10 Overhyped Games That Flopped & 10 That Didn't Disappoint
Not All Games Are Created Equal
The video game industry thrives on hype, and gaming studios are very good at building it. However, the road from highly anticipated reveal to successful launch is filled with roadblocks and wrong turns. For every game that delivers on its promises, there are several that crumble under the weight of expectation. Here are 10 hyped games that failed to deliver and 10 that went above and beyond.
1. No Man's Sky
Remember how immensely cool No Man's Sky looked in the teasers? Unfortunately, it totally failed to deliver on key, promised features, and the original version was bland and disappointing. However, we have to give the game developers credit for fixing this problem through free updates, bringing the game up to the standard everyone was anticipating, but it took years.
2. Anthem
Anthem had huge potential, a massive budget, and the backing of BioWare and EA. Unfortunately, it flopped spectacularly because of a mix of design flaws, repetitive, shallow gameplay, long loading screens, and crashes. It just seemed like this game didn't know what it wanted to be.
3. Cyberpunk 2077
Cyberpunk 2077 was one of the most controversial releases when it came out in 2020. It was widely criticized for performance issues like bugs and glitches, which made it unplayable.
4. Evolve
Evolve was one of those games that looked amazing on paper, but just couldn't deliver. Its biggest downfall was the DLC: at full price, it felt too barebones without the paid extras. It also had a steep learning curve that made it unenjoyable to casual players.
5. Mass Effect: Andromeda
Mass Effect: Andromeda was hyped as a welcome addition to its legendary franchise. However, it was plagued by technical issues, and the game's strange animation and awkward cutscenes became viral jokes.
6. Aliens: Colonial Marines
One of the most disappointing aspects of Aliens: Colonial Marines was the sharp disparity between the visual quality shown in early demos and the final product, which left the gaming community feeling cheated. A programming mistake also caused the xenomorphs to wander unthreateningly instead of stalking players, making the game feel silly.
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7. The Order: 1886
One of the biggest criticisms of The Order: 1886 was its very short playtime (5 to 7 hours). It also felt repetitive and underdeveloped, and many players felt the graphics were overemphasised.
8. Fallout 76
Fallout 76 was released with massive technical issues, sparse content, and a weak storyline, infuriating players. Fortunately, it's been greatly improved since its release and is now worth playing.
9. Battlefield 2042
Battlefield 2042 was plagued by technical issues at launch. What's more, it was poorly designed, and developers made some odd decisions by removing some key franchise features, making loyal fans unhappy.
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10. SimCity
SimCity was largely considered disastrous when it was released, mostly because of its always-online DRM, which led to EA's servers being overwhelmed. The cities were also extremely small, making the game uninteresting. There were also problems with the new simulation system, the GlassBox engine, which was supposed to be cutting-edge, but ended up being frustrating, weird, and unrealistic.
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Now that we've covered the games that absolutely didn't live up to the hype they received, let's talk about the winners that did.
1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game, so it could've been far too ambitious and flopped, but it didn't. Instead, it revolutionized 3D open-world design and influenced countless games that followed.
2. Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the best-selling video games of all time, and it's easy to see why. It has stunning graphics, a rich open world, smooth mechanics, and an engaging story.
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3. Elden Ring
Elden Ring was one of the most anticipated games in recent years, but unlike some of the others, it actually delivered. It received universal praise for its intricacy, vast open world, and innovative design.
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4. Grand Theft Auto V
Grand Theft Auto V had big shoes to fill as the fifth in a series of some of the most successful video games ever. It certainly lived up to its hype and even exceeded it, becoming a cultural phenomenon, winning numerous awards, and grossing over $6 billion worldwide.
5. The Last of Us
Before it was a TV series fronted by the "internet's daddy," Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us was a wildly successful video game. It's one of the most emotionally compelling games ever created, with incredible writing, sound design, and gameplay.
6. Half-Life 2
As the sequel to one of the most beloved PC games, Half-Life 2 had high standards to meet. It turned out to be a revolutionary masterpiece, praised for its physics-based gameplay, storytelling, and immersive world.
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7. God of War
God of War did something very difficult: successfully rebooting a classic franchise. It shifted it into a more mature, deep, and sophisticated action RPG with a father-son narrative.
8. Halo 2
Halo 2 had a challenging legacy to live up to. What's more, its development was rushed, and large parts of its planned story were cut. Yet, it still managed to become a cultural phenomenon.
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9. Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 had massive pressure to live up to decades of legacy, and it delivered. The developers asked for player feedback and actually listened and implemented it, creating a highly successful, polished, and deep game.
10. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt came out of a small Polish gaming studio, but the incredible-looking teaser was enough to build enormous hype. The game delivered with its enormous and realistic open world and mature storytelling. It solidified CD Projekt Red's reputation as a top-tier developer.
