Video games may make more money than Hollywood, but even big gaming companies can release major flops. Whether it’s bad design, boring gameplay, or poor execution, what looks good in planning doesn’t always work out. Here are some of the biggest video game failures of all time, showing that even top developers can miss the mark.
Superman 64 (1999)
In 1999, Titus Interactive released *Superman 64*, hoping to capitalize on the success of the animated series. Unfortunately, the game was a major letdown. Instead of exciting superhero action, players spent most of the time flying through hoops, making it feel more like a frustrating chore than a Superman adventure.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Yes, video games existed in 1982, and there was even an *E.T.* game! Rushed into production after the movie’s success, Atari’s *E.T.* game became a notorious flop. Filled with bugs and dull graphics, it was far from fun and is now infamous as one of the worst games ever made.
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sparesniper7 via reddit
Conker’s Bad Fur Day (2001)
*Conker’s Bad Fur Day* earned great reviews upon its 2001 release but flopped commercially. Its mix of cute characters, dark humor, and vulgarity was aimed at teens—many of whom were too young to actually purchase the game.
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divover via reddit
Age of Conan (2008)
*Age of Conan* tried to dethrone *World of Warcraft* but failed. Despite initial interest, the MMORPG quickly lost players, and within months, it was largely abandoned.
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onionsix via reddit
Shenmue (1999)
*Shenmue* was such a flop that it pushed SEGA to shift away from making hardware. Despite costing $70 million to develop and influencing future games, its gameplay was too much for most players, leading to poor sales.
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crematorman via reddit
Elder Scrolls Online (2014)
Like *Age of Conan*, *Elder Scrolls Online* tried to take on *World of Warcraft* but failed. WoW barely noticed the challenge. Plagued by bugs and ignored by many gamers, *Elder Scrolls Online* couldn’t unseat the reigning MMO giant.
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hungryhunbear via reddit
Fallout 76 (2018)
*Fallout* is known for its sense of isolation, a tough concept to pull off in an MMORPG. Unfortunately, no one seemed to ask that question during *Fallout 76*’s development. The game struggled to meet expectations and ended up being a drawn-out failure.
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Perspiring_Gamer via reddit
Marvel’s Avengers (2020)
Following the massive success of the *Avengers* movies, Marvel released *Marvel’s Avengers* on multiple platforms. However, the repetitive gameplay and long grinding sessions to unlock minimal rewards caused players to lose interest quickly.
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TheStickySpot via reddit
Sonic Runners (2015)
*Sonic Runners* launched on Android and iOS to capture the mobile gaming market, racking up five million downloads. However, despite this initial success, the game was canceled a year later.
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zachusaguy via reddit
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1988)
Creating a video game based on a century-old novella seems like a great idea, but the result was a flop. It turned out to be one of the worst games ever released and continues to hold that title.
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grim_tales1 via reddit
Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993)
Contrary to popular belief, several Zelda games were released for the CD-i console, which is often considered a missed opportunity. Except for *Gamelon*, nearly every Zelda game has been a success, highlighting the stark contrast in quality.
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groompbot via reddit
Battlefield V (2018)
*Battlefield V* was hastily released, leading to numerous glitches and bugs that caused it to flop. In response to criticism, Electronic Arts suggested that those who didn’t enjoy the game shouldn’t have purchased it, a rather unconventional customer retention strategy!
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The_Cheese_Cube via reddit
Daikatana (2000)
John Romero is known for iconic games like *DOOM*, *Quake*, and *Wolfenstein 3D*, but *Daikatana* was a failure. The immense hype surrounding its release set unrealistic expectations, resulting in only 40,000 copies sold.
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ShmedditorXVIII via reddit
Duke Nukem Forever (2011)
Some games, like *Duke Nukem*, thrived in their heyday during the 1990s, but nostalgia wasn’t enough for its 2010s sequel, *Duke Nukem Forever*. By the time it released, fans had moved on, resulting in a lackluster reception.
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Cheap_Time1747 via reddit
The Simpsons Wrestling (2001)
In 2001, *The Simpsons* and WWE (then WWF) were both huge, so combining them into a video game seemed like a no-brainer. However, the result was a disaster. IGN even called it, “The most horrific demolition of a license ever.” Yikes!
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Djf47021 via reddit
Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (2012)
You’d think *Kingdoms of Amalur* would have learned from past MMORPG failures, but they went ahead anyway—and flopped. The costly development required over 3 million sales to break even, but it didn’t even hit half that number.
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via reddit
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
When gamers heard Keanu Reeves was voicing *Cyberpunk 2077*, excitement soared. But the game crumbled under the weight of its massive hype. Release delays and production issues only added to its downfall.
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faizymd via reddit
No Man’s Sky (2016)
*No Man’s Sky* was an ambitious project, but it launched far too soon. The lesson? Never pre-order an unfinished game. While it has since become enjoyable, the initial wave of disappointment tarnished its hype.
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PMA_TjSupreme via reddit
Uru: Ages Beyond Myst (2003)
*Uru: Ages Beyond Myst* took five years to develop, but it flopped hard upon release. The failure nearly bankrupted its developer. Thankfully, mods later restored the scrapped multiplayer feature, bringing some relief to dedicated fans.
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via reddit
Rise of the Robots (1994)
*Rise of the Robots* had a promising premise—an epic robot uprising—but the execution fell flat. The writer seemed out of touch, and the gameplay was riddled with glitches, making for an unsatisfying and joyless experience. It was a massive letdown.
