As a seasoned gamer with over three decades under my belt, I must say that the year 2024 has been quite the rollercoaster ride for us gamers. One game that left me absolutely flabbergasted was Concord, a title that made history for all the wrong reasons.
As the year in gaming winds down and the festive season draws near, so does the time for recognizing outstanding achievements. This is when we celebrate the standout and widely-loved games that have graced our screens throughout the past year.
Here’s an opportunity to honor the remarkable achievements, assess the standouts from this past year, and select the cream of the crop as the ultimate winner. However, unlike in many award ceremonies, there won’t be an award given for the least impressive or ‘worst of the bunch.’
In a more casual way of saying, it seems like it must be due to a slight harshness. Yet, being the grumpy old soul that I am, I don’t mind playing the villain and scowling in retrospect at this year’s failures.
There have been as many stinkers as there have been superstars, and as you try and decide what games you want to put on your gift list this holiday season, I aim to warn you about the games that simply don’t warrant playing and serve as the biggest disappointments of 2024.
10 Broken Roads
A Truly Broken Road
I’m thrilled to dive right into a game that has been eagerly awaiting my playtime, fueled by my unwavering passion for Disco Elysium.
Broken Roads, much like Disco Elysium, proudly showcases its affection; it’s an indie CRPG that functions as the foundation for this game. However, unlike the captivating post-apocalyptic Aussie outback RPG it aspires to be, the game fails to pick up pace, delivering a fragmented and, ironically, faulty gaming experience.
In simpler terms, the decisions a player makes don’t matter much, the character’s personality system looks intricate but lacks depth or unexpected events, and the battle system in this game is quite basic.
Instead of being its spiritual successor as it might appear at first glance due to similarities, it is actually quite different from Disco Elysium in essence.
9 Deathbound
A Slow, Painful Death
Being a fan of FromSoftware games as well as other Souls-like titles, I try to give credit to any developer daring enough to mimic the FromSoft formula. However, even my goodwill has its limits, and for Deathbound, it was stretched far too thin.
Deathbound boasts an intriguing setting and a tale worth exploring. However, its gameplay leaves much to be desired; in fact, one might need the remarkable forbearance of a saint to experience it fully.
Fight sequences are stiff and uneven, featuring jerky movements that often result in unfair character deaths. The character-changing mechanism feels awkward to use, adding an unnecessary challenge, yet it is crucial for moving forward in the game.
Moreover, the bosses in this game are so poorly constructed that without figuring out how to circumvent or take advantage of them, you can’t possibly emerge victorious. This game resembles a Souls-Like but seems to lack an understanding of the fundamental aspects that make Souls-Like games engaging and successful, making it one of the least enjoyable games released this year.
8 Open Roads
Should’ve Stayed At Home
In terms of games produced by Annapurna, it’s safe to say that they typically feature a distinctive visual aesthetic, boast well-known actors in their voice cast, and offer an engaging narrative.
Upon the arrival of Open Roads, it was reasonable to expect another narrative-focused masterpiece similar to previous hits such as Gone Home, If Found, or Florence. However, it ultimately failed to deliver a satisfying depth.
Regardless of the impressive vocal performances from Kaitlin Deever, or the captivating blend of 2D and 3D mesh artwork, the heart of this game – its narrative – fell short of expectations.
The personalities seemed shallow, the plot didn’t offer standout scenes, everything appeared somewhat contrived.
This ultimately resulted in something akin to a video game version of a Hallmark film, which, if you’ve seen one before, is not particularly noteworthy or impressive.
7 Star Wars: Outlaws
Non-Descript Rogue
It might seem somewhat critical, but some Star Wars enthusiasts have informed me that this game possesses several commendable aspects. However, the very fact that ardent Star Wars fans feel compelled to defend it indicates that this particular release may not have been as successful as intended.
More recently, Star Wars video games have consistently delivered quality gaming experiences, as demonstrated by titles such as Jedi Survivor and LEGO Star Wars. However, Outlaws, unfortunately, deviates from this pattern due to Ubisoft’s overly expansive and worn-out open-world design.
The game, upon release, offered somewhat unimpressive graphics and character designs. It boasted a diverse range of gameplay concepts, but unfortunately, these ideas were not executed effectively. This was evident in the frustrating stealth segments where failure occurred instantly.
Moreover, the lack of an engaging protagonist is a critical flaw in Star Wars, a point I wholeheartedly concur with. Additionally, while Star Wars Outlaws does have its highlights, it falls short of being the phenomenal production that some anticipated.
6 South Park: Snow Day
Out In The Cold
Over time, South Park games have offered a diverse range of experiences, let’s just put it that way. However, following the triumph of The Stick of Truth and to some extent, The Fractured But Whole, there’s been a significant build-up of anticipation in the gaming community for more outstanding content from this satirical series.
It appears that the South Park games have returned to their old ways, as the most recent release, Snow Day, bears a striking resemblance to the abysmally poor South Park games from years past.
This game made significant changes, like transitioning to a 3D design, yet each adjustment seemed to further seal its fate. The narrative length, considering the cost, was disappointingly brief.
