1. No Man's Sky
Bro, remember when NMS dropped and everyone was like 'nah fam'? Critics went in hard. But Hello Games pulled a legendary comeback. Now it's actually peak, the exploration is endless, and the community is thriving. Peeps are still out there building crazy bases and finding alien life. It's a whole vibe, honestly, a true glow-up story. It shows what sticking with your vision can do, for real.
2. Death Stranding
Okay, Death Stranding was wild, right? Critics were kinda confused, calling it a 'delivery simulator.' But Kojima went crazy with the narrative and the whole 'strand' concept. The community totally got the vibe, connecting with other players' structures and just soaking in the surreal post-apoc world. It's definitely a niche game, but for those who clicked with it, it's straight-up genius, no cap. A truly unique experience.
3. Fallout 76
Fallout 76 had a rough start, like, super rough. Critics absolutely clapped back, and players were mega disappointed. But honestly, Bethesda put in the work. Years of updates, new content, and now it's actually a pretty dope online RPG. The community is chill, exploring Appalachia, building camps, and nuking stuff. It's still got its quirks, but the glow-up is undeniable. Worth a second look, for real.
4. Palworld
Palworld dropped and immediately went viral, but some critics were just not getting the vision, calling it a copycat. But the community? We were all over it! Catching Pals, building bases, crafting gear, and yeah, giving our cute little buddies guns. It’s chaotic fun, and the sheer freedom in that open world is just *chef's kiss*. The player numbers spoke for themselves, proving everyone else wrong, for sure. So much to do.
5. Days Gone
Days Gone got a pretty lukewarm reception from critics, who were like, 'another open-world zombie game, yawn.' But the players? We were all about Deacon's story, battling insane hordes of Freakers, and that motorcycle gameplay was just *chef's kiss*. The world felt alive, and the narrative really hit different. It became a low-key cult classic, especially when it hit PC, and now everyone's begging for a sequel. Underrated gem, for real.