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Otherwise_Basis_6328 via reddit
Def Jam Rapstar (2010)
*Def Jam Rapstar* was poised to rival *Get On Da Mic*, but things went south when developer 4mm Games failed to license 54 songs from EMI. This oversight led to a lawsuit, with EMI winning $8 million in damages. Ouch!
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temporarysecretary17 via reddit
Tomb Raider: Angel of Darkness (2003)
In 2003, Lara Croft’s reputation took a hit with the release of *Angel of Darkness*. While some fans have warmed up to it over time, the game was plagued with bugs, leading to a poor reception at launch. Gamers understandably weren’t impressed!
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random_pedo_joke via reddit
This is Vegas (2010)
*This is Vegas* was such a monumental flop that it didn’t even make it to release. Canceled midway through production, it cost Surreal Software an estimated $40 to $50 million—quite the gamble, and a huge loss.
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NeoGamer - The Video Game Archive via youtube
Darksiders II (2012)
Released by THQ in 2012, *Darksiders II* was one of the most expensive video games ever made, costing around $50 million to develop. Despite this investment, it sold only 1.5 million copies and was eventually sold to Nordic Games.
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Gonzito3420 via reddit
The Secret World (2012)
The budget for *The Secret World* was anything but secret. Developed by EA and Funcom, the MMORPG ended up losing $52 million. In 2017, it was rebranded as *Secret World Legends*, which performed slightly better.
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StarAnvilStudios
Defiance (2013)
*Defiance* struggled to connect with gamers despite its marketing boost from a SyFy show. Within a year of its release, it shifted to a free-to-play model, and the TV series was canceled the following year in 2015.
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via reddit
Halo: Titan (2007)
Similar to *This is Vegas*, *Halo: Titan* was a highly anticipated game that was abandoned midway through development, leading Ensemble Studios to incur a $90 million loss. To this day, the reasons for Titan’s cancellation remain unclear.
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mrbubbamac via reddit
Too Human (2008)
After ten years stuck in development limbo, *Too Human* was released in 2008 at a cost of $100 million for Microsoft and Silicon Knights. Unfortunately, it garnered little interest, marking it as one of gaming’s biggest flops.
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BasedGodReZ via reddit
APB: All Points Bulletin (2010)
This open-world MMO took 20 years to develop, with Realtime Worlds branding it the pinnacle of their efforts. However, with such high expectations, nearly everything went wrong upon release.
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zeusyork via reddit
Driver 3 (2004)
Ever wonder why the Driver series has faded from the spotlight? Blame the third installment. While the first two games were successful, Driver 3 suffered from clunky controls and a rehashed, uninspiring storyline.
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bigBenthe2nd via reddit
Lair (2007)
Lair was a launch title for the PlayStation 3 that showcased impressive graphics and aimed to explore the Remote Play feature. Despite its promise, it received overwhelmingly negative reviews. In fact, Sony even sent reviewers a guide on how to review the game. Woof!
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highsaya via reddit
Drake of the 99 Dragons (2003)
In *Drake of the 99 Dragons*, you embark on a quest to avenge your dojo master’s death in the streets of Hong Kong. While the concept seemed promising, the execution fell short, with poor visuals and unplayable controls.
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datbot via wiki
Fighters Uncaged (2010)
Remember the excitement around motion controls in gaming? *Fighters Uncaged* combined them with combat, but the outcome was disappointing and far from revolutionary.
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ubisoft via youtube
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub Zero (1997)
While *Mortal Kombat* was a classic fighting game, the developers considered transforming it into an action-adventure series to explore the backstories of Sub-Zero and Scorpion. Luckily, they ultimately decided against it.
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duyc37 via reddit
Ride to Hell: Retribution (2013)
*Ride to Hell: Retribution* was poised to be a major gaming franchise, but it fell flat due to poor controls. PlayStation Official Magazine UK remarked that “riding to actual Hell over 1000 miles of broken glass using your own [flesh] as a toboggan would be more enjoyable.”
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SimonCallahan via reddit
Postal III (2011)
*Postal III* aimed to be outrageous but fell short in execution. Critics weren’t being overly harsh; the game simply missed the mark. It attempted to emulate the shock factor of *Grand Theft Auto* and *Dead or Alive* but lacked a compelling story. The result was a game that felt both uninspired and forced.
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coolgayman via reddit
NBA Unrivaled (2009)
*NBA Unrivaled* aimed to be a fresh spin on *NBA Jam* when Tecmo launched it in 2009. However, things got awkward when the actual *NBA Jam* reboot came out the same year and completely outshined it.
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ign via youtube
Pulse Racer (2003)
*Pulse Racer* somehow built up hype, but its dated graphics and clunky gameplay were far below the standard of other console games at the time. Frustrating and dull, it left players disappointed, with no one stepping up to defend it. The verdict? Universally disliked.
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RandomPerson800 via reddit
Charlie’s Angels (2003)
It’s hard to believe a game featuring Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu as *Charlie’s Angels* could flop so badly. Released in 2003, it struggled with a weak storyline and outdated graphics, ultimately failing to live up to the excitement of the films.
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xTimelessGaming via youtube
Fast and Furious: Showdown (2013)
The *Fast and Furious* games struggled to compete in a market dominated by *Need for Speed*. *Showdown*, set between *Fast Five* and *Fast & Furious 6*, was the worst of the series. With little happening in the story during that time, the game had little substance to work with and flopped.
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giant bomb via youtube
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