As the video game industry changes and grows, with advances in technology and ideas,what players value at any given time is also transformed.
Our medium isn’t static because it adapts to market and consumer trends constantly, leaving us with experiences that, while thriving during their releases,may not find the same success if they were held to modern standards.
10 Overhyped Games That Ultimately Flopped
Some games just weren’t meant to be
Whether because of antiquated designs, out-of-date mechanics, plain stories, or a general context less appropriate for their launches, multiple elements can lead games once considered masterpieces to now seem overrated.
To be honest, many of those examples are among my favorite games of all time, which is why I feel confident enough to present you this list often highly reviewed games that would flop today.
A Glitch in the Matrix
To this day, I honestly ignore howStraymanaged to be called 2022’s best indie game, and likely won’t understand it ever.
It’s a fun adventure with great aesthetics and commendable characters, butit’s so far from its peers' quality that I can’t wrap my mind around its substantial transcendence.
The industry hasn’t evolved enough to think it would flop because of feeling antiquated, as playing it now would be like playing during its launch—an enjoyable game without anything else to highlight.
Instead,I believeStraywouldn’t be as prosperous just because lightning never strikes the same place twice. Its lack of gameplay depth, compelling platforming, or interesting puzzles can’t be overlooked again.
9Dark Souls 2
A Community Without Mercy
Dark Souls 2
Fextralife Wiki
Although it may surprise you,Dark Souls 2is the trilogy’s highest-rated game by critics, despite being by far the most hated one by players.
While I disagree considerably with the disdain the game receives, as I value deeply its thematic depth and gameplay innovations,it would face an even bigger backlash if released today.
The Soulsborne formula has evolved thoroughly, so the community would tolerate even less the bosses' low quality, the overcrowded maps, and the lack of connections between areas.
I still think it’s a fascinating addition to the franchise and will always defend it as such, butDark Souls 2probably can never overcome the aversion it has accumulated over the years within the community.
8Fallout 3
In the Shadow of New Vegas
As with every game fromBethesda,Fallout 3hasn’t aged well, especially consideringFallout: New Vegasdoes the same but better.
When I first played it, I felt its post-apocalyptic glory in all its splendor, but it got really overshadowed afterObsidiantook the franchise.
Considering the dull main story, the choices' lack of interesting impact, and the outdated engine, the only things keepingFallout 3with great perception from players are its tone, worldbuilding, and a little nostalgia.
EvenFallout 4lies inFallout: New Vegas' shadow, so I believeFallout 3wouldn’t ever get as much praise as it did in 2008.
7Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
An Underwhelming Campaign
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2011)
I was amongCall of Duty’s biggest fans back in the day, but I was disappointed whenCall of Duty: Modern Warfare 3came out, as it was an excessively continuous sequel without any trace of innovation.
Being someone who mainly played the campaigns,the trilogy’s closure felt lackluster, despite how entertaining the game’s multiplayer was.
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As of today, the franchise has gathered many detractors for several reasons, including microtransactions, poorly polished new entries, and the constant feel of just squeezing out the series' success without caring for its quality.
Therefore, there’s a predisposition towardsCall of Duty, sothe issues withModern Warfare 3wouldn’t be forgiven even if it were a good successor originally.
A Contextual Success
Among Uscarries a fascinating concept that deserves all the success it managed to gather during the pandemic, but that’s where its secret lies.
Despite being launched in 2018,Innersloth’s title wasn’t popular until a couple of years later, when the global population was confined to their homes and had to find new ways to socialize.
The game is great, and the studio has done an excellent job maintaining it fresh and valuable, but it’s adamantly clear it wouldn’t have reached an international audience at that level if it weren’t for the world’s state.
IfAmong Uscame out today, it would probably still be an enjoyable multiplayer experience, thoughlight years behind what it accomplished.
5Grand Theft Auto 4
The Most Tasteless of the Series
Grand Theft Auto 4
Grand Theft Auto 4is a unique entry in the series, with mature tones,characters, and presentation, and that’s precisely why it wouldn’t thrive as much today.
