It’s 2026 now, and I still remember the absolute hype train that was The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom back in May 2023. Like most of the gaming world, I spent that entire month glued to my Switch, building wacky contraptions and delving into the Depths. But looking back, I can’t help but wonder: did I miss out on some real gems because I had tunnel vision for Hyrule? Spoiler alert – I absolutely did. And if you were anything like me, you probably did too. Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and revisit the games that quietly launched alongside the behemoth that was Zelda. Who knows? Maybe you’ll find something to try on a retro gaming kick.

Remember that feeling when you couldn’t tear yourself away from Korok seeds long enough to check Steam? Well, on May 9, 2023, a strange little title called Voidtrain chugged onto the platform and almost nobody noticed. I had previewed this Lovecraftian solo survival game during a Next Fest, and it gave me major Subnautica vibes – except you’re building and maintaining a train that runs on an infinite track through an eerie void. The creature designs were wonderfully imaginative, and the crafting felt fresh. Did you even know it existed? I sure forgot until I stumbled upon it in my backlog a year later.

Then, on May 19, just a week after I’d unlocked the full map in Tears of the Kingdom, Lego 2K Drive rolled out. An open-world Lego racing game where you could rebuild your car on the fly to race on road, off-road, and even on water? That was basically Forza Horizon with plastic bricks. I remember thinking, “I’ll check it out later.” Later never came, because Zelda. But I’ve since heard from friends that the creative freedom it offered was absurdly fun. Was it a hidden Mario Kart killer? Maybe not, but it definitely deserved more attention.

Now, if you’re a tactical RPG enthusiast like me, you probably had your eye on Miasma Chronicles. It launched on May 23, 2023, from the studio behind Mutant Year Zero. I had consumed a couple of previews and was genuinely intrigued by its world and characters. But did I play it that May? Absolutely not. I was too busy fusing weapons and solving shrine puzzles. The irony is that in 2026, I finally finished it and wondered why I waited so long. It’s a solid tactics game with a gripping post-apocalyptic story. Was it a GOTY contender? No, but it scratched an itch that Zelda couldn’t.

The same day, Star Trek: Resurgence warped onto the scene. A narrative adventure from ex-Telltale devs, it promised fan-favorite characters like Riker and Spock. Did you even know there was a new Star Trek game that month? I vaguely remember seeing it in a newsfeed and thinking, “Cool, I bet that’ll be decent.” Spoiler: it was, but Zelda consumed my soul so completely that I didn’t touch it until last year. If you’re craving a good Telltale-style experience with a Trek twist, and you still haven’t played it… what are you waiting for?

And then came May 25 – the day The Lord of the Rings: Gollum crawled out of its cave. I’ll be honest, this one was rough around the edges and got pretty poor reviews. But I remember previews mentioning that hardcore Tolkien fans might appreciate the lore and attention to detail. Did it live up to that promise? Not really, but it’s a fascinating case study in why not every franchise needs a stealth prequel. If you somehow missed the internet’s collective groan, maybe check it out for a laugh? Just keep your expectations underground.

Meanwhile, in early access land, Starship Troopers: Extermination launched on May 17. A co-op FPS from the makers of Squad, it promised wave-based bug-blasting action that felt like Earth Defense Force on steroids. I was cautiously optimistic then, and looking back, it managed to hold a decent playerbase. Did it become the next Destiny? No, but for a few weekends in 2023, my buddies and I had a blast after we finally put Zelda down. Have you ever fought a hundred arachnids with nothing but a rifle and a dream? That game delivered.

And I can’t forget Inkbound, which entered early access on May 22. From the masterminds behind Monster Train, this co-op roguelike tactics game had a unique art style and a twist on turn-based combat. I previewed it and felt it needed more time in the oven, but even then, the core concept was tantalizing. Did you give it a shot? If you’re into deckbuilders or tactical co-op, it has evolved beautifully by 2026 – a true diamond in the rough.

But wait, there’s more! May 2023 was packed with DLC and smaller releases too. Marvel’s Midnight Suns got its final expansion, Blood Storm, on May 11. For The King 2 had a closed beta. The creepy anime puzzle game The Last Labyrinth hit Xbox. V Rising dropped a free expansion called Secrets of Gloomrot. Destiny 2 kicked off Season of the Deep. Forspoken got DLC. And let’s not overlook the retro shooter Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, which we quite liked, or the sequel to the weird surveillance sim, Do Not Feed the Monkeys 2099, and the narrative poker game Sunshine Shuffle. It was a ridiculously busy month, but Zelda sucked up all the oxygen.

So, here we are in 2026. If you’re anything like me, your backlog still has a few of these titles languishing. And maybe that’s okay – Tears of the Kingdom was a once-in-a-decade experience. But the next time a giant like Zelda arrives (and with a new Nintendo console on the horizon, it’s only a matter of time), I’ll try to spare a moment for the underdogs. Because sometimes, the games you almost miss become your favorites. Have you gone back and tried any of these? I bet you’ll be surprised.