Surprising Open-World Games That Flopped: What Went Wrong?

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Summary

  • Costly open-world games often struggle to meet sales expectations despite bold gameplay concepts and distinct settings.
  • Games like Watch Dogs Legion and Sunset Overdrive faced commercial challenges despite their unique features and engaging worlds.
  • Mad Max and Sleeping Dogs are beloved open-world titles that, while cherished by players, failed to achieve strong sales figures.

Open-world triple-A games frequently achieve significant sales due to the genre’s high player appeal. These games provide an exhilarating experience as you immerse yourself in a lively, extensive world filled with expansive landscapes to traverse, numerous tasks to complete, and unforgettable characters to interact with. Given their size, open-world games usually guarantee many hours of gameplay for the cost of purchase, making players feel they’ve received good value for their money.

Regardless of the strong interest in these games, achieving success in the dynamic gaming industry is never certain. Even exceptional games can struggle to gain traction and sell successfully. Issues such as hasty launches or technical flaws at debut have sunk many promising projects. Here are some impressive open-world games that, for various reasons, didn’t meet their sales targets and failed to captivate the audience they should have.

1. Watch Dogs Legion

Estimated Sales: 3.5 million

Despite not being a complete failure, Watch Dogs Legion fell short of expectations for an open-world game of its grand scale and lofty goals, especially considering it’s the third installment in a popular series (both Watch Dogs and Watch Dogs 2 have sold over 10 million units each). The tepid response to the game seems to be why the Watch Dogs series has been put on hold indefinitely, with no new projects announced within the franchise for the past four years.

Unfortunately, it’s unfortunate that Watch Dogs Legion isn’t a game to be missed, given that it offers an innovative spin-off with intriguing concepts. The unique aspect of the game – playing as almost anyone – is daring and engaging, enhanced by its captivating depiction of future London. There’s much fun to be had with Watch Dogs Legion, particularly since it often goes on sale at substantial discounts across multiple platforms.

2. Mad Max

Estimated Sales: 2.5 million

From a dedicated fan here, it’s clear that the Mad Max universe isn’t just about blockbuster glory. Although the films have become cultural icons, they often fell short at the box office, with the latest installment, “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga,” unfortunately being a commercial disappointment. The Mad Max game didn’t fare much better, despite not being an outright disaster like the film mentioned. Its release, timed nearly four months after the global premiere of “Mad Max: Fury Road,” might have played a significant role in its lower sales.

Over time, the game Mad Max has been often considered one of the most underrated open-world titles. An increasing number of players have come to appreciate the excitement of exploring its brutal wasteland, attacking outposts, and constructing the Magnum Opus from scraps. While it’s true that the game doesn’t create something entirely new, as it takes its intense combat mechanics from the Batman: Arkham series and its expansive map is filled with repetitive tasks. However, for many fans, its raw, adrenaline-pumping gameplay is more than satisfactory.

3. Star Wars Outlaws

Estimated Sales: 2 million

The game titled Star Wars Outlaws serves as a notable example of a pricey open-world video game that failed to impress on all fronts recently. Launched at a time when Ubisoft was already facing difficulties and marred by technical issues, this game didn’t sell well despite its ambitious claim to be the “genuine open-world Star Wars game” fans had eagerly anticipated for years. To their credit, Ubisoft addressed the game’s technical and gameplay problems through multiple post-release updates; however, these efforts could not overcome the impact of a lackluster initial release.

Currently, the game titled “Star Wars Outlaws” provides an abundance of delightful elements. The meticulously designed “Star Wars” realms take center stage, brilliantly crafted by Massive Entertainment with stunning detail. The exotic landscapes offer a visual banquet, making exploration a pleasure, while the game’s smooth transition from planetary landings to space travel sets a standard that few competitors have surpassed. In line with Ubisoft’s characteristic style, “Outlaws” can occasionally feel somewhat crowded, but its story campaign finds a good equilibrium. It presents a cinematic, concise, and engaging adventure that faithfully embodies the essence of the brand.

4. Sleeping Dogs

Estimated Sales: 2 million

Sleeping Dogs is often cited as an iconic open-world game that has endured fondness from players even post-release. Despite this warm reception, it didn’t generate significant lifetime sales. If it had been released under its original name, True Crime: Hong Kong, it might have performed better. However, due to the title change, the game did not sell well. Thus far, attempts to establish it as an enduring franchise, including a problematic adaptation hinted at in 2017, have been unsuccessful.

There’s no denying the charm of Sleeping Dogs. The game offers a lively portrayal of Hong Kong, where the underworld is bustling with various criminal activities. Its engrossing narrative keeps you hooked, and its unique side quests introduce intriguing characters and scenarios. A powerful soundtrack, stunning visuals, and an exceptional martial arts combat system make it stand out. Compact yet immersive, Sleeping Dogs manages to avoid the excess that often plagues open-world games. Regrettably, its sale of 2 million copies was far less than it deserved, and even the additional 500,000 from the Definitive Edition re-release didn’t fully rectify this injustice.

5. Sunset Overdrive

Estimated Sales: 2 million

It’s understandable that the game “Sunset Overdrive” didn’t end up being a massive hit. For four years, it was only available on Xbox One, which limited its potential audience. Unfortunately, by the time it was released for PC, the market opportunity had already passed, and sales weren’t as strong as hoped. Reports suggest that plans for a sequel were eventually cancelled due to weak commercial reception.

As a gamer, I can honestly say that Sunset Overdrive had the potential to become a massive sensation, if only it wasn’t tied exclusively to the Xbox One platform. This game’s vibrant, eccentric world is brimming with zany chaos, offering a thrilling blend of intense action and swift navigation mechanics. It’s no wonder that Insomniac Games was eventually selected for Marvel’s Spider-Man, which went on to be one of the PlayStation 4 era’s most successful open-world games – a clear demonstration of the extraordinary creativity that Sunset Overdrive so vividly displayed years earlier.

6. Rage 2

Estimated Sales: 1.5 million

The game titled Rage 2 evokes a vibe similar to Mad Max, immersing players in an anarchic, post-apocalyptic landscape teeming with vehicular mayhem and intense combat. However, much like the Mad Max game, it didn’t bring the anticipated financial success for Bethesda. The original Rage wasn’t groundbreaking, so creating a sequel with a unique tone after an eight-year hiatus was a daring move. It seems that the demand for such a world might not be as high as expected, even when trading gritty hand-to-hand battles for a first-person shooter enriched by supernatural elements.

Despite all, Rage 2 seems to have been destined for a more favorable outcome. Avalanche Studios offers exhilarating driving reminiscent of Mad Max, while id Software contributes combats similar to Doom. The game boasts an impressive array of weapons, stunning graphics, and numerous electrifying powers that encourage continuous exploration. The marketing strategy might have contributed to its downfall, perhaps overstating its zaniness which may have led players to expect a Borderlands-style adventure rather than the grounded shooter it actually is.

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2025-04-18 04:34