In recent years, the gaming industry has made significant strides towards becoming more democratic and accessible for both players and developers alike.
For players, a plethora of options now exists—from purchasing consoles and gaming PCs to mobile gaming, digital game purchases, and subscription services that provide extensive game libraries. Additionally, the ability to share accounts with family members further enhances the gaming experience.
Conversely, developers benefit from a wide array of game creation tools, numerous self-publishing platforms, and emerging crowdfunding opportunities to support their projects.
However, increased accessibility can lead to a surge in questionable or poorly executed game creations. In this article, we will delve into the 10 Worst Games of the Last Decade, as determined by OpenCritic ratings.
Selection Criteria
The following games were chosen based on three essential criteria:
- Each game must have received at least seven critic reviews on OpenCritic.
- All titles should be released on traditional gaming platforms, such as home consoles or PC.
- Excluded are shovelware titles, meaning the developers attempted to create a quality game.
10 The Quiet Man
OpenCritic Score – 29
The Quiet Man, which boasts over 30 critic reviews, is often cited as disappointingly inadequate. Developed by Human Head Studios and published by Square Enix, its intriguing premise features a deaf protagonist experiencing the world as he perceives it.
Unfortunately, critics noted that the execution of this concept was poor, prompting developers to eventually include an optional audio feature. The game is portrayed largely through full-motion video without sound or subtitles, an attempt to simulate the hearing impairment of the main character, Dane.
During gameplay, visuals switch to a more conventional gaming aesthetic that allows exploration and combat. Critics ultimately felt the game lacked polish and failed to fulfill its thematic ambitions.
9 POSTAL 4: No Regerts
OpenCritic Score – 27
Having played the original Postal title back in the day, I recall its controversial reception and subsequent bans in various countries. The series, known for its violent and chaotic gameplay, has seen multiple entries despite consistently poor reviews.
Released in 2022, POSTAL 4: No Regerts was unequivocally criticized for being tedious, bug-riddled, and reliant on outdated humor. Its first-person shooter gameplay features distractingly absurd weapons, like a bow that launches dildos, which many found unfunny and desperate for attention.
8 Hollow
OpenCritic Score – 26
Published by Forever Entertainment in 2017, Hollow initially presented itself as a survival horror title reminiscent of Dead Space. Players navigate a spaceship where the crew mysteriously disappears, setting the stage for a gripping horror experience.
Despite its promising premise and solid atmosphere, the game falters by abandoning survival horror elements, instead leaning into shooting mechanics that detract from the overall experience.
Players often find themselves either depleted of ammunition or facing poorly placed enemies, leading to frequent restarts and a frustrating experience overall.
7 Super Seducer
OpenCritic Score – 26
Super Seducer garnered attention prior to its release due to its controversial concept, prompting mixed reactions from critics. Scoring 26 from eight reviews, it surprisingly found a fanbase among players.
The game revolves around seduction scenarios where players choose responses to interact with women. Its humorous yet inappropriate elements lead to cringeworthy moments, contributing to its unexpected popularity, particularly on platforms like Twitch.
6 Raven’s Cry
OpenCritic Score – 24
With a “Never Touch”rating from Jeremy Penter of AngryCentaurGaming, Raven’s Cry attempted to capitalize on the popularity of titles like Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. The game promised an engaging pirate experience but ultimately failed to deliver.
Featuring a clunky combat system and lacking in immersive naval battle animations, players quickly discovered that Raven’s Cry was not worth their time, with many deeming it shallow and forgettable.
5 Skull Island: Rise of Kong
OpenCritic Score – 24
Skull Island: Rise of Kong gained notoriety due to its sheer ineptness, drawing curiosity from players and content creators alike. Its outdated graphics and lackluster gameplay evoke memories of worse games from the PS2 era, lacking any redeeming qualities.
The repetitive 3D brawler mechanics lead to an experience that feels painfully drawn out, likely a result of rushed development within a tightly limited timeframe.
4 Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers
OpenCritic Score – 24
Attempting to tap into nostalgia, Cartoon Network: Battle Crashers featured beloved characters like Gumball and Steven Universe. Unfortunately, the gameplay quickly becomes monotonous, with each battle feeling repetitive and uninspired.
Despite a promising roster and multiplayer functionality, the game fails to deliver engaging interactions, leaving characters feeling bland and lifeless.
3 Afro Samurai 2: Revenge of Kuma
OpenCritic Score – 21
Published by Versus Evil, Afro Samurai 2 was meant to be the first installment of a trilogy. However, players encountered numerous technical issues and design flaws, prompting the publisher to offer refunds and retract the title from digital storefronts.
Although based on a popular anime and manga series, the game fell significantly short of expectations, with a lack of engaging gameplay and uninspired mechanics leading to widespread disappointment.
2 Vroom in the Night Sky
OpenCritic Score – 19
Vroom in the Night Sky, labeled a “Magical Bike Action Game, ”surprisingly debuted as a Nintendo Switch launch title. However, it quickly became apparent that the game merely capitalized on the platform’s relaxed self-publishing policies.
The game is awkward, with clunky mechanics reminiscent of infamous titles like Superman 64. Gamers would likely prefer to spend their money elsewhere, even on worthwhile charitable donations.
1 The Day Before
OpenCritic Score – 16
The Day Before, although it only gathered six critic reviews, earned its place on this list due to its notorious reputation as one of the biggest scams in gaming history. Marketed as a groundbreaking post-apocalyptic MMO set in a zombie-infested America, it generated immense hype but ultimately failed to materialize.
Surrounded by numerous controversies—including unpaid developers and trademark disputes—the game launched with severe bugs, leading to its removal from stores shortly afterward. The collapse of its developer, Fnatic, only solidified its status as the worst game of the decade, if not the century.
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