10 Terrible Video Games That Sold Well

The appeal of a game can be quite personal, as what one player might consider excellent may not resonate with another. Surprisingly, some games that are often overlooked or dismissed by the masses can still attract dedicated fanbases who adore them deeply for numerous unique aspects.

In some cases, certain video games are launched in a condition that’s simply not up to the mark, either because of underlying design issues, technical mishaps, or hasty production. Regrettably, these subpar games don’t belong on store shelves gathering dust; however, they often continue to be sold due to unforeseen circumstances.

Often, outstanding, creative, and well-crafted video games don’t get the commercial success they should, while mediocre titles, boosted by brand recognition, strategic timing, or aggressive promotion, sell like hotcakes. This collection features ten such cases.

10. Aliens: Colonial Marines

Terrible AI, Terrific Sales

As an ardent fan, I can’t help but share my disappointment with Aliens: Colonial Marines at launch. The artificial intelligence was so flawed that Xenomorphs often found themselves running in endless circles, getting trapped within walls, or even losing their menacing demeanor, forgetting how to instill fear.

In addition, the human NPCs proved to be unhelpful at times, sometimes causing more problems rather than solutions, and on rare occasions, they appeared to be intent on self-destruction.

Despite being infamously labeled as one of the most catastrophic AAA titles back then, it surprisingly flew off the shelves at an astounding pace. In fact, within its inaugural year, it managed to surpass a million copies sold!

Due to the robust reputation of the Aliens franchise and an aggressive promotional campaign, countless enthusiastic buyers secured their pre-orders before the harsh truth could fully set in.

9. SimCity (2013)

How to Destroy Your Credibility and Still Make a Profit

For a considerable period, when it comes to city management simulation games, SimCity was undeniably the ruler in its domain. The series is renowned as the unofficial benchmark for this genre, establishing a standard for creativity, complexity, and strategic thinking that numerous other games have striven to replicate.

Because of this, when the reboot was unveiled, many fans opted to pre-order, primarily due to their faith in the brand and excitement for what was to come. A regrettable decision.

In the year 2013, constant online DRM wasn’t as prevalent as it is now, and the requirement for SimCity players to stay connected to the internet even when playing solo games certainly raised some hackles.

The situation worsened as the Digital Rights Management (DRM) system often blocked players from playing the game because of recurring login server problems. To add insult to injury, the game itself fell short of expectations, even when compared to past SimCity versions. In fact, it was so disappointing that it paved the way for Cities: Skylines’ later success.

The initial release of SimCity has since been widely regarded as a major flop, yet it managed to sell an astounding 1.1 million units within just its first fortnight.

8. No Man’s Sky

Never Forget What It Was

It’s common knowledge that No Man’s Sky has a fascinating history. When it was promoted heavily by Sony, many expected a groundbreaking experience. However, upon its release, the game failed to meet everyone’s expectations.

Despite the unforgivable condition at launch, Hello Games persisted for years, meticulously refining the game one update at a time until they finally presented a product much more impressive than initially advertised.

While things are going smoothly, I believe the game could still function as a reminder about the potential risks of pre-ordering based on promises rather than actual content. No Man’s Sky ultimately turned out to be an excellent game, but this success was largely due to the developers who remained committed to it, even when others might have abandoned it.

Initially, the game was riddled with bugs and disappointing across the board, yet it achieved massive commercial success, even making top sales lists on all the platforms it was distributed on. It seems hard to believe that such a flawed release would teach everyone a lesson… but I wonder if it did?

7. Cyberpunk 2077

Lessons Were Not Learned

The tale of Cyberpunk 2077 shares some resemblance to No Man’s Sky. The hype surrounding the game was enormous due to a powerful promotional campaign, yet its initial release fell far short of expectations. However, with numerous updates, a nearly complete overhaul of its mechanics, and a fantastic expansion, Cyberpunk 2077 eventually transformed into an exceptional game.

In contrast to No Man’s Sky, which was created by a small team of fifteen developers with a shared vision, Cyberpunk 2077 benefited from the extensive resources and expertise of the development studio behind The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This makes the disappointing outcome of Cyberpunk 2077 more striking when compared to No Man’s Sky’s development journey.

Regardless of other factors, the game turned out to be financially prosperous, as it managed to sell an impressive 13 million units within the initial 10 days on all available platforms. This swift sale made it one of the quickest-earning video games in history.

It’s been stated by CD Projekt Red that they’ve taken note from the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 and the ensuing controversy, yet only time will tell if these lessons have truly been absorbed.

6. Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet

Gotta Catch’em All (The Preorders, That Is)

Upon the announcement of Pokémon: Scarlet and Violet, fans enthusiastically anticipated a complete open-world Pokémon game. However, what they received was more of a technical catastrophe.

The games were launched with numerous technical issues (not the fun kind you catch while playing Pokemon), frequent frame rate issues, texture inconsistencies appearing suddenly, and glitches that soon became popular internet jokes. Even ardent supporters found it challenging to justify the shoddy condition these games came out in.

Nevertheless, none of this made a difference when it came to financial success. Scarlet and Violet were phenomenal sellers, managing to shift an astounding 10 million copies within mere days, thereby earning a place among the top-selling titles for the Nintendo Switch.

