're I mean this studio is just having a party but is risk of rain to overrated or underrated at a 93% riot I think at a 93% with over what is this over two hundred nine thousand hundreds of thousands of hundreds of thousands of reviews well established what people think of this game I think it's actually underrated. I think that it's probably should be sitting a little bit more up there with the other games that we've mentioned earlier. 95, 96, 97, something like that. There is not too many roguelike just hop in, have fun runs

with your buddies, and it's just it's never a bad time. Even when, and it's just, it's never a bad time. Even when you get a bad run, it's never a bad time. This game is one of those that just is pure enjoyment, start to finish every time you log in, and there's not much more you can say about it other than it's just, it's a great game. It's not good, it's great. I have to agree.

I think that Risk of Rain 2 is completely underrated. At 93, that feels like a crime, honestly, with how good this game is and how much it innovates on the roguelike genre. Because how many roguelikes do you know that are in a 3D environment like that that you could play with friends too? That's crazy.

Yeah, and the co-op is so good. That's the other nature of it. You can play this game solo and it's fun. But when you're with your buddies, that nature of like you can't share all the gear. Yeah. It becomes part of it where it's like, I'm over here, Ryan's over there,

and Ace is over there, we're all looking at stuff. And I just found this sweet, sweet loot. I know Ryan needs those mushrooms for his build that he's working on, but those are my mushrooms boy Yeah, oh you can expect that. Yeah, Josh gonna stink everything. That's usual I mean, it's just the way that it goes. So it yes, I'm gonna make this unanimous I think risk of rain 2 at a 93% is honestly drastically underrated at that point. Yeah When people say hey, I don't really know what the rogue-like genre is, I haven't really gotten into them.

Risk of Rain 2 is one of those games that is like a first recommendation for somebody. You know, it's cheap, it's fun, it's a blast with friends, it will get you hooked into the rogue-like loop. The fact that you have all these classes that you can unlock and then even the skills within the classes to unlock with these neat little challenges and stuff, I think is the perfect carrot to dangle in front of somebody. Risk of Rain 2 to me is, is insanely fun, dude. And a 93% I think does not do that game justice at all. I get it's not for everybody. It is an action based kind of shooter type, and it can be pure chaos at times.

So I get it. That does not appeal to everybody, just like Stardew Valley doesn't appeal to me. But if you are the kind of gamer that likes action and stuff with friends that you haven't played Risk of Rain 2, stop what you're doing and pick this game up, because we recommend it to everybody, dude.'re missing out yeah this one's gonna be tough boys this is gonna be real hard but we're gonna talk about this one right after this

break oh my goodness okay guys why are we doing this to ourselves there's no good that can come on this episode, dude. Pain and misery. People are going to disagree with us, they're gonna hate us and they're gonna be like, I can't believe you guys did this. I thrive on the pain and misery. Okay, Hades, quite possibly one of the most well-known roguelike games in existence. When you say roguelike, Hades is right there. I mean, if it's not a genre defining

game, I don't know what is. Hades burst onto the scene. Everybody in the world was talking about Hades. Oh my goodness. This game's so good. The dialogue, the game remembers how you died. The progression, the combat's top notch. Everything about this game is insanely good. Well, the rating reflects that because it's a 98% on Steam. And again, we are talking, I think Hades is up there at like 600,000, 700,000 reviews. This is no slouch of a game. I have played a lot of Hades, dude.

I love Hades. I'm going to be honest with you right now. I love Hades. I think it's so much fun. It is the perfection of what the rogue-like genre is I'm gonna say it do it do it. I think it's I think it's overrated guys. Oh Thank Hades is overrated while there is so much love about the game

98% is crazy, dude it's crazy. I mean, what am I going to say? It's a 99% perfect game. Like, that's really hard to do. As much as I love Hades, it's like, I just, I do think it is a tad overrated. Well, if Stardew Valley can be a 98% and people think that's fine, I think Hades is underrated because it is absolutely a 99 or a hundred. Cause aside from where Hollow Knight, where I have played other Metroid vanias that are way better. Sorry, Hollow Knight fans.

