Wanna Play?...No, You Don't!
Looking back over the last four or so decades of video games, there are some amazing games that we have happily given hours and hours and hours and hours of our lives playing. And there are those that—after playing them—have us truly regretting the hours we can never get back. Poor design, bad controls, disappointing gameplay.
..there are many reasons why a video game might suck. These are some of the worst the industry produced from 1980 to 2010.
Pac-Man, Atari 2600 (1982)
Before you call us crazy, please note that we are talking about the version of Pac-Man for the Atari 2600 (not the classic and awesome arcade game). So how did they mess up such a simple yet wonderful game?
Well, turns out the Atari 2600 system wasn't powerful enough for the game, so they had to make some compromises which included simplified graphics and mazes and "flickering" ghosts. One review called it the "worst coin-op conversion of all time".
Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)
Sonic is one of the most popular game franchises of all time and one many of us grew up playing. So, in 2006—for the 15th anniversary of the franchise—Sega set forth a plan to release a new game and introduce the hedgehog to a new generation. Let's just say that the new generation probably doesn't have the same fond memories of this game as we did for the OG games of the '90s.
Sega, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)
Sonic the Hedgehog (aka Sonic '06) was fast-tracked for the holiday season and maybe that was the start of the problems. But either way, the poor camera angles, controls, voice acting, story, and long load times were all part of the negative feedback from reviewers and gamers alike. These days, the game sees the most action as part of "Let's Play" videos with gamers showing off the various glitches.
Sega, Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)
Shaq Fu (1994)
Yup, they made a Shaquille O'Neal fighting game back in 1994. The reviews might've been mixed at the time, but these days, the retrospective hate for the game is palpable.
There is even a website whose sole purpose is to find and destroy every copy of Shaq Fu out there.
Electronic Arts, Shaq-Fu (1994)
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997)
This one might be one of the most controversial on the list—not just because of how beloved the Mortal Kombat franchise is, but because this game itself did have its advocates back when it came out in 1997. A spinoff game for one of the franchises' most popular characters definitely makes sense—and there were those who really liked the graphics and the combination of fighting and adventure/platform elements.
Midway, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997)
Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997)
However, for all the positive talk, when this game came out, there were also a whole lotta negative voices in regards to the wonky controls and the gameplay—this was all for the Playstation version, also. When it came to the N64 port, the reviews were even worse. But that wasn't the only bad MK offshoot game.
Midway, Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero (1997)
Mortal Kombat: Special Forces (2000)
Not only is Mortal Kombat: Special Forces bad, many consider it even worse than Mortal Kombat Mythologies: Sub-Zero. GameSpot and IGN scored it 2.1/10 and 3/10 respectively.
But when it comes to bad Mortal Kombat games, to quote our favorite infomercial: "But wait, there's more".
Midway, Mortal Kombat: Special Forces (2000)
Mortal Kombat Advance (2001)
This port of Ultimate Mortal Kombat 3 for the Game Boy Advance had a lot going against it right from the start. Not only did it have to be ported in only two months, but the Game Boy Advance system had two fewer buttons than the game needed to be played properly. IGN called it, "an absolute embarrassment to the Mortal Kombat franchise".
Superman: The New Superman Adventures (1999)
Given how hard it's been for anyone to make a good Superman movie (since the first one, of course), we guess we shouldn't be surprised they had trouble making a good Superman video game also.
Nintendo, Superman: The New Superman Adventures (1999)
Superman: The New Superman Adventures (1999)
Commonly known as Superman 64, Superman: The New Superman Adventures was a terrible game with very few—if any—redeeming features. It had every bad feature from confusing gameplay and technical glitches to poor graphics and controls. Then there was the now-infamous introductory ring maze sequence that was super difficult and timed.
But Superman wasn't the only superhero that video games have had a hard time getting right.
Nintendo, Superman: The New Superman Adventures (1999)
Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003)
Repetitive missions, unclear gameplay, and real wonky camera angles were three of the big complaints with 2003's Batman: Dark Tomorrow. In 2015, GamesRadar wrote about the camera, saying that it, "makes Epic Mickey's look like cinematography genius"—which, if you know how bad the camera is in Epic Mickey, is saying a lot.
Kemco, Batman: Dark Tomorrow (2003)
The Simpsons Wrestling (2001)
Maybe it's just us but the idea of a Simpsons wrestling game sounds amazing. Unfortunately.
..it wasn't. The graphics and gameplay were both highly criticized. IGN called it, "the most horrific demolition of a license ever".
Fox Interactive, The Simpsons Wrestling (2001)
Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde (1988)
This NES side-scroller allowed users to play as both Jekyll and Hyde—but the best option was to play as neither and just turn it off. We will say that back in 1988, the reviews for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
Hyde (1988)" data-credit-url="https://www.nintendo.com/us/" data-rel-no-follow="No" data-alt-text="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1988)" data-description="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1988), Developed by Nintendo" data-title="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1988), Developed by Nintendo" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1988)">Nintendo, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1988)
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Custer's Revenge (1982)
Did 19th century American General George Armstrong Custer need a video game based on his Battle of the Little Bighorn?
Probably not. But that's what we got back in 1982 with Custer's Revenge. Besides the poor quality of the game, it was also considered highly offensive, with a storyline that included the assault of a Native American woman. GameSpy called it the most shameful game of all time.
Atari, Custer's Revenge (1982)
Night Trap (1992)
Night Trap was the first interactive movie video game released for the Sega system and while the movie part was generally praised, the gameplay was not. Now, that might've been the end of it, had it not been for the 1993–94 United States Senate hearings on video games.
