Top 20 Disappointing Video Games of the Century So Far

#20: “Resident Evil 6” (2012)

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The writing was on the wall. “Resident Evil 5” went in a rather surprising and not entirely welcome action direction, but it still retained some core horror elements. That mostly changed with “6,” which served as the series’ most action-packed and bombastic entry to date. While the cast of characters was stellar, the campaigns drastically differed in quality, from Leon’s attempt to replicate the horror of the original games (quite poorly), to Chris’s cheesy, B-movie action spectacle. It was not a direction that the fans were interested in. RE6 was a game that was trying to please both action and horror fans alike yet failed to do both! Luckily, Capcom has fully redeemed themselves with “Resident Evil 7” and the “Resident Evil 2” remake, so all is well.

“Spore” had big ambition. But, like a lot of games with big ambition, it wasn’t able to capitalize on its intentions. Pre-release hype for “Spore” was quite high, mainly due to the involvement of Maxis and Will Wright, along with the game’s ambitious concept - you control a species’ entire lifecycle, from its microscopic beginnings through its evolution to its eventual intergalactic travel. Unfortunately, the end product was marred in controversy due to its DRM software and inclusion of SecuROM, which wasn’t even mentioned in the software license agreement. EA was eventually the subject of numerous class action lawsuits, user ratings were abysmal, and Maxis developer Chris Harris admitted that the DRM implementation was a “totally avoidable disaster.”

#18: “No Man’s Sky” (2016)

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First of all … Yes! Hello Games has improved this game in many respectable ways, and it’s really not as terrible as it was when it first game out, hence why it’s only #18. That being said, few video game launches are as monumentally disastrous as this. There was an unbelievable amount of hype preceding this game, with Sean Murray even appearing on “Stephen Colbert” to discuss and promote it. Unfortunately, what marred the game’s launch was the laundry list of unfulfilled promises made by Sean Murray throughout the marketing period, which all but ruined Murray’s public image. As we said; things are better now, but there are some things you never forget.

#17: “Metroid: Other M” (2010)

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By the late 2000s, the “Metroid” series was riding high. “Metroid Prime” essentially changed first-person shooters forever in 2002, and “Metroid Prime 3: Corruption” ended the trilogy on a fantastic note in 2007. Everyone was waiting with bated breath to see what Nintendo whipped up next. And then we let that breath out in a collective sigh when we all experienced “Metroid: Other M.” It wasn’t a terrible game by any means, but the first-person perspective was janky, the writing was terrible, and the characterization of Samus made everyone want one of those memory erasure things from “Men in Black.” We are desperately waiting for “Metroid Prime 4,” but we may also be living on Mars by the time that comes out.

#16: “Red Steel” (2006)

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“Red Steel” was going to be one of the best launch games of all time, and it was going to redefine how we experience video games, specifically first-person shooters. Ubisoft showed us the future, a new form of motion-controlled gaming that promised an unprecedented sense of immersion and interactivity. What we got instead was...well, a Wii shooter. And if you’ve ever played a Wii shooter, you know that the controls are often clunky, slow, and totally unengaging. This wasn’t the future. This was a mediocre FPS with fuzzy 480p graphics and crappy controls that had us punting the Wiimote across the room in frustration. The Wii certainly had its strengths, but dazzling shooters was not one of them.

#15: “Final Fantasy XIII” (2010)

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Any new “Final Fantasy” game is worth celebrating. But that’s not to say that every game is an absolute winner and that was especially the case with Final Fantasy XIII. Hype was quite high for this entry, as it had been nearly four years since its announcement at E3 2006, and Square Enix was utilizing a new game engine. We couldn’t wait to see what this new puppy could do. And while the production was typically astounding, many critics took issue with the game’s terribly disappointing linearity. This was an intentional design choice, with producer Yoshinori Kitase stating that they “wanted to create a new genre” with “Final Fantasy XIII,” something “more like an FPS than an RPG.” Obviously, that was not what “Final Fantasy” fans wanted.

To think; this was once THE greatest city building simulator series of all time, which is what makes this disappointment sting really hard. During a Reddit AMA, it was revealed that this highly anticipated reboot was going to require a continuous connection to EA’s servers, prompting many fans to voice their disapproval. Unfortunately, their hesitations soon proved warranted, as the “SimCity” launch was an unmitigated disaster of epic proportions. People couldn’t connect to the servers, which meant they couldn’t even play the game. Those that DID connect were greeted with constant network outages and corrupted save files. Even looking past those issues, the game was nowhere near as complex or enjoyable as it’s predecessors. There’s a good reason no one talks about “SimCity” anymore.