He's just digging that hole. I know I'm really digging. I'm twisting the knife real good there. I have not played another like roguelike, like hand-drawn roguelike like Hades with this much detail and this much like dialogue and beautiful artwork that tops it. Like nothing has topped Hades in the roguelike genre for me

when it comes to like these top-down perspectives. Yeah, I mean, that's fair. There is- So I have to say it's underrated. That's, yeah, there's one of the arts over or under, so we can't just say appropriately rated, you know? Mm-hmm. I'm gonna have to side with Josh on this one. I think- Oh, you punk.

As amazing as this game is, as much as it offers, and as beautiful as this game is, I think that just, man, there's only 2% of like, if it's at a 98, man, that's dang near perfect. Like there is some issues with it. And I think that 98 is just a little bit too high and with no other choice, I have to go overrated. You're one of the Metacritic users, right? I will say this, Hades is the're one of the Metacritic users, right? Yeah, I will say this Hades is the highest rated game on Metacritic in our list So people universally love Hades more than any other game that we are talking about today And this is not to take away from any of these games. It's like hey yo

98 98 97 whatever it is is perfect. That's a great score. We can't do that. We have to go over under Do I think it deserves more than that? No. I, one less, two less, three less. Like whatever your percentage rate ratio is, I don't think that it deserves what it got. I would say a little bit less, but not by much. I mean, it's amazing game.

I, my one complaint with Hades, not to get into the, but the progression system, the permanent progression system in Hades does not to get into the, but the progression system, the permanent progression system in Hades does not feel super rewarding to me. You've never cared about progression. What are you talking about? I'm just saying I like the weapons. I like that you can try out the different weapons and stuff, but the permanent progression in Hades is a little bit slow paced for me.

And I think that's why I'm going to lean to the side of I think it's slightly overrated It's fantastic game and honestly, I've kind of had the itch to play it again, too So might wind up doing that but alright This one's gonna be I I'm this one. I think it's gonna be is is that's everyone. I know it's Let's just let's just go with it lethal company I mean lethal company took the world by storm. The three of us have played a heck of a lot of Lethal Company together.

You will laugh. You will have experiences and stories and all that stuff. Lethal Company sitting at a 97% on Steam. There's no Metacritic score for Lethal Company because I guess it's technically still Early Access or something has been fully released. So I mean, a game that comes out that is as simple in design and gameplay as Lethal Company and hits a 97% is bananas, dude.

And then we've seen so many knockoffs of this. I mean, you know, headliners and content warning and everything else, but Lethal Company came out, changed the gaming world. They kind of did it first. I know Among Us was like, but it's a different style of game at that point. Ace, I know you're a big fan of Lethal Company.

I am, I am a big fan of Lethal. Is it underrated or overrated at a 97%? At a 97%, I'm gonna have to say it's overrated. No! Unfortunately. I'm shocked. I actually kind of thought you were gonna say it's overrated. I think it is the genre that Lethal is, which I call it the horror extraction genre, because

that's like, I guess what you would consider it has been innovated on since Lethal with games like Repo. Repo has sort of taken what Lethal did and it's made it based around this physics engine where things have weight and you have to carry them with basically a carries mod physics gun, excuse me. And I think that makes that a little bit more special than what lethal does. And that's just me, but I know me and Ryan

still get into lethal like all the time. I was going to say, I was really curious what y'all's two thoughts on this were. Cause I see you guys going like, you want to hop into lethal and play around or two? So we do. And we we've played quite a bit together in, um, man, I love me some lethal company. Ace and I have had a million crazy. We have a couple of clips on our Instagram where like I, we, we got no loop for like three runs and we're like, what the heck? And then I see a bunch of stuff and I just get so excited that I run to it. And then I just explode because I stepped on a landmine.

I didn't see it. And then Ace is making fun of me. Yeah. Ryan, no! Boom! And he's like, oh, loot. And that's me running to it. So the game, man, it is just so enjoyable, so fun and it's amazing.

