The Best Games That Were Shadow Dropped

The shadow drop is a term that sparks excitement in the soul of every gamer upon hearing it. It refers to when a developer drops a game immediately after announcing it, usually as part of the initial reveal trailer, as a way to catch fans off guard, getting them sucked into the gameplay as quickly as possible.

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Shadow-dropping a game doesn’t necessarily mean it will be high quality though. There’s nothing more unpredictable than releasing a game into the wild right off the bat. With no trailers or promotional material, the game could end up floundering, but as these games go to show, plenty of amazing titles have also been released this way.

8

Unravel Two

The Endearing Aesthetic And Tricky Platforming Make For A Great Co-Op Experience

Unravel Two is a quaint and cozy puzzle platformer that is essentially the same as its predecessor but with a co-op option. That’s certainly not a bad thing though, considering how immensely tricky yet satisfying it was in the first game to get accustomed to the physics engine and yarn mechanic, which essentially acts as a rope for closing long distances.

This game was shadow-dropped at the 2018 EA Play, and, alongside Star War Battlefront 2, would be a highlight of the conference. It has since become a staple of the family platformer subgenre and features some truly unique coop gameplay mechanics that make it worth checking out for anyone looking to enjoy a laid-back gaming experience with a buddy.

7

Tetris 99

A Tetris Battle Royal Hybrid Was Not On Anyone’s Bingo Card

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Tetris 99

Systems

Released

February 13, 2019

Developer(s)

Arika

OpenCritic Rating

Strong

Nintendo decided to sneakily announce, and proceed to launch, a brand-new Tetris game for the Switch that combined the core puzzle gameplay of classic Tetris with a modernized battle royal formula. The result was an incredibly addictive and fiercely competitive multiplayer game that pushes every player to their absolute limits with each match.

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As players connect their shapes and execute patterns in Tetris 99, they will then add their blocks to other players’ screens, which can be viewed in real-time. The more players are out for the count, the faster the gameplay becomes until, eventually, shapes are barreling down at a staggering pace, making for a fantastic addition to such a legendary series.

6

Apex Legends

Became An Overnight Phenomenon Upon Its Announcement And Release

On the fourth of February, 2019, EA dropped a trailer, seemingly out of nowhere, showing two soldiers and a goofy robot being thrown into a hectic gunfight. Though a battle royal trailer was nothing new at the time, Apex Legends’ 3 versus 3 gameplay spin made it feel like something entirely unique and fresh.

The charm of the trailer, paired with the experimental gameplay that incorporated elements of hero shooters, which was showcased in a separate trailer on the same day, got a lot of people talking. The game has gone on to become one of the most popular hero shooters on the market and continues to receive updates and support from its developers to this day.

5

NEO: The World Ends With You

A Vibrant And Colorful Action RPG That Randomly Dropped On Steam With A 25% Discount

Square Enix’s NEO: The World Ends With You was released exclusively on the Epics Games Store initially, locking a lot of players out from trying it for themselves. However, it would then be shadow-dropped onto Steam along with a 25% discount. To make this sudden release even more bizarre, it also came out a day before Persona 5 Royal, which is a pretty risky move considering the sheer amount of hype leading up to that re-release.

Nonetheless, NEO stands on its own as a fresh and vibrant RPG that combines flashy visuals with deep and layered characters. It also stands out for its high-energy soundtrack which sounds like it was ripped straight from the 90s, alongside the focus on fashion, which really shows itself in the stylish character designs.

4

Hi-Fi Rush

Tango Took A Gamble Releasing This Game With Barely Any Marketing, Yet It Became A Huge Success

Tango Gameworks, a studio known primarily for their work on The Evil Within, surprised everyone with a bright and vibrant new announcement, one which seemed to be based entirely around music beats and rhythm. Though Hi-Fi Rush’s single trailer looked too good to be true, the speed and fluidity of the combat felt just as good in the game itself once people were able to get their hands on it later that day. Hitting enemies in time with the beat will power up Chai’s attacks, allowing for seamless combos that pop out from the screen thanks to the colorful art style.

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Pair that with a lovable cast of memorable characters and plenty of unique boss fights, and it creates a game that feels far ahead of its time. In many ways, Hi-Fi Rush demonstrated that sometimes the risk of a shadow drop can be worth taking, so long as the game is in the best state it possibly can be before launching.

3

Hollow Knight

Hollow Knight’s Arrival On The Switch Was Unexpected, But Very Much Welcome

To preface, this refers to the Switch version of Hollow Knight, which would be randomly shadow-dropped during a Nintendo Direct in June, 2018. Hollow Knight, the creative 2D metroidvania, had been available on Steam for a little while, but despite garnering a large fanbase, it would be with the Switch’s release that Hollow Knight would skyrocket into mainstream popularity.

The main objective of the game is simple: Stop a deadly infection from spreading by killing three bugs known as Dreamers. However, to find them, players will need to dig deep and navigate their way through the fallen kingdom of Hallownest where an abundance of powerful enemies and allies await them along their journey.

2

Hades

This Fresh And Creative Roguelike Entered Early Access The Same Day It Was Announced

It might be hard to believe, but indie darling Hades had virtually no promotional material leading up to its release. In fact, after a fairly brief trailer showcasing the basic characters and roguelike gameplay at the Game Awards 2018, the game was then released into Early Access right after the show was finished. Though roguelikes weren’t anything new by this point, Hades spiced things up with its boon system where Zagreus could acquire different abilities and techniques from a range of Greek gods to make every playthrough different.

It also features an eye-catching visual style, a satisfying progression system, and a ton of unique weapons that can all be tested on Skelly in the training room. Despite being shadow-dropped, Hades would go on to become one of the most popular indie games of all time, so much so it even sparked a debate about what an indie game even is, and how they differ from triple-A titles.

1

Metroid Prime Remastered

The Grand Return Of A Nintendo Classic Caught Everyone Off Guard When It Appeared At A Direct

Systems

Released

February 8, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Though there had been rumors of a Metroid Prime graphical remaster in the weeks leading up to the announcement, it was unclear whether the next mainline game would be shown first. However, in the end, Nintendo announced and then released Metroid Prime Remastered during a Nintendo Direct, which gave the classic adventure platforming hybrid a visual enhancement that complimented the timeless action-oriented gameplay.

The majority of the launch trailer focused on the environments, and the improvements made to the natural beauty and Samus’ armor. The visor was also shown off as a core addition to Samus’ toolkit, and of course, it wouldn’t be a Metroid trailer without Ridley making a few appearances. Metroid Prime Remastered essentially follows the “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mantra, as while the incredible and diverse gameplay has been more or less untouched, the visuals received a much-needed boost, ushering this classic title into the modern era.

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