There are many reasons a video game can be considered a “flop.” It may fail commercially, potentially harming a studio. Poor reviews from critics or a negative fan consensus can also damage a game’s reputation. However, none of these factors necessarily mean a game is bad, or that a bad game can’t have good features.

In many cases, a game can flop and still be very good, and some even go on to become legendary or highly influential. Some of the games on this list have been around long enough to build a cult following, leading to later success, while others never find an audience. Either way, there are plenty of video game flops that are worth checking out.

Aliens: Colonial Marines’ Misleading Marketing Soured Many Fans On the Game

Colonial Marines Might Not Be the Best Aliens Game, But It’s Actually Pretty Good

The Alien franchise is a natural fit for video game adaptations, and over the years, plenty of games have pitted players against the terrifying xenomorphs, or, in Aliens vs. Predator, let them play as the stealthy alien hunters. The franchise has definitely had its highs, like Alien: Isolation, a near-perfect horror game that perfectly captures the tension and fear of the original films. Aliens: Colonial Marines, on the other hand, took inspiration from Aliens and emphasized large-scale battles where hardened marines take on overwhelming xenomorph hordes. However, the game received little fan acclaim, with average review scores ranging from two to five out of ten.

Its reception was hurt by clunky AI from the supposedly terrifying xenos, a basic story, repetitive missions, robotic voice acting, and a handful of bugs that weren’t the extraterrestrial kind. However, some of the criticism may have stemmed from high expectations and the reputation of the Alien IP. Yes, the story is simple, and the gameplay often boils down to “go here, shoot this, restart that generator,” but joining the iconic Colonial Marines in battle can still be fun. It’s certainly not a 10/10 game, but it may deserve a second look.

Duke Nukem Forever Was a Low Point In the Franchise, But Still Fun

Duke Nukem Forever Proves Corny Doesn’t Always Mean Bad

At one point in gaming history, Duke Nukem was one of the most popular video game series, with its wise-cracking, all-American hero standing alongside other classic first-person shooters like Doom. By modern standards, Duke Nukem feels heavily outdated, with some dialogue and elements not aging well. Duke Nukem Forever spent an infamous 14 years in development hell, starting in 1997 before passing through multiple studios, development teams, and console generations. Despite all that time, the game remained stuck in the past and failed to meet the standards of other major releases of its time.

For context, Skyrim, Portal 2, and Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood all came out in 2011, the same year Duke Nukem Forever finally launched. The game isn’t for everyone; its graphics are clunky, the gameplay mechanics are slow and awkward, and it feels dated. However, it is pure fan service. The opening sees Duke taking out an alien in a football stadium, only to reveal he was playing a video game of his own life. From there, he explores his apartment, filled with interactive elements like a pool table and a drawing mini-game. The rest of the game plays out like a greatest-hits collection of one-liners and iconic moments from past entries. Though far from perfect, it’s an enjoyable ride for longtime Duke Nukem fans.

Rule of Rose Deserves to be a Horror Classic

Rule of Rose’s Horrifying Reputation Actually Hurt the Game

A horror game being banned in the United Kingdom and several other countries might seem like a recipe for success, giving it an edge of notoriety. Unfortunately, in the case of Rule of Rose, the UK ban instead limited its sales potential, turning one of the most innovative horror games of all time into a commercial flop. Rule of Rose is set in 1930s England and follows 19-year-old Jennifer, who becomes entangled in a nightmarish world ruled by the Red Crayon Aristocrats, a society of cruel and unsettling children.

The gameplay focuses on exploration, puzzle-solving, and melee combat. Players control Jennifer as she navigates oppressive environments while evading or fighting eerie creatures known as imps. While the game has a linear structure with limited player choices, exploration is rewarded with additional lore and various upgrades. Now that the controversy has died down, Rule of Rose is well worth playing for those looking to experience one of the finest horror games of its time.

Fallout 76 Was a Game That Seemingly No One Wanted

Even Though Fallout 76 Had a Disastrous Start, It Eventually Found an Audience

Image via Bethesda Softworks

The Fallout series helped define the RPG genre thanks to its engaging combat, quirky missions, and solid role-playing mechanics. Beyond the narratives, the games are famous for their weird and wonderful characters, such as the robot-controlling superhero, the Mechanist; the brash and charismatic DJ, Three Dog; and the stoic, strong-minded Elder Maxon. Fallout 76 promised something fans had wanted for years: a multiplayer adventure in the Fallout universe. However, it missed one crucial element: people.

At launch, Fallout 76 had zero NPCs, with quests handed out by holotapes, a few Protectrons, and scattered letters. This made the world feel truly empty, like a literal wasteland where players simply ran around fighting monsters instead of interacting with other humans. The absence of factions like the Brotherhood of Steel only added to fan disappointment. These issues led to the game flopping within the Fallout community. The game’s audience has expanded after updates introduced NPCs and factions, but Fallout 76 remains divisive. Still, for certain fans who enjoy roaming a post-apocalyptic sandbox without worrying about complex storylines, it offers a Fallout experience they can jump in and out of at will.

Psychonauts Nearly Tanked Its Studio

Two Decades Later, Psychonauts Is Considered a Classic

Image via Double Fine

Double Fine Productions has built a reputation for crafting truly unique worlds filled with distinct art styles and incredibly likable characters. The studio’s first game, the now-iconic Psychonauts, nearly ended its journey before it began due to its financial struggles at launch. However, this infinitely creative platformer gradually built a passionate following, gaining more recognition over time. Its legacy grew so much that, nearly two decades later, the highly anticipated sequel was finally released to widespread praise and strong sales, securing the studio’s future.