And it shows how good graphics do not make a game. Like you can have an amazing game, uh, that doesn't have great graphics. Having said that, uh, I think good graphics would definitely put it over the top to where it would be deserved of a 97. I think that it is overrated. I think that the gameplay itself and what you do is amazing and awesome, but there's a lot of upgrades and advancements and quality of life things that could be had to get it up to that score.

So I don't think it deserves a 97, but I don't want to take anything away from what the game is. No, I wouldn't either. I know, I feel like I already know what Josh is talking about. You guys know, I think it's overrated. That's not to say I haven't had a ton of fun playing Lethal Company, but I have a problem with this genre in general

because it is dumb fun and you will have an absolute blast. Dude, like headliners, dude, headliners cost us what, $7? We played it for a weekend. I think I had four gaming sessions. I laughed like crazy. It was super funny. I got my money's worth, and then I just went,

this game's going in the trash, like every other game. And I don't mean that to slander the game. What I mean is these are disposable games, in my opinion, where it's like, it is fun. I'm not slandering Lethal Company. I'm not saying that it's not fun. And I get that people love it, where it's like, it is fun. I'm not slandering lethal company. I'm not saying that it's not fun. And I get that people love it. And that's fantastic.

And yes, like video games should be fun. But sometimes you need a little bit more than that to get up into that, like, upper echelon of games for me. And so 97% rating, I think, is kind of crazy. Is it dumb fun? Absolutely. Would I recommend people pick it up and play it? Absolutely. Do I think it's a 97% Rating like overall like no, I don't think it's that so for me. This is an easy this game is overrated for sure

Okay, hold on over. We're all in agreement on this one over under 90. Oh, yeah. For you, Josh. I'm gonna say, if it was at a 90%, I think I'm still gonna say it's overrated. Really? I think 90 or 91 is perfect. My problem is, this is not to say

that it's not a good game. I just, it's a dumb, simple game that is a lot of fun for a very short period of time. And to me, my personal opinion is that brings it down because it's hard to claim that this game that is a disposable game is in this upper echelon of other games like Hollow Knight and Hades and even Risk of Rain and some of the other games

that we're about to talk about right now. These are fantastic video games all around versus this one game that does something very, very well, but it's so short-lived and it's so repetitive after that, that it just falls apart in my opinion. And with, I have a feeling that it wouldn't be as high probably if there wasn't the ability with all the mods. The mod is dead.

The ability to mod in the modding community for what you can do to change this game and tailor it to your customized pleasure, like that, that makes such a big difference in how people grade this game probably as well. So Ryan got to have that infinite sprint. Yeah. All right guys, I will hear no slander on this next game.

So watch yourselves Subnautica one of my favorite games and the reason that I say this and I've said this before Subnautica is the game that taught me I literally did not know this about myself that I absolutely love Survival crafting exploration games. I had not played any before Subnautica I I remember seeing the hype and I went, this game looks beautiful. I dove in and I fell in love and I've been in love with that genre ever since Ace. We're playing in shrouded. We would not be playing in shrouded if it wasn't

for the fact that Subnautica taught me, Josh, you really liked this genre of games. Is it a saturated genre? Yes, it is. I can fully appreciate that too, but Subnautica did it best in my opinion, maybe? I don't know. I don't want to lump that in there,

but Subnautica is sitting at a 97% rating on Steam. Same as Lethal. 87%. Dude, what the heck? Thank you, Ace. What the heck, man? Subnautica's the same rating as Lethal Company? What is wrong with you people?

I'm just gonna say it's Subnautica to me, one of my favorite games. This is weird because it kind of gets into like the Oscar nominations where it's like, are you saying that this is the best game ever? Or are you saying that it did something very well? It's tough for me because I get it's not a perfect game. It does have some issues.

But for me, I think 97% is actually underrated. Dude, Subnautica is one of those most it ranks up there with like the most memorable games that people have played and remembered. I get it's not for everybody, but I do think for what it does, it does absolutely top notch and you will remember Subnautica. I think it's underrated. How can you say that I get it's not for everybody when it's at a 97%? Like that literally means it's supposed to be for everybody. I mean, well Ryan, you played Subnautica and I have a feeling that you're probably gonna say you think it's overrated at 97%.

