Amazing Games That Everyone Thought Would Be Terrible

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It’s challenging for game developers to share their work with players before a game launches. Often, players aren’t impressed by what they see and are hesitant to try new titles. Developers can only hope their game resonates with an audience who will appreciate the team’s hard work, and thankfully, some games have proven to be surprisingly successful despite a poor initial reception. We’ve highlighted a few games that fans ended up loving, even though they didn’t look promising before release.

Fortnite

A Lackluster Survival Game Becomes the Most Famous Battle Royale of All Time

Fortnite originally launched in 2011 as a cooperative survival game where players worked together to protect their base from zombies. It felt like many other games of its kind and didn’t initially gain much attention. However, Fortnite surprised everyone by adding a Battle Royale mode – something the developers hadn’t planned as the main focus. This Battle Royale mode became incredibly popular, eventually overshadowing the original survival game, which was then rebranded as ‘Save the World’. Today, Fortnite is a major part of gaming culture. It’s constantly updated with new content, seasons, and collaborations, and has become a cornerstone of the industry. Few could have predicted, back in 2011, that the 2017 release of Fortnite would have such a huge impact on gaming.

Silent Hill 2 (2024)

A So-Claimed “Unnecessary Remake” That Brought Millions Onto the Horror Hype

When Konami announced that Bloober Team would remake the classic game Silent Hill 2, some fans were skeptical, worried that no developer could do it justice. Silent Hill 2 is beloved for many reasons – its perfect mix of horror, symbolism, challenging puzzles, and memorable monsters. Many feared a remake would ruin its legacy with unnecessary changes to the story or combat. However, Bloober Team proved those fears wrong. The 2024 remake of Silent Hill 2 successfully honored the original vision while making the experience immersive for a new generation of players. Both versions are fantastic, and the remake’s success has paved the way for future Silent Hill games and remakes.

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy

A Previous Bad Marvel Game Squandered a Galaxy-Spanning Joy Ride

When James Gunn first introduced the Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, nobody imagined how popular these Marvel characters would become. However, Disney quickly used them in everything, and people started to get tired of seeing them everywhere. The idea of a quirky, misfit group of sci-fi adventurers who love rock music was a refreshing one, making a video game adaptation seem like a natural fit. Sadly, Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy didn’t initially attract much attention. Gamers weren’t eager for another retelling of the Guardians’ origin story, especially after being disappointed by Square Enix’s Avengers game. Those who did play it, though, consistently praised it, but positive word-of-mouth wasn’t enough to boost player numbers. The lukewarm response to Marvel’s Avengers, combined with the Guardians being overexposed, led to a lack of interest. It’s a shame, because Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy is a genuinely fun and exciting cosmic adventure that doesn’t shy away from being over-the-top.

Borderlands

A Game That Once Took Itself Too Seriously Suddenly Became Comic and Fun

When Borderlands first came out in 2007, it was a different kind of co-op shooter. It wasn’t trying to compete with popular games like Call of Duty; instead, it aimed to build its own unique world focused on player-versus-environment action. Initially, the game’s serious tone and somewhat plain appearance didn’t grab many players, and many predicted it would fail. Even the CEO of Gearbox, Randy Pitchford, jokingly said the publisher was setting it up to lose! However, they were proven very wrong. With the recent release of Borderlands 4 to positive reviews and enthusiastic fan response, it’s clear that taking risks can pay off. Borderlands essentially invented the “looter shooter” genre, and players quickly fell in love with exploring the strange and dangerous world of Pandora, collecting tons of loot, completing missions, and causing mayhem. Its combination of RPG and first-person shooter gameplay in an open world was special, and the decision to use a bold, graphic novel-inspired art style with thick black outlines and vibrant colors helped it truly stand out from other shooters.

Death Stranding

A Walking Simulator That Some People Just Didn’t Get

Death Stranding is a divisive game. Even now, players disagree about what Hideo Kojima was trying to achieve with it. While the game was always clear about its unique vision, some fans of his previous work, like Metal Gear Solid, were disappointed. The story was undeniably unusual and different from anything Kojima had done before, but many worried the core gameplay – mostly focused on delivering packages and traversing landscapes – wouldn’t be enjoyable. Though technically impressive, this concerned people until they actually played the game. Ultimately, the rewarding gameplay, engaging combat, frightening enemy encounters, and compelling characters combined to create a remarkable experience. However, not everyone has embraced Death Stranding.

Demon’s Souls

An Unfamiliar Gameplay Design Scared and Confused Many

It’s hard to imagine a gaming world without FromSoftware and the challenging “Soulslike” games they pioneered, but thankfully, we live in one where they’re incredibly popular. Demon’s Souls was the first game of its kind – a tough, fantasy adventure with RPG elements and a world designed like a sprawling, interconnected map. Today, it’s seen as the inspiration for hits like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring. However, its beginnings were rocky. Sony, who originally published the game, weren’t convinced it would succeed. They were worried about its difficulty and confusing gameplay, and initial playtests didn’t go well. In fact, a former Sony executive described it bluntly as “bad.” Fortunately, Demon’s Souls found a dedicated fanbase of players who enjoyed a real challenge – and that’s exactly what the game delivered.

Fallout 3

Turning a Turn-Based RPG Into an FPS Was a Change That Frightened Hardcore Fans

The original Fallout games were fantastic role-playing games in the late 90s, known for their immersive world and turn-based combat. After a decade, Fallout 3 arrived, but with a significant change: it shifted from a traditional RPG to a first-person shooter RPG. This upset some longtime fans who loved the older style. The announcement sparked intense negativity online, and even led to Bethesda needing to increase security at their offices. Fortunately, this vocal minority quieted down after the game’s release, as Fallout 3 became a huge success, enjoyed by millions. While it didn’t have quite the same depth as the original games, Fallout 3 expanded the series’ world and laid the groundwork for future Fallout titles, including the popular show on Amazon Prime.

The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker

Many Saw the Art Style As a Way to “Babify” The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda is a hugely popular and critically acclaimed series, and rightfully so. Games like Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask are considered timeless classics and are central to Nintendo’s identity. However, Nintendo isn’t afraid to try new things, which is why the announcement of Wind Waker caused such a strong reaction. Initially, Wind Waker received a lot of criticism because its bright, cartoonish art style seemed geared towards a younger audience. Many fans didn’t like the simplified look and felt it didn’t fit the series’ tone. Over time, though, players realized Wind Waker was a fantastic game that lived up to the Zelda legacy, boasting a unique and beautiful art style that has earned its place in Nintendo’s history.

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2025-11-16 08:35