It’s not a wild opening statement to say that the majority of gamers have become disenchanted with the AAA gaming industry. Mainly on account of it being a bloated, boring mess churning out cookie-cutter titles. Which are often not even in a finished state and need sizable day one patches.
The AA Industry Isn’t Dying, It’s Thriving
The AAA industry wants you to believe that AA is extinct, but it’s alive and well.
However, as the AAA industry has been stumbling,the AA category has stepped up to the plateand has recently provided a few games that put themulti-million-dollar budget AAA titlesto shame.
So, this got me thinking. What AA games over the years have garnered scores that rival some of the best in the business, punching way above their weight to achieve awards and sales beyond their pedigree.
Well, it turns out there have been quite a few. So, allow me to list the highest-rated AA games of all time, according to Opencritic.
AA is a pretty loosely defined sub-category, so we will consider games with either a small team, a small budget, or, ideally, both. We will also only list the highest-reviewed example from each franchise.
10Overcooked! All You Can Eat
Co-op Cooking Chaos
Overcooked! All You Can Eat
you may try all you want to convince me that Team 17 is an indie studio, but the publisher has been around forever, churns out a wealth of games, and has the resources of a AAA outfit. So, at the very least, they are an AA boutique publisher.
So, with that in mind, Overcooked! All You Can Eat definitely fits the bill. This collection of three amazingchaotic cooking co-op gamesdelivers on all fronts, bringing these games into the modern era and packing them all in one neat package.
The gameplay requires players to work as a team, communicate flawlessly, and avoid all the slapstick hazards on screen to fill orders and become the best chef in the kingdom.
However, try as you might; this one will almost definitely cause a few arguments between friends and spouses. But if you can stand the heat, you should get in the kitchen.
9Psychonauts 2
Runaway With The Circus
Psychonauts 2
When it comes to indie and AA games, you don’t get many bigger champions for the little guy than Tim Schafer, which is why Devolver Digital has always used their AA resources and might to support plucky little indies.
However, on occasion, Double Fine Productions steps back into the fray and produces an AA masterclass of their own, and Psychonauts 2 is probably the best of the bunch.
While the original could easily have found itself here too, the sequel is just a touch superior, offering modern mascot platforming bliss, albeit with the surreal and experimental charm that the series is known for.
It’s one of those platformers that feels wholly unlike anything that has come before, offering unique level design, heartfelt storytelling,and trippy visualsthat make each level a spectacle.
It is perhaps still a series that has never hit the big time, but critically, this game has got the props it deserved, and it’s one you absolutely need to check out.
8Sea of Stars
Nostalgia Overload
Sea of Stars
Speaking of Devolver Digital, they have their fingerprints all over this one. They helped Sabotage Studios, the makers of The Messenger, create this incredible modern-meets-retro JRPG.
Proving that JRPGsdon’t strictly have to come from Japanto feel authentic and special, Sea of Stars is a love letter to the golden age of JRPGs, offering gameplay, visuals and an exceptional score that are reminiscent of JRPG darling, Chrono Trigger.
But the game does enough to stand on its own two feet, with dynamic and interactive turn-based combat and incredible visuals that elevate the pixel-style beyond what we have ever seen. Plus, the game tells a riveting story that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
It’s a JRPG masterclass that captures the lightning in a bottle last uncorked in the 1990s. So, if you want a wave of JRPG nostalgia, this is the game for you.
7Pillars of Eternity
A Pillar Of The RPG Genre
Pillars of Eternity
Before Microsoft’s grand acquisition, Obsidian was a plucky little AA studio that habitually punched way above its weight. It often latched onto bigger publishers to use their resources, ultimately delivering major hits with a small team at the helm.
But one fine example of a game that is purely their own is Pillars of Eternity, one of the most incredible CRPG titles in recent memory. Dropping players into a world rich in lore, deep RPG systems, and branching narratives where the player’s choices really matter.
Obsidian is often lauded for its excellent writing, and Pillars of Eternity is the team at their absolute best, offering expansive lore, character depth, and memorable moments in abundance.
There’s oodles of content to get through here, and the game boasts insane replayability, so you really get value for money with this one.
Even thoughObsidian’s AAA venture in the same world with Avowedmight not have gone to plan, it doesn’t take away from the fact that PoE is one of the finest RPGs in history, and demands your attention.
6Neon White
Highway to Heaven
Neon White
While many would perhaps consider Neon White to be an out-and-out indie title, I am of the opinion that any game under the Annapurna umbrella is at an advantage over any other indie among the crowd. Hence, I label this one an AA title.
But regardless of the label, Neon White is a standout game, and one that completely flips the script on what you would expect of a FPS game, or indeed a platformer.
