Games - Feature Image

All The Games You Love That We’ve Never Played

Every now and then a new game comes along that you have simply no interest in. It might be a game in a genre that you don’t like, or it could be a new direction for an old series that you just don’t gel with. Of course, it might just be something that you really really don’t want to try out. Whatever the reason, each and every one of us has avoided a game or two in the past that everyone else seems to love. From beloved JRPG franchises to emotionally-charged zombie games, we’ve certainly passed on quite a few popular titles.

So, here are the games that some of our team here at The Game Crater have never tried for one reason or another.

Kingdom Hearts

The fact that I’ve never played Kingdom Hearts is definitely going to come as a surprise to those who know me. You see, generally, I’m a big fan of JRPGs and anime. However, I just somehow missed the boat with this one. The thing is, I really have no excuse not to have played them at this point. My family owned Kingdom Hearts 1 and 2 for the PS2 and I even won a copy of Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 Remix when it first came out.

Kingdom Hearts - Games We've Never Played
Image Credit – Square Enix

I think the reason I never played it as a kid was that the storyline was just too confusing. That, and the fact that I couldn’t wrap my eight-year-old mind around why there were Disney characters in this mature looking game. As I’ve gotten older and more spin-off titles have been released, the series suddenly became harder and harder to get into without reading and watching long videos about its history and lore. Being an adult – particularly an adult that works full time – I don’t have the time to do all of that on top of playing the games. So, I have gradually gravitated more towards games that were easier to understand and quickly jump into.

Don’t get me wrong, I know that they’re fantastic games – otherwise they wouldn’t have such a large fanbase. It is just that I’m not sure I’ll ever have the energy and brainpower to fall in love with another JRPG series and its large cast of colourful characters.

  • Confusing story, lore and history
  • Lots of entries into the series that it becomes overwhelming
  • Time consuming to understand which is hard when you have a busy life

Available For: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PC, Nintendo Switch (coming soon)

~ Emmie

Fortnite

I know, I know… it’s cool to hate Fortnite and all that. But honestly, there is genuinely nothing about Fortnite that appeals to me. I am already not that into multiplayer games, especially when the game in question is a “Battle Royale”. Frankly, I just don’t get it. The repetitive gameplay and grind don’t appeal to me and its obscenely colourful purchasable skins are incredible offputting. I also initially thought that Fortnite offered pay-to-win mechanics. While I am aware now that it’s not the case, this misconception was partially responsible for me not trying it out. Even now that I know the truth, I still feel no real motivation to try it out as I generally avoid games with too many microtransactions.

Fortnite - Games We've Never Played
Image Credit – Epic Games

In addition to all of the above, the few gameplay videos that I have seen of Fortnite make it look… well… weird. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for innovation in gaming, but the odd building system coupled with bright colours and shooting strange weapons… it all just looks a little too bizarre to me.

In truth, I think I’m just too old for it. Fortnite, with its bright colours and daft dances, is very clearly marketed towards a younger audience. So, for a man nearing forty it just isn’t something I have any intention of trying to get into any time soon.

  • Don’t like Battle Royale format
  • Too many microtransactions
  • Aimed at a younger audience

Available For: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC, Mac, iOS and Android

~ Ric Oldroyd

The Last Of Us Part 1 & 2

I’ve never been a big proponent of horror games. While I can see their appeal and potential, especially in titles such as Resident Evil 7 and Alien: Isolation, I find the exhilaration commonly associated with the psychological desire to be scared rather unappealing. Simply put, I’m a wimpy baby who’d rather binge a season of Ted Lasso than subject themselves to some obscenely gross and frightening experience.

The Last of Us Parts 1 and 2 are likely both exceptional games. I’m sure they’re filled with beautifully depicted characters, narratives and emotional journeys. However, and rather unfortunately for me, it would seem, whenever I’ve even considered convincing myself to play either of them I struggle to muster the motivation. Sitting through an arduously apocalyptic experience full of horrific monsters and heart-pounding tense moments that require at least a pack of 5 tighty-whities, is simply not my cup of tea.

The Last of Us - Games We've Never Played
Image Credit – Naughty Dog

However, horror elements aside – although I concede that it is a rather large factor in my not playing these games – I find the brutish brutality and narratives about violence and the complex exploration of Ellie’s both moral and mental dilemmas to be a tad too morbid.

