10 Most Underrated Video Games Of 2017

3. The Evil Within 2

The Evil Within 2
Bethesda

The Evil Within 2 is everything modern survival horror games should be. Acting as a throwback to the likes of Resident Evil 4 as well as taking inspiration from contemporary open world games, the sequel confidently balances free-form moments of horror with the linear set-pieces the franchise is known for.

Likewise, the sequel excels in particular because it wears its horror influences so candidly on its sleeve, openly referencing moments from Twin Peaks, Silent Hill and The Last of Us. Paying homage to so many other iconic properties could have been a risky move if Tango Gameworks couldn't balance them with original ideas, but fortunately the studio was able to use these reference points to craft an all-encompassing horror experience.

More than that though, the throwaway plot of the original is replaced with a hauntingly emotional tale about a man and his family, which cuts through all of the biological terror and hokey ghost stories to deliver a genuinely engaging story.

If you like old-school survival horror, then The Evil Within 2 is a must-play release, and proves that Bethesda are one of the best supporters of quality single-player games in the industry.

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Josh has over 11 years of experience as a published writer, having worked nine of those years as a full-time content producer at WhatCulture. In that period he has created hundreds of articles, videos and podcast episodes for multiple WhatCulture channels, specialising in gaming, horror and film & TV. He now primarily works as a senior content producer and presenter on WhatCulture Gaming where he co-hosts the WhatCulture Gaming Podcast, a top 3 UK most listened to gaming podcast that he co-created in 2018. Over the years he has reviewed several high-profile gaming releases, covered industry events with on-site reporting, opined on breaking news, and even kicked off his interviewing career by chatting to childhood hero, Tommy Wiseau.