The PlayStation 3 definitely had its share of amazing games, but it was also a bit of a mixed bag. Sony tried a lot of innovative things with the console, and unfortunately, many of those experiments didn’t quite work out.
This issue appeared across various game types, and it often affected bigger-budget titles that were overly ambitious. The outcome was games that were frustrating to play and, more importantly, didn’t respect players’ time – a major failing for any game.
Let’s take a look back at the PlayStation 3 era – a time when games weren’t known for their vibrant colors, but the console itself was a big step forward. Here’s a rundown of the most disappointing games released for the PS3.
10. Thor: God of Thunder
Aggregate Score: 39
The movie Thor: God of Thunder feels heavily inspired by God of War, and while that isn’t necessarily a bad idea, the way it was done feels unoriginal and lacking effort.
While the story is okay, everything else in God of Thunder feels flat. The combat is uninspired and doesn’t reward creative play, and the graphics look noticeably outdated – several generations behind current standards.
The game was clearly made to capitalize on the movie’s popularity, but it completely missed what made the film good. Instead, players get a disappointing version of Thor and incredibly basic, repetitive fighting.
As a Thor fan, it’s a little sad this is the only recent game completely focused on him, and that’s maybe a reason to check it out if you’re a die-hard. But honestly? If you’re not, just skip it. You really won’t be missing much.
9. Damnation
Aggregate Score: 36
I picked this game up at Blockbuster when renting games was common. It had a cool look – a steampunk cowboy theme seemed perfect for a game, and while the idea was good, Damnation just isn’t a very well-made game.
The game’s story is unremarkable – you play as a man named Rourke searching for his wife, and stumble upon a destructive army. It relies heavily on gameplay to keep players engaged, but unfortunately, the controls are frustrating. Reloading requires an awkward click of the left stick, and the climbing feels clunky, especially considering how common climbing mechanics were in games at the time.
As a shooter fan, I really struggled with Damnation’s aiming – the sensitivity just felt off the whole time. Honestly, the character animations were pretty bad too, kind of jerky and robotic. It does have multiplayer and AI teammates, but there are so many better games out there for me and my friends to play. I wouldn’t recommend it when there are so many other options.
Damnation falls short in almost every way, from its voice acting and outdated graphics to its awkward and clunky combat.
8. Risen 3: Titan Lords
Aggregate Score: 36
Risen 3 was a truly disappointing launch on the PS3. Its gameplay felt outdated, lagging far behind modern RPGs, and the graphics were poor. To make matters worse, the game suffered from a very unstable and slow framerate, creating a generally unpleasant experience.
The fighting felt weak and the animations looked outdated – almost as if they came from a game from the early 2000s. Considering it came out in 2014, the same year as Dragon Age: Inquisition and just before The Witcher 3, it was a surprisingly poor showing for a game that had a lot going for it.
Even with its flaws, some players still enjoy this game, but it unfortunately doesn’t run well on the PlayStation 3.
7. Girl Fight
Aggregate Score: 35
| Developer | Kung Fu Factory |
|---|---|
| Release Date | September 25th, 2013 |
| Platform | PS3 |
Girl Fight is an erotic fighting game, and that pretty much sets the tone for the whole experience. It focuses entirely on lightly dressed women battling each other, and the story isn’t a major focus – so don’t expect a compelling narrative.
The fighting is the best part of this game, and it’s similar to Dead or Alive – but with a key difference. Dead or Alive had strategic depth and skillful combat, while Girl Fight focuses much more on visual spectacle and doesn’t offer the same level of gameplay complexity.
This fighting game is incredibly simple, and after the initial appeal fades, it reveals itself to be one of the worst ever created. It prioritizes shock value over solid gameplay, with little focus on actual fighting mechanics.
6. The Walking Dead: Survival Instincts
Aggregate Score: 34
The Walking Dead: Survival Instincts had a promising concept – a rough and realistic prequel showing Merle and Daryl Dixon’s early struggles. It sounded great! Unfortunately, the game quickly fell apart. Even for a 2013 release, the graphics were terrible. Characters looked like distorted versions of the actors, and the zombies resembled cheap Halloween props.
The game looks rough, with blurry textures and unimpressive effects, even for things like blood. While playing as a young Daryl sounds appealing, he and Merell feel very similar. The shooting isn’t very engaging, and the zombies aren’t frightening at all. Surprisingly, when zombies attack, you end up in a clumsy, easily-escaped struggle with them.
This story doesn’t offer any fresh insights into the characters and is the least compelling installment in the franchise so far. If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, you’ll find much better storytelling elsewhere, like in Telltale’s games.
5. Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire
Aggregate Score: 33
I’ve been waiting a long time for a truly great Mobile Suit Gundam game, and we still haven’t quite gotten there. However, Mobile Suit Gundam: Crossfire came closer than most to hitting the mark for me. The Gundams feel powerful and impressively large, and while the controls are a bit awkward, that actually feels right for such massive machines. My biggest disappointment is the missions – they’re often very short and lack variety, which is a shame.
The game lets you play as either the Earth Federation or Zeon, leading to two separate stories. However, neither storyline is very engaging, and despite being based on the anime, it lacks a sense of real consequence – it mostly feels like you’re just going from one shooting mission to the next.
This game isn’t the absolute worst in the series, but reviewers were very critical of its outdated graphics, awkward controls, and poor voice acting. While I wouldn’t call it a good game, it’s certainly not the worst, and it actually stays pretty true to the Gundam story.
4. Kick Ass: The Game
Aggregate Score: 32
Kick Ass: The Game unfortunately takes the enjoyable elements of the original movie and falls short. While it tries to emulate the gameplay of games like Marvel Ultimate Alliance, it lacks the same depth and fun. Beyond this, the game’s controls feel clunky, and the main character, Kick Ass, moves in a strange, awkward way. His animations are unnatural, making him look stretched and floppy during combat – a bit like a bizarre version of Mr. Fantastic.
While button-mashing games aren’t known for deep strategy, Kick Ass simplifies things too much. The game lacks meaningful combos, and you don’t really need them because enemies just rush at you in predictable waves. Playing as Big Daddy or Hit Girl doesn’t save it either – the experience is only enjoyable in short bursts, hampered by a clunky camera, outdated graphics, and an uneven flow.
3. Magus
Aggregate Score: 32
| Developer | Aksys Games |
|---|---|
| Release Date | February 25th, 2014 |
| Platform | PS3 |
Okay, so Magus is basically what happens when someone loves Mass Effect but is super fixated on the fact you can just deck a reporter. That’s honestly the whole vibe of the game. You play as this character who can switch between being a total jerk – like, an unbelievably annoying frat boy – or just a complete goofball. It’s all about embracing those extremes!
The game’s conversations are strangely funny – you’re usually just presented with a single choice. Combat isn’t much better, feeling like a simplified version of Immortals of Aveum. You only have three types of spells to use, and they don’t really feel distinct from each other.
The game is divided into five very short levels populated by uninspired enemies. Boss fights happen now and then, but they don’t require you to alter your approach. You just keep shooting colored orbs, and unfortunately, the whole experience feels, looks, and plays poorly.
2. Rogue Warrior
Aggregate Score: 27
Rogue Warrior perfectly captures the gaming experience of 2009 – and not in a good way. You play as Richard “Demo Dick” Marcinko, portrayed by Mickey Rourke, and his voice acting is notoriously bad. It sounds like Rourke recorded his lines quickly and without much effort, possibly still recovering from a rough night. The dialogue itself isn’t much better, filled with offensive and crude language, racism, and sexism.
I don’t know much about Richard Marcinko, but I doubt he’d be pleased with how he’s depicted in this game. I could be wrong, but he certainly deserved better than this gameplay. To put it simply, Rogue Warrior is a terrible first-person shooter. The graphics are awful, the enemy AI is ridiculously flawed, and the story is so bad it makes even cheap movies seem brilliant.
This game is full of exaggerated violence, constant swearing, and really bleak, washed-out settings. It perfectly captures the over-the-top, sometimes messy, style of gaming from the late 2000s.
1. Rambo: The Video Game
Aggregate Score: 23
Rambo: The Video Game had the potential to be excellent. By adapting the storylines of the first three films, it could have offered a deep experience, exploring both intense combat and the psychological impact of war. Unfortunately, the game simplifies everything, ignores the thoughtful themes of the original movie, and focuses solely on over-the-top action without any subtlety.
The game’s controls are really confusing. It’s an on-rails shooter where you mostly just react to prompts, mixing first-person shooting with moments where you have to quickly press buttons. While that sounds interesting, it doesn’t work well in practice. The shooting feels old-fashioned, like something you’d find in an arcade, and the quicktime events don’t actually improve the gameplay.
This game feels like a blatant attempt to make money, capitalizing on the Rambo name. While it includes recognizable locations from the films, it lacks a solid storyline or unifying elements. The frustrating decision to severely limit Rambo’s movement completely destroys the excitement of the action. It had the potential to be great, but the developers clearly didn’t have the resources, enthusiasm, or imagination to deliver.
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2025-11-01 20:12