With thenext generation of consoles here, gamers can expect the remainder of 2020 to be exciting. Though, it is important to look back and reflect so that mistakes of the past do not become mistakes of the future.
RELATED:Every PS5 Launch Game Ranked From Worst To Best (According To Metacritic)
There were many awesome games released this year, but there have also been quite a few awful ones. Metacritic conveniently combines and averages scores from reputable critics in order to give the world precise and efficient ratings on media. Critics can be relied on to identify the bad apples from the good, thereby saving gamers from wasting their hard-earned money on unworthy titles.
10XIII Remake – Metascore: 35 (PC)
XIIIwas a diamond in the rough back when it was first released in 2003. Fans loved the gameplay and it stood out among other titles of the day for its unique and fun take on theFirst-Person-Shooter genre.
The remake, however, suffered from a tremendous amount of glitches and bugs that made it somehow feel older than the original. TheXIII Remakewas also released on thePlaystation 4,Xbox One,andNintendo Switch.So far, out of these consoles, it only has been reviewed on thePS4, earning a Metascore of 44.
9Mittelborg: City Of Mages – Metascore: 34 (Switch)
With few games that combinecity-buildingand adventure elements, one would expectMittelborg: City of Magesto make use of its great potential. The art style and premise of managing a magical land seem promising, but this game’s poor translation, awkward controls, and boring gameplay leave much to be desired.
Furthermore, most of the game takes place on a single screen and the mechanics are heavily reliant on sheer luck. To top it all off, the story is dull and uninspired as well, leaving gamers with very few reasons to check out this title.
8Fast & Furious Crossroads – Metascore: 34 (PC)
With high-speed racing action combined with explosions, a beloved franchise, and A-list actors reprising their roles,Fast & Furious Crossroadsshould have been a hit.Fans of the movie franchise were rightly furious when they realized this was not the case.
The biggest qualms regard janky physics, lack of content, and an expensive price tag. For the poor gameplay and very short story, players who bought it feel ripped off. Even fans of the movies cannot, and will not, defend it. This game was also released on thePS4andXbox One,which have Metascores of 35 and 49 respectively.
7Dawn Of Fear – Metascore: 33 (PS4)
Attempting to emulate the feel and impact ofold-school horror gamesis a fine notion and even a concept desired by many fans of modern horror titles. However, those trying outDawn of Fearwill be disappointed. The greatest issues are the rampant technical problems that constantly break the player’s immersion and create frustrating obstacles that should have never been there.
RELATED:The 10 Worst Horror Games Of The Decade (According To Metacritic)
In addition, there is very little genuine tension or scary qualities from the story and environment. Without any actual impact from events taking place, there is little reason to even consider playingDawn of Fear.
6Doug Hates His Job – Metascore: 32 (Xbox One)
For a game all about the comedy arisen from hating one’s job, this title is surprisingly unfunny. The sloppy controls and repetitive gameplay drain all fun that the dialogue and setting try to establish.
Most critics describeDoug Hates His Jobas somewhere between irritating and infuriating. The bland and uninspired gameplay makes many think that this title isn’t worth the money to acquire and play.
5This Is The Zodiac Speaking – Metascore: 30 (Xbox One)
Another promising premise is thrown into the trash asThis is the Zodiac Speakingdisappoints on almost every level. Many are likely familiar with the events portrayed in this game from other media, and like those,this game attempts to be a thriller with investigative elements.
Unfortunately, due to nearly nonsensical stealth mechanics, poor voice acting, and generic story,This Is The Zodiac Speakingleaves players wanting. The visuals feel washed out and the audio does little to draw gamers into the setting, effectively dulling one’s mind in combination with the bland storytelling. This game has been reviewed onPCas well, though it did not fare much better and only earned a Metascore of 56. Most would be better off watching the 2007 movie based on the same events instead.
4Tiny Racer – Metascore: 29 (Switch)
Shrinking vehicles down and racing among regular-sized objects is a concept that has been done before, butTiny Racerdoesn’t seem to do anything different or better than other racing games that go for the same gimmick. The most hated part of this game is that there is little control over the vehicle that the player is driving.
RELATED:The 10 Worst Racing Games Of The Decade (According To Metacritic)
Getting bumped by other vehicles or hitting a ramp slightly the wrong way will send the player’s car careening out of bounds. The immense sensitivity isn’t the only issue, as many complain that all vehicle options feel exactly the same and that there is nothing that makes this title preferable to the mass of other racing games available on theSwitch.
Another game aiming to emulate the olderResident Evilgames,Outbreak: The New Nightmareon the surface looks like it has potential as asurvival horror game, but looks can be deceiving. In most regards, the game feels unfinished.
The tremendous amount of bugs and scant storytelling don’t give the player much reason to like this title. There isn’t even anything remotely scary due to how poorly the various aspects are displayed, making this game feel more like a mockery of the genre than a solid entry to it.
For a game about robots tasked with jobs too dangerous for people,Robot Squad Simulator Xis remarkably boring and frustrating. Bomb diffusion and drone piloting have the potential for high-tension gameplay that could give the player a sense of accomplishment when pulled off, but the awful controls and game design make it incredibly irritating for players to do anything.
The robotic arm that is controlled feels about as dextrous as an infant learning how to pick up individual pieces of spaghetti.
1Bounty Battle – Metascore: 23 (Switch)
Lo and behold, this is the worst game of the year. To start with,Bounty Battlehad a wide release and appeared on all major consoles, though was hated on all of them. The worst of its Metascores was on theSwitch, but it didn’t fare much better on theXbox One(32),PS4(34), andPC(39).
Bounty Battleattempts to be theSuper Smash Bros.of indie games but pales in comparison in every regard. Abysmal framerate, poorly explained combat mechanics, unintuitive menus, crude animation, and outright ugly in-battle graphics make this game one to stay away from.
NEXT:5 Best Video Game Consoles Of The Last Decade (& 5 Worst)