Well, I would say that you had a good feeling because you were correct. Because I think it is overrated. I will say not by much. I really did enjoy my time with Subnautica. I do think it's genuinely like, if you're looking to dive into one of these kind of survival crafting type games. This is a really good one to start. The world is beautiful.

Um, your experiences are memorable. I think that it's, it's just, man, 97 is, is really, it's a really high score. So it's, you know, we can only do underrated or overrated. So I'm going to say it's overrated, uh, but not by much. Okay. I'm going to say it's underrated. but not by much. Okay. I'm going to say it's underrated. Jesus. Whoa.

Ace. I agree. It's underrated. Ace, the next time you get dove and rivals, I'm peeling for you, buddy. Oh, thank God. Someone will. Oh, hold on. It's rough out here with the healer strike, you know.

Yeah. Maybe if you healed me, then I'd be more, you know, apt to come back and help you. Oh, the tank'd be more apt to come back and help you. Oh, you're the tank. You'll be fine. But no, I definitely think Subnautica is underrated, especially with how saturated the genres become with these survival games. Subnautica really stands out as something special with its setting and the gameplay and the story too. Like, I mean, it's all really good.

How you can make it? It scares the crap out of me though. Fully underwater mean, it's all really good. How you can make it- It scares the crap out of me though. Fully underwater and make it that interesting and good. It's like, how is the ocean interesting? But they make it interesting. All the different violence. It's super cool to explore all of that. Also, what is wrong with Metacritic?

87. Yeah, that's a crime. That's pretty wild. 87 is crazy. You Metacritic people, cheer up, man. Cheer up, people. All right, well, since we're talking about underwater games, how about this one? Wow, that's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. Wow, that's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot.

That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot.

That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot.

That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That's a lot. That course it did. Of course it did. And then, hey, I'll be honest, I think it's beautiful. I will admit I'm fully wrong. I think Dave the Diver is a beautiful game,

but this game came out of nowhere, really took the world by storm. Dave the Diver sitting at a 97%, so equal to Subnautica, equal to Hollow Knight. I mean, absolutely beloved game. We have all played Dave the Diver. Ace, what do you think on Dave the Diver sitting in a 97% overrated or underrated? Dave is definitely underrated man. Dave is so good and there's so much content in

that game that you could be playing right now. You be silent. I will be silent. I'm gonna let you finish this ramble you're gonna go on real real quick. Oh, Ramboz, that was... Oh, man, we know Ryan feels... Do we know, like, what game do you know got a crossover with Yakuza and Godzilla? Ryan, huh? That doesn't mean it's good. All right. What's up with him?

Okay, listen. I loved Dave the Diver. I thought it was so much fun. I thought it was an extremely enjoyable game. I had a blast playing it. I thought the interactions with the characters were great. I think the crossover with the Yakuza and Godzilla are wild and fun as well. It is not a 97, dude.

That is to have it rated with like, as Josh just said with the other games, like with some Nautica, that's crazy to me. It was, it was awesome. It was fun, but it is not a 97 overrated stamp it. Wow. Fans. I have a request that you kill Ryan. Um, uh, well this one, man.

All right, listen, Dave the Diver to me was the perfect throwback video game. The little mini games, the pixel art, it just draws you in right away. Like I don't think anybody that played Dave the Diver that's been like, I don't get it, dude. Like even if you have fun for like five hours, you still have a blast at five hours. They're so mean to him

Or Dave, I don't know man, so I absolutely love Dave the diver. I think it's a fantastic game It is overrated. Yeah And that breaks my that breaks my heart. That breaks my heart. I do not say this with with like joy like freaking Ryan over there does, but I'm being real, bro. But listen, again, these are the this is not to slander the game because I love Dave the diver. Same. Yeah, but 97% is a little high, dude. It does everything great, but it does, it does start to slog just a little bit, dude. That is my biggest problem. I love the first like six hours of Dave the diver,

but then it kind of gets a little bit more into like the farming sim. Like, you have to work a lot harder for the upgrades and the story kind of stalls out a little bit. And I kind of went like, so it hurts me, Ace, it hurts me. I don't want to be on this side of the fence with Ryan, but I have to be honest. It is so good, but we're just saying it's not, it's not 97% good, that's all we're saying. It's like 96% good, to be honest. Like that's, I know we can't, but it's-