#13: “PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale” (2012)

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It was the game that promised to be the “Super Smash Bros.” of the PlayStation brand. Featuring most of its iconic characters; including Jak and Daxter, Kratos, Ratchet and Clank, and Nathan Drake. What more could you want!? Well notably there was no Crash Bandicoot or Spyro, yet amazingly those omissions felt like nitpicks compared to the game’s core problems. The stages were unimaginative, and the gameplay was based entirely around the super combo meter, which meant if you missed your super move, all the preceding fighting was for nothing. It was an inane decision, and it ruined what could have potentially been a legitimate “Super Smash Bros.” competitor.

#12: “Too Human” (2008)

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A game entering development hell is rarely a good sign. Silicon Knights announced “Too Human” way back in 1999. It was going to be released for the original PlayStation, but Silicon Knights later entered an agreement with Nintendo to develop the game for the GameCube. What resulted was a mess of a development, and the game wasn’t released until 2008 on the Xbox 360 after once again changing publishers. Unfortunately, it looked and played like something from 1999, with the terrible controls, ugly graphics, and persistent performance issues being singled out for criticism. Those were far from the game’s only problems, but they were the most indicative of its general lack of polish.

By the mid-2000s, motion control gaming was all the rage. The Wii was a runaway success, so, naturally, Nintendo’s competition tried hopping on the motion control gravy train. It didn’t go well for them. “Lair” relied on motion controls for its air-based combat and dragon flying, but these controls were horribly implemented and shockingly frustrating. The game also took advantage of the new Remote Play function, but it was just as awful on the PSP. Perhaps even more so due to its lack of motion sensor controls and various necessary buttons. Sony was then brash enough to send out a “Lair Reviewer’s Guide,” which condescendingly told critics how to properly play the game. It shattered Factor 5’s reputation, and like a dragon, “Lair” faded into legend.

#10: “Anthem” (2019)

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After Mass Effect 3, Bioware seemed to go from one disappointment to the next! The “Dragon Age” series went through some rough patches, and “Andromeda” disappointment closed Bioware’s Montreal studio. And the frustrating thing is that you really wanted these games to succeed. There’s real potential there! Despite past failings, there was some hype leading up to “Anthem’s” release, primarily due to it being a new BioWare IP. However, it proved to be the most disappointing release by Bioware of all their titles, thanks to some horrible technical issues and an over-reliance on grinding. A detailed Kotaku article was later released, stating that the game’s development was rife with mismanagement, indecision, and a generally stressful work atmosphere. For many, this was the last straw for BioWare. Sound the death knell.

#9: “Sonic the Hedgehog” (2006)

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By 2006, the “Sonic” series was in dire straits. Following a string of disappointments like “Sonic Riders” and the disastrous “Shadow the Hedgehog,” even the most die-hard fans were putting on their life jackets in order to jump ship. But we were promised something new with this 2006 reboot, a glorious return to form that would both celebrate the series’ iconic history and help launch it into the new generation. What we got instead was one of the most infamously terrible video games ever made. Critics hated it, casual fans loathed it, and ardent “Sonic” fans detested it. This was not a leap into a new generation - this was a nauseous step backward in nearly every regard. It almost single handedly destroyed the franchise forever.

Many people had been asking for a “Matrix” game, and we finally got our wish in May 2003 with “Enter the Matrix.” Only, it wasn’t quite what we were expecting. For one thing, we wanted to play as Neo, and if not Neo, then at least Morpheus or Trinity. Not these two random nobodies from the crappy sequels. And because the game served as a tie-in with “The Matrix Reloaded,” many critics believed that it was rushed to completion to meet the movie’s release window. The game contained lame characters no one cared about, it seemed unfinished and unpolished, and it failed to match the movie’s thrilling sense of limitless imagination and possibilities. It was just another crappy movie tie-in.

