20 Most Criminally Underrated Video Games Of All Time

16. Super Mario Sunshine

This 2002 Nintendo GameCube 3D platformer has the unfortunate distinction of being the least respected Mario game in the core series. Despite universal critical acclaim, a large segment of the Mario fan base just couldn't bring themselves to forgive what they saw as a rushed, unpolished product. We expect a lot from our favorite Italian plumber, so anything less than perfection is instantly torn apart. Detractors moaned about the FLUDD water jet idea, saying it was a tacked-on gimmick, an unnecessary complications that took away from the essence of Mario platform gaming. But by the time Super Mario Sunshine came out, the franchise was actually in dire need of some creative thinking in terms of game design, and FLUDD added a new dimension to an aging format. The accusation that Sunshine was rough around the edges may have held merit, but that was just when put in comparison with other Mario games of the time. Compared to any other 3D platform game back then, this was actually something of a masterpiece.