You don't think it's 98% good No, I don't unfortunately. I know stardew valley levels of good. Yeah, don't compare it to start How dare you slander dave the diver like that? All right. Listen, here's another game that does what it does absolutely to perfection. Is it enough to make it? Underrated, I don't know. This one's probably the hardest one for me to be honest with you. Cuphead, quite possibly the most perfect shooter, like platform. What do you call those games? The running guns? Like a running gun boss. Boss rush, right? So Cuphead, incredible, incredible art style,

peak mechanics, insanely difficult, crazy bosses. I mean, it is perfection for what it tries to do. Like, honestly, we don't have Celeste on this list, but Celeste is perfection for platformer, right? Yeah. I mean, but like, so for me, Cuphead is that like perfect game for what it's trying to do. Cuphead is sitting at a 96% on Steam

86% Metacritic people don't like hard games on Metacritic apparently because this is the not the lowest game but close Ryan what do you think on cuphead overrated underrated ninety six percent? So this one you mentioned it, man, the art style, there's just something so unique and different about this. And it's, it's one of those games that, um, just kind of transcended a lot to where a lot of people that had no clue of the gaming world knew about Cuphead because, you know, everybody knew about Cuphead. Um, I think this is one of the rare ones for me that I think it's underrated.

I think it's, uh, I think it is so crisp and clean and just pure for what it is that it, uh, should just be a little bit higher. Like we said, you know, not a 97 to 96. I don't think it should be a 97, you know, six. It could be a 97, something like that. You know, it's just like one or two ticks above. I think it should be a 96, it could be a 97, something like that. It's just like one or two ticks above. I think it's right there. It is an amazing game that everybody should

definitely check out. If it's hard, try again, reload. I did not expect that from Ryan. I did either because- I'm rated on Cuphead at 96%, man. Wow, all right. That's crazy, I was not expecting that. Wow, card, woo! Yeah, what about you, Ace? Until today, I didn't even know you played Cuphead at 96%, man. Wow, all right. That's crazy, I was not expecting that. Wow card, wha!

Yeah, what about you Ace? Until today I didn't even know you played Cuphead, so. I have, yep. I feel like Ace would like Cuphead. You do not shy away from difficult games, Ace. I have played Cuphead. I think it is completely overrated. No!

Oh, man! I think it's a beautiful game. Yeah. I think the sound design and the, you know, artwork and all that is super crisp, super pretty, super great. And that the sacrifice the devs made to get that game out there by like mortgaging their houses, like three times or whatever, just to get that game made is super great and all, but like that game just doesn't deserve it.

It's not accessible enough to people, I think, to the point where it deserves that high a score. I could see a 95, but I'm definitely not on the side of the Metacritic users who put it at 86. Yeah. That's crazy. The problem for Ace is that it didn't have enough rats. That is true.

You know, actually there was a rat. He was, he was a boss in the game. It just wasn't enough of them. Needs more rats. That is true. You know, it's actually there was a rat. He was the boss in the game. It just wasn't enough of them. Needs more rats. It's the ace's notes like his game notes needs more rats. This one's so hard for me, man, because like I said, if you take what Cuphead is trying to do, it does it perfectly. It's like Hollow Knight in that regard, right?

Like, I think what is the perfect running gun shooter throwback type game, but modern, Cuphead is absolutely it. And so I kind of go like, well, if I'm saying that Hollow Knight is underrated for being one of the best Metroidvanias in existence, then Cuphead is probably underrated for being one of the best running gun shooters in existence. Is it, is it underrated because if you want that genre, it is pretty much perfection or is it overrated because it's still a simplistic game overall, you know? And it's like, it does start to get a little repetitive because you're doing the same thing just against different bosses and levels.