#7: “Fallout 76” (2018)

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Seriously, what is happening to all our favorite developers!? In the last few years Bethesda has similarly lost its sense of direction. “Fallout 76” had unbelievable potential – a multiplayer game set in the open world “Fallout” universe!? How could that NOT be an instant home run? It turned out to be a foul ball, as the game was instantly met with disdain due to its abundant technical issues and hilariously dead open world. Yet things only seemed to get worse after launch, thanks to a number of bizarre and downright surreal controversies that followed. Including a data breach, a tone-deaf yearly subscription that created a class war, and a recall of collectors edition helmets due to health hazards. Now this is what we call a certified PR nightmare.

#6: “Star Wars Battlefront II” (2017)

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It may not be the most disappointing game of the decade, but it was certainly the most controversial. It was revealed during the beta that the game would employ a pay-to-win system through what was deemed a “predatory” loot box system. EA responded to the criticism with the infamous “Pride and Accomplishment” defence, and things went downhill quickly. That comment became the most downvoted in Reddit’s history, EA’s share price took a massive fall, and there were calls from various government bodies and representatives; to change gambling laws all over the world. It was a total mess, and EA eventually admitted defeat and significantly altered the game’s mechanics. Yet even years later EA still tried to find ways to defend lootboxes as a whole. (“We like to call them surprise mechanics”) Nope, that isn’t gonna to fly.

Ion Storm’s “Deus Ex” was a monumental achievement and a thrilling step forward in the action RPG genre. And, much like a pretty good album following a classic, “Invisible War” was considered a huge disappointment. It was gaming’s Let It Be following Abbey Road. While most critics agreed that it was a solid game, it was negatively compared to its predecessor due to its simplified gameplay mechanics, questionable design choices, and poor artificial intelligence. The PC port received especially poor reviews due to its shoddy performance and crappy controls, among other issues. It was just another head-shaking release under Ion Storm’s surprisingly inadequate belt. More on that in a bit...

#4: “Aliens: Colonial Marines” (2013)

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The concept behind this game was quite literally too good to be true. This was going to be a canonical sequel to James Cameron’s masterpiece “Aliens,” and actors Michael Biehn and Lance Henriksen were set to reprise their iconic roles. However, the game suffered a long and arduous development process, complete with outsourcing and (according to Michael Biehn) a general lack of passion from the developers. What resulted was a technical disaster. It looked nothing like the trailers had promised, and it had artificial intelligence that was so laughably bad, it completely ruined any dread the iconic Xenomorphs posed. And that’s all before getting into the layers of controversy and lawsuits that followed.

So, back to Ion Storm! That company name proved dangerously prophetic, because they were hit with a storm of negative publicity. The hype for this game was unlike anything seen at the time. John Romero was so confident in his vision that he even slapped his own name on the title, a clear sign of the clout and prestige that he carried. However, “Daikatana” was marred in controversy, including numerous delays, a PR nightmare of a marketing campaign, and gossipy internal strife. The game itself was also a dumpster fire, and it is retrospectively remembered as one of the worst games ever made. It was more than a disappointment. It was a disaster.

#2: “Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts & Bolts” (2008)

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There once was a time when Rare reigned supreme. Unfortunately, that pretty much ended when they were purchased by Microsoft. The 2000s contained a string of monumentally disappointing games, including “Perfect Dark Zero” and “Nuts & Bolts.” This was the first main “Banjo-Kazooie” game in eight years. Unfortunately, it sidelined the series’ traditional platforming for vehicle construction and driving, a move that proved both contentious and enormously divisive. Some enjoyed the game for what it was, while others called it a blindsiding that should not have utilized the “Banjo-Kazooie” property. This was not what the long-time “Banjo-Kazooie” fans expected or wanted.

#1: “Duke Nukem Forever” (2011)

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And here it is. Not only the greatest disappointment of the decade, but arguably among the greatest disappointment in … well “Forever”. It’s hard to express just how let down everyone felt with this cheap nonsense. In 1997, 3D Realms began work on a sequel to “Duke Nukem 3D,” which is easily one of the greatest FPS’s of all time. Everyone was expecting a bonafide masterpiece, but then the game got delayed, and delayed, and delayed again to the point where the Publishers and Developers changed over the years. Eventually fifteen years had passed, and Gearbox and 2K FINALLY released the game in 2011 … And it felt like it was only made in two years. The combat felt uninspired, the jokes just weren’t funny and game couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a retro or modern shooter. Duke Nukem was once an icon of gaming, but this title forever turned him into a joke.