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Video Games You Didn't Need to Play to Know They Were Terrible

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Ignacio Weil

Gaming - September 21st 2025, 17:00 GMT+2

Assassins Creed Shadows — Assassin’s Creed Shadows (2025)

Excitement surrounded the idea of feudal Japan as the next *Assassin’s Creed* setting, but early previews hinted that innovation might be taking a backseat to flashy visuals. The promise of a live-service model raised questions about microtransactions overshadowing traditional gameplay. Despite some visually stunning locations, repetitive mechanics became apparent in demos, making fans wary. Even with expansions like "Claws of Awaji," the grind to unlock content felt excessive, leaving players skeptical. The anticipation quickly collided with doubts over the game’s ability to deliver a satisfying story or fresh gameplay loops. In the end, *Shadows* walked a fine line between beautiful scenery and uninspired missions, giving players plenty of reasons to hesitate. | © Ubisoft

Skull and Bones — Skull & Bones (2024)

Ever since *Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag*, gamers were waiting for another pirate adventure to dive into, yet each delay and rework of *Skull & Bones* amplified skepticism. Early trailers made the naval combat look ambitious but shallow, with a sense of repetitive monotony. By launch, it was clear that long development did not equal polish, leaving mechanics feeling outdated. Multiplayer promised epic pirate clashes, but balancing issues and technical hiccups got in the way. Even the vibrant open-world visuals couldn’t save the gameplay from falling flat. Many fans walked away feeling that *Skull & Bones* had sailed straight into mediocrity. | © Ubisoft Singapore

The Lord of the Rings Gollum — The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2023)

Exploring Middle-earth from Gollum’s perspective seemed like a fresh twist, yet early footage revealed awkward animations and pacing problems. Pre-release hype collided with technical limitations, making optimism difficult to maintain. When the game finally launched, critics highlighted repetitive stealth sections and a narrative that struggled to capture Tolkien’s depth. While some puzzles were clever, bugs and glitches continually interrupted the experience. Fans who had hoped for an immersive character study were left disappointed by the execution. Ultimately, the ambitious concept couldn’t overcome the flaws in gameplay and storytelling. | © Daedalic Entertainment

Redfall (2023)

The idea of vampire hunting in an open world initially felt like a perfect Arkane project, but previews hinted at shallow mission design. Technical issues and underwhelming AI became apparent even before reviews surfaced. Story beats lacked tension, leaving the world feeling less immersive than promised. Despite Arkane’s signature artistry, repetitive gameplay loops made it hard for players to stay engaged. The promise of co-op fun was undermined by glitches and balancing problems. By the time *Redfall* hit shelves, the initial excitement had faded, leaving a lukewarm reception. | © Arkane Studios

Fallout 76 (2018)

Shifting the franchise to an online-only experience created curiosity, but hands-on previews showed glaring problems. The lack of NPCs and persistent bugs worried even the most optimistic fans. Crashes, missing features, and a confusing interface made early impressions frustrating. While Bethesda later added content and updates, the launch fiasco left a lasting mark on the community. Even now, *Fallout 76* is remembered more for its troubled debut than its improvements. The game became a cautionary tale about overpromising and underdelivering in major AAA franchises. | © Bethesda Game Studios

Battleborn (2016)

A colorful cast of characters and a hybrid shooter-MOBA concept sounded promising, but the result was overwhelming chaos. Level design struggled to balance frantic combat with strategic objectives, leaving players unsure what to focus on. Humor and visual flair clashed with muddled gameplay loops, creating more confusion than fun. Multiplayer matchmaking often felt inconsistent, making competitive play frustrating rather than thrilling. Fans hoping for Gearbox’s signature polish quickly realized the game lacked cohesion. In the end, *Battleborn* became more of a curiosity than a must-play title. | © Gearbox Software

Mighty No 9 — Mighty No. 9 (2016)

Hyped as the return of a beloved side-scrolling hero, the game delivered awkward pacing and uninspired level layouts. Boss battles that should have felt exciting instead dragged on due to sluggish controls and repetitive patterns. Animations and sound design failed to capture the energy of classic *Mega Man*, leaving a hollow impression. Even small visual glitches highlighted the rushed feel of production. Crowdfunders’ excitement turned into frustration as promises clashed with reality. *Mighty No. 9* serves as a lesson in how nostalgia alone can’t carry a game. | © Comcept

Cropped Ride to Hell Retribution — Ride to Hell: Retribution (2013)

Supposed to be a gritty, open-world biker saga, it ended up a clumsy mess of broken mechanics and uninspired missions. Combat was awkward and unresponsive, making even simple fights tedious. Narrative attempts to shock or intrigue felt disjointed and unintentionally comical. Levels were repetitive, with little motivation to explore beyond the bare minimum. Technical bugs constantly interrupted gameplay, testing players’ patience. The title earned its reputation as one of gaming’s most infamous failures. | © Eutechnyx

Aliens Colonial Marines — Aliens: Colonial Marines (2013)

Fans of the franchise anticipated tense, cinematic encounters, but the game delivered mechanical enemies and empty corridors. Weapon handling and AI behavior often felt inconsistent, sapping any sense of danger. Visuals and atmosphere fell short of the series’ standard, leaving areas feeling lifeless. Missions were repetitive, lacking the suspense that defined the films. Early marketing raised expectations that the finished game simply could not meet. *Colonial Marines* now stands as a textbook case of hype exceeding execution. | © Gearbox Software

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Not every game lives up to the hype. Some titles are so overpromised, underwhelming in previews, or just plain bizarre that players could predict their failure before even picking up the controller. From overhyped AAA disasters to long-delayed projects that looked doomed from the start, these are the video games you didn’t need to play to know they were going to disappoint. In this list, we’re diving into notorious flops, examining the trailers, developer history, and pre-release buzz that made gamers collectively groan long before launch.

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Not every game lives up to the hype. Some titles are so overpromised, underwhelming in previews, or just plain bizarre that players could predict their failure before even picking up the controller. From overhyped AAA disasters to long-delayed projects that looked doomed from the start, these are the video games you didn’t need to play to know they were going to disappoint. In this list, we’re diving into notorious flops, examining the trailers, developer history, and pre-release buzz that made gamers collectively groan long before launch.