Night Trap (1992)
It was during those hearings that Senator Joe Lieberman specifically named Night Trap and called it out for the gratuitous violence and aggression against women. This led to complaints and the game being pulled from both Toys "R" Us and KB Toys.
Action 52 (1991)
Imagine getting 52 games on one cartridge.
It sounds amazing right? Well, not if it costs $199 and was Action 52 for the NES. Less than $4 per game might sound like a deal, but when many of the games have bad controls, ugly graphics, and technical glitches—most of them aren't worth a single dollar. It was "really, horribly, incredibly bad," said one review.
Plumbers Don't Wear Ties (1993)
There are probably some who still remember the 3DO gaming system with some nostalgic fondness.
But even they are unlikely to have a soft spot in their gaming hearts for Plumbers Don't Wear Ties. We gotta admit we like the title. But it was pretty much all downhill from there. While it was billed as an interactive full-motion game, the entirety of the gameplay is presented in static images (following an opening cutscene).
The "surreal" and "sexist" storyline didn't make it any better either.
Limited Run, Plumbers Don't Wear Ties (1993)
Bubsy 3D (1996)
From the poor graphics to the voice clips, Bubsy 3D was panned from all sides. Discussing the controls, one reviewer wrote, "Pretend your controller is filled with mud—this is how Bubsy plays". GameRadar even called it the video game equivalent to Battlefield Earth. Ouch!
Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness (2003)
There have been a number of good Tomb Raider games...this was not one of them. While there were those who praised the storyline, the graphics, and the soundtrack, more people found fault with the overall gameplay and controls. There were some bugs as well.
PlayStation, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
Tomb Raider: The Angel Of Darkness (2003)
The poor reception of the game had wide-reaching consequences. Jeremy Heath-Smith, head of the studio that released the game, resigned after it came out.
Also, Paramount blamed the bad game on the disappointing box office reception of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider – The Cradle of Life.
PlayStation, Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness (2003)
Drake Of The 99 Dragons (2003)
What video game did GameSpot call, "an out-and-out failure in every single discernable category"? We'll give you 100 guesses, and the first 99 don't count.
Majesco, Drake Of The 99 Dragons (2003)
Bomberman: Act Zero (2006)
Bomberman is a game franchise that had a lot of fans—but very few of them were fans of this reimagining of the series. To quote Cracked.
com, they "took everything fun about Bomberman and made it crazy and depressing".
Hudson Soft, Bomberman: Act Zero (2006)
Big Rigs: Over The Road Racing (2003)
The release cycle for software usually goes like this: pre-alpha, alpha, beta, release candidate, and then the final version. For some reason, the makers of Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing decided to skip all those and just put out the pre-alpha version for customers. Well, as you can imagine, there were loads of problems with it—including cars being able to drive through other vehicles, drive up a vertical incline, and accelerate to a speed of 5.8×1020 light-years per second. But we're just getting started
Windows, Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (2003)
Big Rigs: Over The Road Racing (2003)
The original release of Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing also lacked any AI control for the trucks, so computer-controlled vehicles didn't move. The patch they put out to fix this enabled the vehicles to race but they would stop before crossing the finish line.
Then there was the victory message that popped up on the screen when you won a race: "YOU'RE WINNER"!
Windows, Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (2003)
Lula 3D (2005)
This adult adventure game wasn't an adventure many game-playing adults wanted to go on. As one review simply put it: "if you like good games, Lula 3D isn't for you".
Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009)
When it comes to adult-oriented adventure games, the one franchise most of us know—even if we never played it—is Leisure Suit Larry. Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust was the 8th game in the series—and although it probably wasn't the double-entendre they were going for with the word "bust" in the title, the game was unfortunately a huge one, of the unsuccessful kind.
Team17, Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009)
Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009)
In their review of the game, IGN noted their rating of Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust as so low that it indicated a game with, "next to nothing enjoyable to offer players, and which under no circumstances should be purchased by anyone".
Team17, Leisure Suit Larry: Box Office Bust (2009)
Stalin Vs. Martians (2009)
Stalin vs. Martians
Martians (2009)" data-credit-url="https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/" data-rel-no-follow="No" data-alt-text="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Stalin vs. Martians (2009)" data-description="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Stalin vs. Martians (2009), Developed by Windows" data-title="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Stalin vs. Martians (2009), Developed by Windows" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Screenshot from the Playthrough of the video game Stalin vs. Martians (2009)">Windows, Stalin vs. Martians (2009)
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Stalin Vs. Martians (2009)
It has to have good gameplay and graphics—two things Stalin vs. Martians lacked. The RTS elements were completely lacking and one review even questioned whether the game was actually made in 1994 given how bad and dated the graphics were.
Windows, Stalin vs. Martians (2009)
Ninjabread Man (2005)
Not only were the controls bad—as were the graphics and the cameras—but Ninjabread Man was really short, with many reviews claiming the game could be finished in 30 minutes. We're not sure how much it cost, but that's not good value regardless.
Conspiracy, Ninjabread Man (2005)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Obviously, if we were talking about E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial the movie, this would be a "best of" list. But for anyone who remembers the video game based on said movie, we know its spot here is more than well-deserved. It's been reported that the game was coded in just five weeks in order to get it out on store shelves for the holiday season—and it showed. Gameplay, graphics, story.
...they were all bad, and not only were sales well below expectations, but many games were returned by disappointed customers.
Atari, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Atari had predicted sales in the 5 million range but when they didn't even hit 2 million, the company actually buried millions of cartridges in a New Mexico landfill.
Many publications have called it the worst game of all time and it has been widely held up as a key factor in the downfall of the Atari company.
Atari, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
