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Top 20 most overrated video games that we wish people would shut up about

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - November 8th 2024, 16:30 GMT+1

20 überschätztesten Videospiele — About this gallery:

Before you pull a BioShock Infinite on us (see the image), we’re not saying these games are bad—just that maybe they’re not the masterpieces their fans claim, and maybe they’re not for every kind of player. We might ruffle a few feathers, but remember, these are opinions gathered from across the internet, and in the end, it’s all subjective.

If you’ve got a game that everyone raves about but doesn’t quite live up to the hype, why not drop it in the comments? | © 2K Games

Cropped Little Big Planet — 20. LittleBigPlanet (2008)

Sure, building your own platforming levels sounded fantastic back in 2008, and Sackboy was the cute, quirky mascot we all needed. But how many times can we hear about “endless creativity” and “innovative gameplay” when, really, it’s just glueing together janky cardboard contraptions? LittleBigPlanet’s charm wore off quickly, and these days, it feels more like an exercise in frustration than fun.

The whole “build-your-own-adventure” hype doesn’t hold up when you’re left with clunky physics and amateur-level creations. Nostalgia aside, maybe it’s time to pack up the glue sticks. | © Sony Interactive Entertainment

19. Madden NFL games (first release: 1988)

The Madden NFL series has managed to sell basically the same virtual football game for decades, and fans keep lining up to buy it year after year. Each release claims to have “improved mechanics” and “better AI,” but more often than not, it’s just a roster update with a new paint job.

It’s like déjà vu every fall, with fans pretending the latest Madden will be “the one.” The reality? It's barely distinguishable from last year’s edition. Madden might be a classic, but let’s call it what it is: an annual cash grab. | © EA Sports

Cropped Five Nights at Freddys — 18. Five Nights at Freddy's (2014)

What started as a fresh, terrifying take on horror gaming has turned into a never-ending stream of animatronic jump scares. Sure, the first game gave us genuine chills, but with countless sequels, books, and even a movie on the way, the Five Nights at Freddy’s formula feels more like a gimmick than true horror.

It’s hard to stay scared of the same robotic bears and ducks after a dozen games. FNAF may have kicked off something unique, but it’s been milked to the point of exhaustion. | © Scott Cawthon

Cropped God of War — 17. God of War games (first release: 2005)

Kratos, the ever-brooding warrior with endless daddy issues, is fun to follow, but fans treat God of War like it’s gaming’s Shakespeare. Every sequel is hailed as a masterpiece, yet the core gameplay is just Kratos smashing things in new mythological settings.

The recent reboot tries to add depth with father-son dynamics, but at the end of the day, it’s still Kratos grunting his way through Norse mythology. Overrated? Definitely. Sometimes a bit less gravitas and a little more fun would work wonders. | © Sony Interactive Entertainment

Zelda Bot W — 16. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)

Fans talk about Breath of the Wild like it’s a spiritual awakening, but after the initial “wow” factor, it’s basically a single-player survival simulator. Breaking weapons and cooking meals can be fun at first, but it becomes a tedious loop pretty quickly.

Sure, the open world is beautiful, but you can only admire the same grassy hill for so long. For a game praised as “revolutionary,” it sure relies on chores and busywork. It’s good, but maybe not *that* good. | © Nintendo

15. Red Dead Redemption 2 (2018)

Red Dead Redemption 2 set out to be the most “realistic” Wild West experience ever, but sometimes realism isn’t what we need. Between meticulously brushing horses and watching endless animations, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a cowboy simulator rather than a video game.

Rockstar aimed for a masterpiece, but at times it feels more like an interactive nature documentary. Red Dead 2 is great, but a little more action and a little less “immersion” would go a long way. | © Rockstar Games

14. Grand Theft Auto V (2013)

GTA V has managed to stay relevant for nearly a decade, but its constant re-releases and endless updates make it feel more like a cash cow than a game. The storyline is decent, sure, but how many times can we rob the same virtual bank before it gets old? It’s fun, but fans treat it like a masterpiece when, really, it’s just an overly familiar sandbox of chaos. Let’s admit it—it’s past time for a new GTA. | © Rockstar Games

Half Life 2 — 13. Half-Life 2 (2004)

Half-Life 2 was groundbreaking in 2004, but the reverence it still receives today feels a bit overblown. Yes, physics-based puzzles were cool, but do we need to keep treating Gordon Freeman like he’s a silent gaming messiah? Fans have immortalized Half-Life 2, yet it’s starting to look a bit clunky by modern standards. There’s a point where nostalgia starts to blind us to the fact that time moves on, even for classics. | © Valve Corporation

Bio Shock Infinite — 12. BioShock Infinite (2013)

With its floating city and philosophical undertones, BioShock Infinite feels like it was designed to impress. But underneath the fancy visuals and plot twists, it’s a pretty standard shooter with an overly complex story. Fans hail it as “deep,” yet it mostly boils down to shootouts in pretty environments. It’s fun, but for all its hype, it feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to be profound. Infinite is good—but maybe not the intellectual marvel fans make it out to be. | © 2K Games