And I told you, this is the one that on the, on this list is the hardest for me. I think it's appropriately scored You know, I can't say that I am going to say I think cuphead is Overrated oh Psychic damage to him. I did I but I think I lean that way man and again, this isn't to say anything bad about Cuphead, but 96%, like I played the heck out of it.

We did a deep dive on Cuphead. Paul beat like the hardest level and everything. And I was like, Paul, what the heck, man? And I enjoyed the heck out of it, don't get me wrong, but I don't go to bed at night, like thinking about Cuphead. Like I do Subnautica or Hollow Knight, or Hades even, or something like that. So that kind of tells me I think it's probably

teeny, teeny, tiny, tiniest bits overrated. Yeah, exactly. People are gonna be like, what are you talking about? We're like, no, listen, we're talking about one or 2%. Yeah, it's a one or 2%. We're not saying it's bad. We're not saying it's bad. Yeah, we're not Metacritic. Yeah, it's a one or two percent. We're not saying it's bad. We're not saying it's bad. You know?

Yeah, we're not Metacritic. I promise. All right. Uh, disco Elysium guys, one of the most well-known, uh, success stories for the indie genre and a role playing game that doesn't have combat. What the heck were you thinking people? And there was a whole bunch of texts you had to read. And then they came out with the director's cut

that put incredible voiceover on this game. I went into Disco Elysium thinking I was gonna hate it. Turns out I freaking love it. I am going to just jump in and say that the 93% that Disco Elysium has is criminal. This is one of the most memorable, best RPGs that you can play. Uh, you have to just experience it.

I really don't know how to explain disco Elysium otherwise, but just the fact that you can do all of these things in this game and it just keeps chugging along is insane to me. So I think 93% is criminally underrated. I agree completely. 93 is way, way, way too low for Disco Elysium. There's no other game like Disco Elysium out there that can do what it does without combat.

It's all takes place basically in Harry's head. What's going on? Yeah. The first time you boot it up, it's like, limbic system. You just know it's super freaking weird and it's gonna be a great time. You're talking to doors before you know it and then you have to have Jackson.

Oh man. Just wandering around like, what the heck? You know. That's right, Terry, you're a superstar. I think pre-Director's Cut without the voiceovers, 93% is overrated. Yeah. In my opinion, it totally turned me off of the game

in the beginning and then once they released that and then Paul and Josh to their credit were like, no, no, no, they got the Director's Cut now. You can, you can like, there's voiceover work so you don't have to read everything. And I'm like, say less, homie, I'm in. So I went and I played it and I fell in love with that game. There's so much, so much to love in there.

Um, 93% is, is again, criminal. Uh, that's, that's wildly, uh, underrated, you know, for, for what it is with the voiceover work. 91% on Metacritic, one of the higher games on Metacritic in this list. Uh, actually second highest, uh, only behind Hades, so Disco Elysium. You're missing out if you haven't played it. Again, don't be like me. I thought no combat, what the heck,

I'm not gonna like this at all. And boy was I pleasantly surprised. Dang, Cujo. Yeah. Cujo. Huh? Cuno? All right.

Or Cuno, yeah, I always call him Cujo for some reason. Cujo, you do. And I just let you roll with it because I know exactly who youujo for some reason. Kujo, you do. I know, I always do think. And I just let you roll with it because I know exactly who you're talking about. Yeah. All right, not quite as a well-known game, but man, this game did garner a lot of attention

when it came out. Dredge is the last one on our official list before we get to a few honorable mentions. Dredge, horror fishing? Like what? Horror fishing. What thege, horror fishing? Like what? Horror fishing. What the heck is horror fishing? How does this work?

But I played Dredge. I had an absolute great time with it. Sitting at a 95% on Steam 80 on Metacritic. So again, those Metacritic people, harsh. Harsh on Dredge. Harsh, harsh. The lowest Metacritic score out of any of these games. Ace, you're a big fan of Dredge. The lowest Metacritic score out of any of these games. Ace, you're a big fan of Dredge.