It’s a cliché at this point, but the best way to describe the game is a gamethat ‘Speedruns speedrunning.‘Allowing players to refine their runs, take clever shortcuts and shave milliseconds to ace each stage.
Each level is designed to perfection, and the gameplay is easy to pick up, but tricky to master, which is exactly what you want from a game of this nature.
Granted, the writing is about as cringy as it gets, but if you can tolerate that, you’ll be treated to a game truly like no other.
5Ori and the Will of the Wisps
When There’s A Will, There’s A Way
Ori and the Will of the Wisps
This may come as a surprise to some, especially considering that Ori and the Blind Forest was most definitely an indie project. But, seeing as Moon Studios made the sequel with a team of 80+ and with the backing of Xbox Game Studios, Will of the Wisps is undoubtedly AA.
But it seems that this bump in prestige has done wonders for this sequel, as many of the issues and concerns of fans subject to the original dissipated with the arrival of the second title.
The game was just as visually striking, but with the caveat of higher, more accessible platforming, a more emotional and affecting narrative, and better navigation, to name but a few of the improvements.
It’s one of the mosthighly regarded Metroidvaniasever made for a reason, and is one of the few games that Xbox fans can play and PlayStation fans cannot which still makes me jealous.
4Dave The Diver
Anyone For Sushi?
Dave the Diver is a prime example of a game that intentionally masquerades as an indie title to win the hearts of the cozy gaming collective. However, in reality, this is a AA game made by a small team, but with the backing of a huge company in the form of Nexon.
But, origins aside, Dave the Diver is a phenomenal game that offers that quintessential ‘one more day’ gameplay loop akin to games like Stardew Valley. But, with the caveat that the game is constantly evolving and has an actual defined endpoint.
The blend of underwater exploration and restaurant management is a blast, the steady progression is super satisfying, and the cutesy visuals and silly mini-games are a hoot.
Posing as a plucky pixel indie may be a little nefarious, but you’re able to’t deny that this is an addictive game bursting at the seams with quality.
3Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Tomorrow Comes
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Fextralife Wiki
Here comes the most recent AA game to achieve monumental success, and the game that serves as the catalyst for this list.
Clair Obscur,much like fellow JRPG Sea of Stars on this list, is a French-made JRPG that delivers an experience that puts almost all games within the genre to shame.
The game offers incredible turn-based combat with parry mechanics to keep things dynamic, alongside a mature story, a rousing score, and some of the most incredible visuals that Unreal 5 has accommodated to date.
It’s a game that offers all-killer, no filler content, and makes you care for every core character thanks to the incredible writing and voice acting. Not to mention, it doesn’t overstay its welcome, as you may roll credits in just over thirty hours.
It’s the kind of game you get when talented developers are allowed to be creative without compromise, and I hope that it serves as the catalyst for more of the same.
It’s Not A Phase, Dad!
While many would argue that Supergiant Games is right on the upper echelons of what you would define as an indie game, I find myself in the other camp as I believe that games under their umbrella, at least today, are just about on par with AA titles.
But, even if that’s the case, Hades, and indeed the upcoming early access title Hades 2, have found a way to compete with the best of the best, even winning the coveted GOTY award in the process.
Hades still stands today as probably the finest example of how to create a mindfully designed Roguelike, as with each death the game spoon-feeds new plot points and details, making failure just as rewarding as success in many ways.
Each run feels unique, and the game is dynamic, fluid, and addictive, making each run as enjoyable as the last. It does look for all the world that Hades 2 will usurp its predecessor as the best of the two. But for now, the original reigns supreme.
1Divinity 2: The Original Sin
The Blueprint For BG3
Divinity: Original Sin 2
As tempted as I was to throw Baldur’s Gate 3 onto this list due to Larian Studios’ indie status, it’s very hard to overlook the multi-million dollar budget that game boasts.
However, the game that acted as the framework for Baldur’s Gate 3 didn’t have the same luxury, but still managed to offer one of the richest, most impressive RPG experiences ever, as the high score suggests.
Anyone who is a fan of BG3 should absolutely jump into Divinity 2, as it’s a stone’s throw away from the groundbreaking CRPG, offering similar combat, equally incredible choice-driven writing, and it drops you into a world steeped in lore and intrigue.
It’s a fantasy experience that allows you to carve out your own path, and even if BG3 definitely improves on the blueprint, there would be no BG3 without Divinity 2, and that alone makes it well worth diving into this iconic RPG.
13 AA Games With AAA Appeal
Sometimes it’s about the gameplay, sometimes it’s about the visuals, but it’s always about the quality, so let’s check out some double-A games.