11. Halo games (first release: 2001)

Halo’s Master Chief might be the poster child of FPS games, but the series is starting to feel like it’s running in circles. Each new release promises to redefine the genre, yet it’s usually more alien-blasting in vaguely different sci-fi settings. Halo fans treat it like sacred ground, but after so many iterations, it’s hard to ignore that it’s just the same old formula. Master Chief might be a legend, but maybe it’s time to pass the torch. | © Xbox Game Studios

Cropped Fortnite — 10. Fortnite (2017)

Fortnite’s cartoonish chaos took the world by storm, but for a game so hyped, it’s surprisingly light on substance. Building forts mid-battle and emote dances are fun for a while, but the novelty fades fast. Epic Games turned Fortnite into a pop culture phenomenon, but underneath, it’s a basic battle royale. With all the crossovers and events, it feels more like a money-making machine than a game. | © Epic Games

KINGDOM HEARTS — 9. Kingdom Hearts games (first release: 2002)

Kingdom Hearts somehow became a cult classic, blending Disney magic with anime-style action, but the story is a tangled mess. Fans try to explain the lore like it’s the Da Vinci Code, but it mostly feels like an excuse to parade Mickey Mouse and anime heroes through increasingly confusing worlds. The charm wears thin after a while, and with each sequel, it’s clear Disney characters might be better off staying in their own realms. | © Square Enix

8. Overwatch (2016)

Overwatch had a great start with colorful characters and team-based chaos, but fans treat it like it’s the golden standard of eSports. For all the hype, it’s often just the same objective-based gameplay in different skins. Players rave about its “depth,” yet it’s essentially a flashy shooter with quirky characters.

It’s fun, but revolutionary? Not quite. Overwatch might be good, but it’s not the life-changing experience fans say it is. | © Blizzard Entertainment

7. Life is Strange (2015)

Life is Strange tackles heavy themes through a high school drama lens, but its dialogue and characters often feel more like teen movie clichés than real people. Fans adore its emotional storytelling, but the melodrama sometimes veers into cringey territory.

The time-travel gimmick is fun, but it can’t quite save the game from feeling like an angsty soap opera. For all its “depth,” it’s basically a teenage drama with superpowers. | © Square Enix

6. Pokémon games (first release: 1996)

Catching them all was a great novelty in 1996, but the Pokémon series has barely evolved since. Each new game adds a few more monsters and a fresh coat of paint, but it’s essentially the same journey. Fans rave about each new release, yet it’s hard to ignore that we’re on a loop of nostalgia-fueled repetition. At this point, it feels like Pokémon is just recycling its past glory. | © Nintendo

Cropped League of Legends — 5. League of Legends (2009)

The community is intense, the learning curve is steep, and yet League of Legends is treated like the pinnacle of gaming. For a game that’s barely changed in over a decade, it’s amazing how fans still talk about it like it’s groundbreaking. League’s appeal is undeniable, but it’s also a rage-filled, unforgiving grind. The hype has yet to die down, but maybe it’s time we admit it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. | © Riot Games

Cropped World of Warcraft — 4. World of Warcraft (2004)

WoW might be the ultimate MMORPG, but it’s hard to deny it’s long past its prime. Each new expansion gets treated like a “game-changer,” but it’s just new skins on the same formula. Azeroth is a fun world, but maybe it’s time to retire the endless quests and raids. Fans have kept it alive, but sometimes it feels like they’re just holding onto the past. | © Blizzard Entertainment

Assassins Creed — 3. Assassin's Creed games (first release: 2007)

With each new era and location, Assassin’s Creed tries to keep things fresh, but it’s mostly the same parkour and blade action in slightly different skins. Ubisoft has turned it into an endless franchise, and fans eat it up, yet the series feels like it’s overstayed its welcome. The excitement of scaling historical towers has dulled, and it’s starting to look like a history-themed soap opera. | © Ubisoft

2. Call of Duty games (first release: 2003)

Explosions, shootouts, and cinematic cutscenes make Call of Duty an adrenaline rush, but it’s the same rush every single year. Fans treat each release like it’s a revolution, but really, it’s just a fresh coat of digital paint. Call of Duty is fun, sure, but is it worthy of the endless praise? Hardly. It’s time to admit we’re on a never-ending loop of déjà vu. | © Activision

1. FIFA games (first release: 1993)

Each year, FIFA fans line up for what’s essentially a glorified roster update with slightly improved graphics. Yet, every release gets hyped as if it’s a brand-new experience. The tweaks are minimal, and it’s still the same digital soccer game it’s always been. FIFA’s annual updates might be lucrative, but let’s face it: it’s basically just the same game in a new jersey. | © EA Sports

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Let’s face it: some games just get way more hype than they deserve. Whether they rode the wave of clever marketing, nostalgia goggles, or just plain old bandwagoning, these titles have somehow managed to stay in the spotlight long past their prime.

In this list, we're diving into the top 20 most overrated video games that, honestly, we’d be fine never hearing about again. So brace yourself, because we’re taking on the sacred cows of the gaming world and calling out the titles we wish people would finally stop hyping.

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Let’s face it: some games just get way more hype than they deserve. Whether they rode the wave of clever marketing, nostalgia goggles, or just plain old bandwagoning, these titles have somehow managed to stay in the spotlight long past their prime.

In this list, we're diving into the top 20 most overrated video games that, honestly, we’d be fine never hearing about again. So brace yourself, because we’re taking on the sacred cows of the gaming world and calling out the titles we wish people would finally stop hyping.