Psychonauts takes place in a futuristic yet retro version of the 1980s, with players stepping into the role of Razputin, a young boy gifted with psychic abilities. Having run away from the circus, Raz sneaks into a summer camp for children with similar powers, hoping to become a “Psychonaut,” a psychic spy. The game revolves around exploring the surreal and imaginative minds of various characters Raz encounters as a Psycadet, helping them overcome fears and past traumas. With an iconic cast, engaging gameplay, and a brilliant art style, Psychonauts has finally reached the level of acclaim it always deserved.

Starfield Is Far Better Than It Gets Credit For

As a Bethesda Game, Starfield Had Some Big Shoes to Fill

Starfield was set to be RPG royalty, bringing Bethesda’s signature role-playing mechanics into an all-new outer space adventure. However, with titles like Skyrim and Fallout in Bethesda’s catalog, expectations were astronomical, and anything less than perfection was bound to disappoint fans of this style of RPG. The main criticism of Starfield is that, despite its massive scale, there simply isn’t enough meaningful content. While there are hundreds of planets to explore, many feel empty, featuring little more than abandoned outposts and cave systems.

The lack of intelligent alien life and the relatively small number of human-occupied settlements also leave the universe feeling sparse. Additionally, for a game of such vast scope, Starfield has surprisingly few questlines. That said, Starfield is still an impressive feat of game development. The ship-building system is deep and rewarding, customization offers plenty of creative freedom, combat can be satisfying with the right weapons, and the Terrormorphs stand out as a terrifying and brilliantly designed enemy.

Spec Ops: The Line Was Ahead of Its Time

Spec Ops: The Line Flopped, But It Had All the Ingredients to be a Success

There are plenty of military shooters to choose from, including Battlefield, Call of Duty, and Medal of Honor. These franchises are known for their intense first-person combat, realism-based storytelling, and iconic characters. Spec Ops: The Line had the potential to stand alongside them but was ultimately overshadowed by its contemporaries. The game’s marketing focused heavily on its combat and failed to highlight its true strength: the psychological depth of its story. Rather than just another shooter, Spec Ops: The Line explores the toll of war on the mind and the moral compromises made in the name of duty, pushing players to question the very nature of their actions.

At first glance, Spec Ops: The Line plays like any other military shooter. A squad of three special operatives is sent into a Dubai devastated by sandstorms, tasked with tracking down and capturing Colonel John Konrad, who was originally sent in as a relief force but has since taken control of the ruined city. However, the game quickly takes a darker turn. Players are forced into committing war crimes, only to realize too late that they’ve unknowingly targeted civilians. Spec Ops: The Line has a phenomenal twist that reframes the entire experience and cements it as one of the most thought-provoking shooters ever made.

Grim Fandango Didn’t Match LucasArts’ Other Titles

The Unique and Quirky Style of Grim Fandango Makes It a Standout

Image via Double Fine

Grim Fandango is a beloved name in gaming history, remembered fondly for its soundtrack, art style, and point-and-click gameplay. While it wasn’t the biggest flop on this list, it’s similar to Starfield in that it fell short of commercial expectations despite its quality. At one point, LucasArts was one of the top game developers, producing classics like Monkey Island and a slew of Star Wars titles. However, Grim Fandango was overshadowed by both LucasArts’ other projects and the sheer number of legendary games released in 1998, including Half-Life, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Divided into four acts, Grim Fandango follows Manuel “Manny” Calavera, a travel agent at the Department of Death in the city of El Marrow, working to pay off a mysterious debt. Though Grim Fandango had a well-received remaster in 2015, its initial release struggled. Coming out at the tail end of the point-and-click era, it inadvertently helped push the genre into decline, marking the end of an era rather than a resurgence.

Ryse: Son of Rome Was Criticized for Dull Gameplay

Despite Its Issues, Ryse Is One of the Most Beautiful Games Out There

Image via Microsoft Studios

Ryse: Son of Rome was originally conceived as a first-person Kinect title before being reworked into a third-person hack-and-slash launch game for the Xbox One. Upon release, it received mediocre reviews, averaging around 4/10, and was further marred by a scandal involving evidence of paid fake reviews. Many critics found the combat tedious and repetitive, while others felt the script detracted from the story.

However, Ryse is something of a diamond in the rough. Even today, its visuals remain stunning, and the game strikes a fine balance between historical authenticity and supernatural elements, playing more like a mythological epic than a strict historical retelling. While Ryse may not have been the blockbuster hit it aimed to be, it remains an underrated and visually impressive action game.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines Was a Major Commercial Flop

Bloodlines Is One of the Best Games of All Time, But It Failed to Sell

One of the greatest and most influential RPGs of all time was actually a commercial flop. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines is an epic role-playing game based on the tabletop RPG of the same name. Set in a dark world of vampires and supernatural intrigue, it boasts some of the best RPG mechanics in gaming and one of the most in-depth casts of characters ever assembled. The game offers a level of player freedom that even some modern RPGs struggle to match. Its world is so richly detailed that each vampire clan has extensive lore, as do the various warring factions vying for control.

Despite its now-legendary status, Bloodlines flopped upon release. Its ambition led to a troubled development cycle filled with technical issues, bugs, and significant cuts to content, which created noticeable gaps in gameplay. However, the game quickly gained a cult following, and a dedicated modding community emerged, working tirelessly to fix bugs, restore cut content, and refine the experience. Even today, Bloodlines stands as the benchmark for what a cult classic video game should be.