I think you're the one that actually got me to play Dredge. So is it underrated or overrated at 95%? I'm going to preference this by saying Dredge is probably one of my favorite games ever. But near the end, it really starts to drag and you hit that wall and you hit it hard. So I'm gonna have to say it's a little bit overrated. Oh, you heard it here folks.

Wow. Ace hates dredge. Wow. You heard it here first. You heard it here slandering dredge, Ace. I mean. Devs are on the phone. And the developer listens to our show and has to every day that on the indie episode Oh, maybe we could send them Andy and 60 instead Found on our Instagram go check it out

All right, well overrated ace hate stretch. We all know that so Ryan. What about you buddy? Well, I don't know hate really good video games did ace hates dredge we all heard that so Ryan what about you buddy? Well I don't know what you're gonna say. Do you also hate really good video games? Apparently so because dredge is not a 95. I love dredge I think the atmosphere is amazing it's talk about a cozy game that you just want to kind of sink into but it's actually fun you know? Yeah. I'm like starting starting. But anyways, Dredge is not a 95. That's so, it's just a kind of clear cut, simple. It's just overrated.

Man, you two guys are harsh, dude. Wow, I fit right in. We're Metacritic reviewers, didn't you know? Overrated. Yeah, okay. Dredge is a fantastic video game. It is a lot of fun to play. I think it does what it does very well, but man, it's like,

are we just so hungry for just a good video game that we elevated up to like higher levels because it just, it didn't have a lot of flaws to it. I'd like dredge a lot. Do not hear what we are not saying. I think, I think this game would appeal to a wide range of gamers. And again, this is one of those ones where if you haven't played it, you probably will like it. I don't know anybody that dislikes Dredge.

And maybe that's elevating it to like a level that is kind of like, I don't know if it belongs way up here in this upper echelon of games. So at a 95%, I will say I do think it's overrated, but it is a heck of a game that I think has mass appeal to a lot of people Dude, well, we're hopefully we'll see with what is it a dread more? Yeah It's gonna be like the first person dredge, which is that gonna be like, oh, this is so much better Okay, this is what I wanted. Yeah

Was pretty good That's what I'm worried about we're all just just going to look back and be like, oh, wow, Dredge did it right. Yeah, maybe. Maybe. All right, listen, guys, we've got a few minutes left to really shake things up and just really make everybody hate us.

And I'm going to jump in on one game. OK, Ace, you gifted me a copy of this game. You said, Josh, if I know anything about you, you will love this game. You love roguelikes, you love good combat, you love a good difficulty curve. You gifted me a copy of Dead Cells, and I went, dude, I can't tell you the number of people

that I have heard just tout Dead Cells as one of the best roguelikes games ever. The combat is top notch. I dove into Dead Cells and about four hours later, I went, what is wrong with me? Why do I not like this game? What is happening? And I am gonna be honest, Dead Cells is at a 97%

overwhelmingly positive rating. I do not get it, dude. And I get, I should love this game. It makes no sense. You really should. It makes no sense to me whatsoever. But I found Dead Cells to be insanely repetitive. I did not like the, how fast you could die

and then just respawn and I'm running that same stupid sewer level over and over and over again. Sure, I got a different blade, but it's all the same to me. I don't, I'm sorry. I'm sorry people. I'm going to, I'm, this is the only one I'm going to apologize for. I just don't get it. I think dead cells is insanely overrated at a 97%. So yeah. Hot takes, you heard it here, folks. Yeah, hot takes.

I haven't played it, so I got no comment, but I'm just gonna say overrated. Yeah, you would hate it. Oh, how dare you, sir. You would hate it. How dare you with that hot take. Ace, you got one that I'm scared to have you even talk about this

in any kind of bad light whatsoever. Even though I- Yeah, we should be scared. Absolutely agree with you on this one because I have played this game too, but man, you're gonna catch some, I'm letting you do it, I'm staying out of this. Yeah, I'll introduce that one after I say that. I have to unfortunately agree with you

that Dead Cells is a little overrated. I hate to say it, but it is. It's a little bit overrated when the genre is this packed with giants of the roguelike genre and even the roguelike 2D platformer genre. Yeah, get to the good part where everybody hates you now. All right, all right. We bringing up a game that everyone wants us to talk about,

but nobody wants to play. We're talking about Undertale. Yep. Well, man, sitting at a, what is it? 96%. 96% on Steam. For a game that looks like it was made by a three-year-old. A game, yeah.