The battle was dull and uninspired, the missions and controls seemed half-baked and tedious, and what made it even worse was that it was supposed to be a South Park game. Unfortunately, it wasn’t funny at all.
This new approach deviated significantly from the beloved 2D role-playing game format, and we’re still puzzled as to who made the decision to go in this direction.
5 Funko Fusion
LEGO This Is Not
Casual gamers often find enjoyment in LEGO games because they are straightforward, use well-known franchises, and offer a mix of clever and physical comedy that appeals to both children and grown-ups.
At first glance, Funko Fusion appeared to be an inevitable triumph. With a gameplay style reminiscent of its predecessor and an impressive collection of well-known characters in Funko figure likenesses, it appeared destined to become a beloved choice for families.
Essentially, it’s clear that it didn’t hit the mark. The experience is reminiscent of a generic LEGO game, but unfortunately, it lacks the essence of what made those games enjoyable and popular to begin with.
As a gamer, I found myself grappling with numerous technical hiccups in this game. The combat and brain teasers felt overly complex and excessively challenging, making it seem unsuitable for casual family play. Frankly, it was a monotonous journey that left me craving for more variety.
To this very day, it stays shattered and disorganized, with a high likelihood of remaining so. Therefore, let not the adorable Funko figurines deceive you.
4 LEGO Horizon Adventures
Horizon Zero Fun
Regarding LEGO games, one might assume they’d be exempt given the positive remarks I’ve made, yet surprisingly, they find themselves on this list nonetheless.
Surprisingly underwhelming, given the robustness of Horizon’s intellectual property, LEGO Horizon Adventures offers an uninspiring and somewhat condescending gameplay, despite boasting compelling characters, captivating setting, and a riveting narrative.
Although this game manages to provide some humorous instances and maintains a sense of enjoyment reminiscent of past LEGO games, it falls short of reaching those great heights. The primary reason for this is that the puzzles and combat are overly simplified, and the storyline based on Zero Dawn is treated in a juvenile manner, not doing justice to its memorable narrative.
This LEGO video game feels uninspired and ends far too quickly, which means even die-hard fans should think twice before playing it.
3 Alone In The Dark
Another Dark Day For The Series
Over time, it’s been disheartening to observe the decline of the Alone in the Dark series, as it once stood tall among the survival horror giants, even competing with heavyweights like Resident Evil.
Despite some questionable contemporary additions, the series appeared to require a fresh beginning. Initially, it seemed as though this soft reboot would achieve that, but ultimately, it appears that this may signify the end of the series’ reign at its peak.
This game, despite boasting a compelling cast and a moderately intriguing narrative, falls short in many areas. The combat feels clumsy, not in a deliberate survival-horror fashion, and the puzzles seem confusing and poorly constructed. In essence, the game appears lacking in creativity, often coming across as an uninspired replica of existing horror genre elements.
The reboot had to be exceptional for this series to continue, unfortunately, Alone in the Dark won’t rely on new achievements; instead, it will lean on its former victories since the contemporary period has been disastrous for this intellectual property.
2 Skull and Bones
Not So Jolly Roger
In most cases, Ubisoft doesn’t venture into original Intellectual Properties (IPs), especially those that could spark widespread enthusiasm among gamers. Yet, when I learned they were diving into a pirate-themed game with ambitions to rival Sea of Thieves, my inner optimist whispered softly.
Indeed, numerous individuals continue to acclaim Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag as a top-tier high-seas adventure. Consequently, they possess a certain level of expertise in that field. However, if your gaming experience is limited to Skull and Bones, you might find it hard to imagine its greatness.
The sad thing is that the battles at sea are actually live up to the hype. The problem, however, is that this gun gameplay is made to exist in a live service model, making everything feel like a dull, repetitive slog.
As a devoted player, I find myself growing weary of the repetitive quests, struggling to stay invested in the underwhelming narrative, and finding the core mechanics uninteresting when not engaged in thrilling high-seas battles. Frankly, it seems the original concept has been over-commercialized, losing its charm and becoming less enjoyable as a result.
1 Concord
They Cut The Cord
When it comes to 2024 flops, no game can quite match the car crash that was Concord.
Despite being developed for several years with an astronomical budget, and being helmed by former Bungie team members, the game surprisingly went live, only to shut down its servers in a mere fortnight’s time. This swift and agonizing collapse of a live service stands as one of the most rapid and excruciating failures in gaming history. However, if we consider The Day Before, it may have a contender for that title.
Although the game wasn’t the poorest hero-shooter available, it didn’t introduce anything fresh or captivating to the genre either. Dramatically illustrating that if a game doesn’t succeed in the live service market, it faces inevitable failure, as there seems to be no room for mediocrity.
In the current scenario, there seemed to be no space for this shooter game, as Overwatch and Valorant are already dominating the market. As a result, Concord may go down in history as one of Sony’s most significant financial disappointments.
If that doesn’t justify the label of ‘flop of the year’ I don’t know what does.
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2024-11-25 13:39