Despite some technical difficulties, the strong devotion of fans towards the brand, the captivating allure of discovering new creatures in an expansive world provided by the Pokémon franchise, and the overwhelming loyalty towards these games, led them to achieve immense financial triumphs.

5. Enter the Matrix

This Is Not The One

Back in the 2000s, The Matrix left a significant mark on pop culture, so much so that it sparked a real trend for black trench coats. From comic books to cartoons, and let’s not forget video games, The Matrix franchise made an effort to branch out across various platforms with mixed results.

The Matrix film series made its initial foray into the gaming realm with Enter the Matrix. Given the movie’s abundant martial arts, gunfights, and unrelenting cyberpunk vibe, a video game adaptation appeared a logical choice. Regrettably, the end product fell short of the movie’s lofty standards.

As a gamer, I found myself diving headfirst into a hastily delivered title that, unfortunately, came with its fair share of glitches and puzzling design decisions. Critics and players alike were quick to voice their disappointment as the game fell short of the high standards set by its IP. Yet, it seemed that the buzz surrounding the movie managed to pull

4. Shadow the Hedgehog

Ultimate Life Form? Not Quite

The Sonic series is known for its innovative approach towards adapting its content, as Sonic the Hedgehog ventured into a realistically designed urban landscape prior to Mario, and moreover, dabbled in role-playing games (RPGs) and rhythm-based titles.

Although Sonic didn’t achieve the same level of success across various genres as our beloved plumber, it’s hard to criticize their attempts. That is, unless things start getting quite unusual, such as incorporating lifelike firearms into a game.

Among the well-known figures in the Sonic universe, apart from Sonic himself, Shadow the Hedgehog stands out prominently. However, the game that carries his name as a title doesn’t exactly deserve a place in our list of accomplishments.

The content is overflowing with an unusual intensity, artificial gloom, and a plotline so heavy it clashes awkwardly with its overtly playful characters, pushing the discomfort level to the maximum. Additionally, the game mechanics leave much to be desired.

Nevertheless, it was primarily the captivating nature of the character and the robustness of the Sonic series that propelled the game to substantial financial gains. Specifically, it sold more than 2 million copies within a span of just two years.

And thus, the Sonic Cycle continues.

3. Resident Evil 6

When A Franchise Loses Its Identity

In simple terms, Resident Evil 4 was widely acclaimed as an outstanding game. Capcom skillfully increased the action elements compared to earlier versions while preserving the survival horror essence. It proved successful both critically and financially, yet it seems that the publisher misunderstood this success and went on to emphasize even more action scenes in subsequent games.

In simple terms, Resident Evil 6 marks the end result of this particular approach. Despite boasting a large budget and an extensive promotional push, it appears that fans were not thrilled with the new direction the series was heading in, as it seemingly abandoned the survival element completely. Critics were blunt, labeling the game a debacle marred by an overly long campaign and excessive action sequences.

Despite some reservations, the marketing strategy was successful, largely due to the robust popularity of the Resident Evil series. To put it another way, the game flew off the shelves and managed to sell an impressive five million units within a short timeframe.

Fortunately, it seems that even with its financial triumphs, Capcom didn’t disregard the complaints about the previous game. Instead, they opted to shift the focus of the next main series title back towards survival. Perhaps one day they will strike a balance between these contrasting elements.

2. Duke Nukem Forever

The Biggest Surprise

Duke Nukem Forever is recognized as a notable entry in the small but infamous category of high-profile video games with less-than-stellar quality.

The game was so despised that it served as a benchmark for poorly made games since then. Frankly, I’d dare anyone to produce a good game following 14 years of development purgatory. Yet remarkably, it still generated revenue.

Although the game’s design, gameplay, and technical aspects were outdated, the comeback of the character Duke was captivating enough to generate sufficient curiosity, ensuring its financial success.

Approximately 2 million units were sold, generating enough revenue to yield a profit, which likely took the publisher by surprise.

1. Pac-Man (Atari 2600)

This One Left a Mark

Could we conclude the list in any other manner than with a game that significantly exacerbated a situation leading to a near-extinction level crisis within the industry?

Back in the 1980s, Pac-Man became an enormous sensation in the world of video games. Countless individuals would continuously feed quarters into Namco’s arcade machines daily, and it swiftly grew into the cultural juggernaut we recognize now. It was only logical for Atari to pursue licensing rights to distribute the game on their home gaming systems, given its undeniable popularity. Surely, it seemed destined to be a massive success.

Essentially, this is an accurate description: In 1982, Pac-Man became incredibly popular, and as a result, over 7 million copies of the game were sold in its first year. However, those who purchased the game found themselves playing a technical disaster, which bore little resemblance to the arcade version, making it almost unrecognizable.

A disappointing mix of poor performance and technical constraints resulted in a significantly subpar version of the currently popular game, damaging consumer trust towards Atari. This erosion of trust, as experts suggest, played a significant role in Atari’s struggle, which ultimately threatened its survival and even pushed the gaming industry close to collapse during subsequent years.

2025-04-12 17:10