While I’m a firm believer in exploring mental health and morality through complex analysis and in such a way as to not depict them as merely black and white issues, I’m also fond of relaxing and not wearing out my own frankly very weary mental health. Maybe one of these days, when I’m capable of figuring out my own problems, I’ll finally sit down and play through these two depressingly beautiful experiences. However, until then, I’m more than content to continue playing through the uplifting Kena: Bridge of Spirits. I might even play through Xenoblade Chronicles 2 once again.

  • Don’t gel well with horror elements
  • Weary mental health prevents me from enjoying narratives about weary mental health
  • A tad too violent for an easily upset tum-tum

Available For: PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4

See our full review for The Last of Us Part II here

~ Tom Wilson

Apex Legends

Apex Legends for me is like the rather bizarre mukbang trend – a lot of people seem to like it, but for the life of me, I cannot tell why. Its overall visual style does not appeal to me and from the few times I’ve seen someone play a game or two, I felt it was a tad bland and simply not something I would be interested in.

I also don’t particularly like the Battle Royale genre either. I tried really hard to play Fortnite, but I just couldn’t get into it. Dropping into a location with countless other people and dying instantly, doesn’t inspire me with excitement.

Image Credit – Respawn Entertainment

But the main reason I’ve avoided Apex Legends is due to its hero system. I was one of the few people who didn’t jump on the Overwatch bandwagon. While I tried it out and gave it the old college try, I felt that the addition of heroes removed a significant portion of the strategy. While I understand not everyone feels the same way, and that of course, each hero plays an important role within a team, when the strangers I was playing online with failed to cooperate, it didn’t matter whether our team synergy was the very best it could be. At the end of the day, if I was a weaker hero, I’d get overwhelmed and beaten.

As a result, I was put off by Apex Legends’ inclusion of heroes. Maybe it works perfectly fine, or perhaps the choice of hero has very little effect on how well you’ll play. But after having had previous negative experiences with hero-based shooters, I figured I’d give it a miss. Don’t get me wrong, I can see the appeal that a game like Apex Legends would have for certain gamers. It’s just a shame I don’t see that same appeal.

  • Not a fan of its aesthetic
  • Don’t like Battle Royale games
  • Don’t enjoy hero shooters

Available For: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch

For more info on balancing in Apex Legends, see our article here

~ Bhromor Rahman

Minecraft

I assume that Minecraft is a fantastic game and I have zero reason to believe the contrary. Exploration, survival, building; this phenomenon of a game has it all and more. Minecraft brings the overwhelming joy of creation into a shared space. Entire communities have formed around simply building something spectacular for the pleasure of it. Over a decade after its release, Minecraft remains a culturally relevant juggernaut. So, why is it that I can’t stop seeing it as just a Lego block simulator.

It’s not that I dislike anything about Minecraft, nor do I believe that I would not enjoy it. It is simply that I don’t believe Minecraft is something that would hold my attention. I deeply enjoy having goals to attain and Minecraft’s open-endedness presents little for me to strive toward. Sure, I could jump in for a few hours each day as I piece together a replica of my favourite Gundam. But then I would miss out on all the games, shows and manga I currently fill my time with. I applaud anyone who has the skills and dedication to accomplish such an artistic feat, but I am severely lacking in those departments. 

Image Credit – Mojang Studios

The longevity of Minecraft also plays into my aversions toward giving it a go. There is so much to learn and be aware of just to get started. This might not matter much if I play solo but it seems like collaboration is the ideal way to play, making the task even more daunting. Adding the fact it’s essentially impossible to escape the Minecraft-mania and I think I have been subjected to burnout before ever picking up the controller. 

Minecraft definitely deserves the hype and attention it has garnered. It is a masterpiece that very well may be one of the most influential games of all time. Unfortunately, it isn’t for me. While I generally am adamant about giving games a chance, I think I’ll always feel like Minecraft is just another Lego set to be admired before shelving away. 

  • Too artsy for my gaming preferences
  • Time consuming with little payoff 
  • Lack of interesting concepts to explore

Available For: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android

~ Alonzo Nash