The last ten years have brought remarkable advancements in the gaming industry, with groundbreaking titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and Elden Ring emerging as some of the finest games ever created. Alongside these triumphs, however, there have been disappointing releases that did not meet expectations. Developers sometimes manage to improve their projects and create success stories, but sadly, some titles haven’t earned a second chance.
10 Warcraft 3: Reforged
This city must be purged
The remaster of Warcraft 3 promised to be a thrilling revival of one of the greatest RTS games, with enhanced HD cutscenes as a major selling point. However, Warcraft 3: Reforged turned out to be a complete letdown. The remaster launched without several key features and was riddled with technical glitches and performance issues. The most controversial change was the removal of access to the original Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos and its expansion, leaving players with a subpar version.
Despite efforts to rectify the situation with refunds and support, Blizzard’s justification for some design choices left many fans disheartened, erasing a cherished piece of gaming history.
9 Redfall
Red alert
Redfall marked Bethesda’s first exclusive after its acquisition by Microsoft, generating high expectations. Unfortunately, the game fell short. Developed by Arkane Studios, known for its innovative titles like Prey and the Dishonored series, the transition to a looter shooter lacked the compelling narrative and character depth characteristic of its predecessors. Upon release, players discovered a bland game plagued with bugs, failing to capture the imagination or enthusiasm originally anticipated.
8 Balan Wonderworld
Disasterpiece
Balan Wonderworld was directed by Yuji Naka, famed for Sonic the Hedgehog. However, this title failed to meet expectations across the board. Its gameplay resembled outdated PS2 platformers, lacking the innovation and charm found in contemporary masterpieces like Super Mario Odyssey. The controls were overly simplistic, and there was little to engage players in its world. Unfortunately, Naka’s venture ended poorly, marking an unfortunate chapter in his storied career.
7 The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
Not so precious
Despite a rich legacy of successful Lord of the Rings games, The Lord of the Rings: Gollum missed the mark. The title suffered from numerous bugs, rendering it nearly unplayable. Developed by Daedalic Entertainment, the game fell short technically and conceptually, and the developers acknowledged their inexperience and limited budget as contributing factors to its failure.
6 Babylon’s Fall
How the mighty have fallen
Once celebrated for creating high-quality action games like Nier: Automata, PlatinumGames’ Babylon’s Fall was a dismal experience. The game felt outdated with subpar graphics and pacing, resembling a cash grab rather than a genuine effort. Players looking for engaging gameplay were left disappointed by a disorganized mix that failed to captivate its audience.
5 Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5
I’ll stick with the classics
The anticipation surrounding Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 was high, as fans eagerly awaited a return to the classic skating franchise. However, rushed development due to licensing concerns resulted in a game that fell flat. The controls were clunky, and the overall experience felt unrefined and dissatisfactory compared to the well-crafted remakes of the original series.
4 Alone in the Dark: Illumination
Keep the lights on
Once a hallmark of survival horror in the ’90s, Alone in the Dark has seen a steady decline in quality. The 2015 iteration, Alone in the Dark: Illumination, failed to grasp what made the series iconic. Unlike Resident Evil, which successfully reinvented itself, this title clung to outdated mechanics that only served to frustrate players.
3 Umbrella Corps
Stay dead
Capcom’s Resident Evil franchise has evolved significantly since its early iterations, gravitating towards action-oriented gameplay. This shift culminated in the release of Umbrella Corps, a game that bore little resemblance to its predecessors, relying solely on its brand recognition to attract players. Unfortunately, it felt like a cash grab devoid of the immersive horror elements that fans cherished.
2 eFootball 2022
Red card
When Konami rebranded its successful soccer franchise to eFootball 2022, expectations were high. However, the game was riddled with issues including unresponsive controls and lackluster graphics. The transition from the beloved Pro Evolution Soccer franchise to this new title did not go smoothly, leaving players feeling cheated and yearning for the quality of the earlier installments.
1 The Day Before
The day before tomorrow
When The Day Before was announced in 2021, skepticism surrounded its legitimacy from the very beginning. Marketed as an ambitious open-world post-apocalyptic MMO, the result was a hollow shell of a game that offered very little engagement, ultimately being declared a scam. Its release in 2023 yielded a dismal critical rating of 12/100 on OpenCritic, cementing its place among the most disappointing releases.
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