Don't poke the bear. Oh, sorry. No, no, no, this is your bear ace. I forgot, sorry. Yeah, don't poke the bear, please. And a 92 on Metacritic, I have to say that Undertale is completely and utterly underrated. Josh, take it away.

No, not overrated. It is completely overrated. I was like, wait, what? Wait a second. It's just bait and switch me? Like, what just happened? Oh, man. I think Undertale is completely overrated.

It's got great music, and I know people love the story, and that the whole thing is about choice and whatever. It just didn't resonate with me, and I don't think that if we didn't have cringey teenagers in YouTube, it would be nearly as big as it is. Thank you, Theater Kids, for making Undertale as big as it is.

There you go, yeah. That's, oof. My daughter is a theater kid, and I totally get what you're saying. There, he's got you. Yeah. No, 100%. Yeah. Yeah. Talk about choice. I have a choice and the choice was to not play this game. So I'm sitting pretty. Yeah. Take it away, Josh. Don't you love Undertale? I played Undertale. I'll be honest, I played it for like three, four hours. So in all fairness,

I did not get to the heartfelt like, Oh, this game is so deep and so amazing and all that. So I fully admit I might be missing out, but man, if I can think of a game that is, I am so just put off on that everybody else loves. This is up there with like Stardew Valley for me. It, this is Undertale is a huge whiff for my gamer brain. I get why people love it. But man, I don't get I Don't get it at all. So all right insert the old white guys Video games comment. Yeah, don't they don't get it man. This is one of the best games of the generation Old man opinions. Yeah. All right real quick consensus opinion last one and then we got to get out of here

Yeah, all right real quick consensus opinion last one and then we got to get out of here Deep Rock Galactic a game that we have touted a game that we have recommended to people Rock and Stone When we think about the great indie games we got to talk about Deep Rock Galactic 97% rating is it underrated or overrated Ryan go Underrated rock and stone forever. I love it. I love all the iterations. I love all the side games underrated These I agree. It is completely underrated and it's got infinite replayability and you can play with your friends. So underrated rock and stone Rock and stone underrated for me as well, but it's close man. I

It's a close line. I was very close to like, is it overrated? It's a close line. But it's just a blast of a game. And again, you can have fun with your friends. It's got a ton of great stuff. So all right, that's it. Please don't hate us, everybody. This was all just for fun.

Hate all you want. We don't care. Send all hate to Ryan. He wants it. Yeah. Bring it on. He's like, I want to just drown myself in the hate. All right. We hope you had fun. Listen, if we got it wrong, if we got it right, let us know. You can comment on this episode on Spotify, leave us a comment and tell us how stupid we are or how you agree with us. And then you can face the wrath of the

internet along with us. Yep. Um, but man, what a good time. And again, all these games are honestly amazing, dude. No, we're not talking bad about these games. It's more just does the rating reflect how good they really are. Um, if you haven't done so, make sure you follow the podcast. If you are still listening and haven't decided you hate us at this point, click that plus button, click that follow button, um, and, uh and make sure you get all of our episodes that day that they release. And if you are, you know, like these guys are so

brave to take on the world and not be afraid to talk about their opinions on these games, and you want to support this podcast, you can click the link that's in the episode description to sign up and support this show. We're going to give you a shout out on the air. We'll give you some awesome Discord perks for our incredible community as well. So check that out, keep this podcast alive and going.

And you know, not afraid to give these opinions, you know? Cause that's just the thing. We're just gonna find such unfiltered opinions like this from three old men. Yeah, exactly. As the internet calls us. Yeah, yeah. What's the worst they're going to do? Take our walkers away from us?

You know? All right, everybody. Thanks for tuning in. This was a fun one. Until next time, happy gaming. See ya. Peace out. Thanks for watching!