The game always felt mechanically rough, but that hostility was a means to represent the story’s main theme—a cohesion that could face backlash from modern consumers for prioritizing the message over the fun.
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I don’t likeGrand Theft Auto 4as much as its predecessors, butI applaud Rockstar’s way of representing Niko Bellic’s hardships through gameplay, something the franchise hasn’t seen in any other instance.
However, most people wouldn’t appreciate the gunplay, driving, map, and movement to be as unpolished and brute, especially afterGrand Theft Auto 5took those elements to their best expression.
4Heavy Rain
Too Much Hype and Little Substance
Heavy Rain
Many games feel great depending on the context, andHeavy Rainillustrates that perfectly. In 2010,it was a groundbreaking experiencethanks to its storytelling, while now it would be a barely average narrative-driven game.
The number of decisions, plot points, twists, and endings is undeniably impressive, but in hindsight, the vast majority areunintentionally hilarious.
David Cagetried too badly to present a mature story with deep characters and themes, butit lost coherence during the process. Between inconsistencies, moments of unfulfilled emotions, and poor interactivity, it’s just surprising due to its size, not its quality.
By today’s standards, it’s impossible to take the story seriously or to value the narrative instruments. Thus, as the mechanics are practically nonexistent,Heavy Rainis left with almost nothing worthy of praise to recommend it.
3Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
An average TPS
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
I’ve always consideredUncharteda great but overrated franchise, withUncharted 2: Among Thievesbeing the most prominent in that duality.
It’s undoubtedly an excellent shooter with tremendous set pieces and spectacular sequences, but itsterrible boss fights, numerousclichés, and inconsequential story are too much to pass on.
Considering the third-person shooter genre isn’t as popular as it used to be, with its latest and most distinguished games being tremendously different, likeControlorHelldivers 2, I don’t see Nathan Drake’s journey being prominent.
Uncharted 2’s puzzles, exploration, platforming, and level design are seriously outdated, with only the gunplay still feeling good. Under those circumstances,it would be deemed as an average TPS right off the bat.
2Assassin’s Creed III
The Assassins' Guild Debacle
Assassin’s Creed III
Assassin’s Creedwas by far my favorite franchise of its generation, but everything changed afterAssassin’s Creed IIIarrived.
The bar after Ezio’s trilogy was too high, and Connor Kenway couldn’t fill his shoes.The setting was bland, the story was forgettable, and even the Assassin’s Guild itself got pushed away despite being its universe’s core.
I do recognize the gameplay was fantastic, especially the parkour and naval missions, but each entry in a franchise of that size must be strong on every front, which isn’t the case withAssassin’s Creed III.
Plus, followingCall of Duty’s line, the gaming community despises what the series has turned into so much thatplaying the game that drove the series away from the assassins wouldn’t be a pleasant experience.
1BioShock Infinite
An Unfulfilled Masterpiece
BioShock Infinite
My first playthrough ofBioShock Infinitewill always be one of the most striking memories I have. I won’t ever forget itsending, as I won’t ever forget Columbia, the Lutece twins, or Elizabeth.
Then, after years of not playing the game,my second playthrough came,and everything went downhill. From the gameplay to the story, characters, pace, and level design, a more mature version of me was able to recognize a deeply flawed masterpiece.
What originally felt like a revolutionary experience became a generic shooter beautifully wrapped, one that lost its predecessors' essence.I always knew the original game was the best, but never by such a margin.
With today’s eyesight, it’s impossible to digest an artificial layout where you just drop hordes and hordes of enemies coming in a perfect line, the entirety of Vox Populi’s abhorrent subplot, or the abundant inconsistencies the campaign has.
BioShock Infiniteis a pompous game that looks better on the surface,but when you dive a little,it’s easy to see its deception. It hurts me to admit this because it was magical at the time, but the industry has grown enough to see through its glorious disguise.
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