10 Acclaimed Video Games Everybody Turned Against

One of the worst feelings a gamer can experience is when they’re excited for an upcoming game, only to realise it failed to live up to expectations. 

To add salt to the wounds, this feeling doesn’t always hit straight away. Some RPGs, platformers, and shooters receive so much hype, the masses may ignore blatant flaws (at least, at first). 

It’s kind of an Emperor’s New Clothes situation, with everyone pretending a particular title is flawless, even though it’s a big pile of nothing. All it takes is one person to pipe up and remind everyone the game in question isn’t all it’s cracked up to be before everyone else follows suit. 

At one time, certain games on this list were revered as instant classics. But they’re now viewed with such unbridled contempt, you’d swear they were hated from the very beginning.

Now, that’s not suggesting all of these entries are terrible. In fact, some of them are absolutely worth checking out. But due to a few inconsistencies or one glaring problem, it’s easy to see why these former masterpieces are no longer put on a pedestal.

After Will Wright changed the gaming landscape with SimCity and The Sims, buzz was through the roof for his 2008 project, Spore. The real-time strategy title allowed players to evolve a species from a single-cell organism to a creature capable of ruling a cosmic empire. You could also craft vehicles, buildings, and spaceships, meaning you weren’t just in charge of a random animal but an entire galaxy.

Spore had a lot to live up to, but it managed to deliver (for a while). Due to its easy-to-pick-up gameplay, innovative design tools, and seamless integration of players’ content, Maxis’ daring game was touted as another certified trailblazer as soon as it hit shelves.

But there was a problem. Evolution is a fascinating concept, but it’s mind-bogglingly slow. As a result, watching your creation blossom and bloom is surprisingly boring. Although this idea could work, the shallow gameplay lacked depth, since strategy and progression elements relied on simplistic and repetitive gameplay.

Spore was fascinating at first, since first-time players were curious to watch their critter mutate, develop self-awareness, and become a part of society. However, the gameplay became so grind-heavy, many lost interest long before exploring all of Spore’s content.