Whenever a video game garners high levels of hype but ends up being a flop at launch, it’s interesting to see how reception changes as time passes. Take Cyberpunk 2077 for example, which racked up millions of views on YouTube when the official cinematic trailer was released. With the appearance of a character (Johnny Silverhand) that uses Keanu Reeves’ likeness and voice near the end of the trailer, who’s renowned for his John Wick role and his real-life friendly personality, I felt like Cyberpunk would be among the greatest games of our generation. Plus, who could forget the viral “You’re breathtaking!” quote from Reeves?
I ended up not getting the game at launch when the reviews started rolling in. From in-game bugs to visual glitches, Cyberpunk’s reception among the wider audience began to be tainted, which was the reason I avoided the game for so long. However, the game’s reception seems to be vastly more positive in recent memory with the developers fixing the game’s issues through updates and eventually releasing the well-received Phantom Liberty DLC.
Unfortunately, not every game with lower reviews managed to bounce back in such a memorable fashion. In this post, I’ll be taking a look at video games that have low ratings across different popular reviewing sites and platforms, such as Metacritic, IGN, Steam, and more. While VPL offers games across multiple consoles, I’ll occasionally be looking at reviews from sites that don’t specifically review the game based on the console that I’ll be linking it to; for example, I may reference Steam ratings (which is a PC platform) despite playing it on PlayStation. Let’s see whether these games are “bad” or if they deserve another chance!
Game #1: WWE 2k Battle Grounds
Growing up with the WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw games was what indoctrinated me into the world of professional wrestling. It’s electrifying to hear your favourite wrestlers’ theme song hit before they strut down the ramp towards the squared circle. The audience pop especially elevates the energy — to the point where it’s hard not to imagine what it’d be like to sashay to the ring while surrounded by tens of thousands of roaring fans. And no one does it like the WWE, with all of their characters and personas, which helps make their video games so enticing.
The arcade-styled gameplay in the SmackDown vs. Raw games is what I feel is lacking in the more recent 2k games (although they’re still fun!). Unfortunately, the novelty of Battle Grounds wore off after a while. A score of 60 on Metacritic isn’t much lower than what I would’ve given it, considering how the excitement of the WWE universe doesn’t feel like it’s there in Battle Grounds. Not to say that the game is bad, but I envisioned its execution to be different than what we received. Still, it’s an entertaining experience that fans shouldn’t write off considering how this style of game isn’t common in WWE games nowadays, so let’s enjoy it for what it is!
Game #2: Bee Simulator
Buzzing through an open field during a bright afternoon is the dream! In Bee Simulator, you can learn all about our favourite pollinators (the loading screens, for example, brim with fun bee-related facts) and fly around while stinging human and animal NPCs who are in your way. The game has a score of 58 on Metacritic, which is considerably lower than I thought it’d be. Some of the minigames feel a bit tedious, although I’d consider the game to be a great fit for chill gaming sessions where you just want to unwind and do something that doesn’t require too much thinking.
Game #3: Friday the 13th: The Game
I almost felt a jab when I discovered that Friday the 13th: The Game had a Metascore of 61. Despite one of the most iconic slasher villains in horror history finally having a modern game, unfortunately, the survivors aren’t the only thing getting slashed. Most of the playerbase has disappeared into the fog — but for many, they didn’t walk away from the game by their own free will. Sadly, the game’s servers have shut down, leaving the game only playable in an offline mode. And it’s a shame, really, because trying to escape Jason Voorhees’ wrath puts you and your friends/teammates into the world of Friday the 13th in an immersive way; running from a machete-wielding killer in the dark night of Camp Crystal Lake is an anxiety-riddling objective!
Game #4: Dangerous Driving
Growing up on the Burnout series was what sown the early-2000s pop-rock seeds in me at a young age, which blossomed into a deeper appreciation for the genre as I grew older. Who wouldn’t want to wreak havoc on the roads in Burnout Revenge by taking down enemy cars and crashing into traffic while listening to Yellowcard? I wanted to re-experience this adrenaline with a modern game, and my hopes were mostly met.
While Dangerous Driving, which was created by the same developers as the Burnout series, doesn’t have a soundtrack, its gameplay still feels like Burnout. The lack of an OST and a local split screen mode is understandable, due to its limited budget and small team. But honestly, if you manage to link your Spotify to the game and blast Thrice or Billy Talent, then you’ve got yourself a pretty good substitute.
A 62 on the Metascore makes sense, since there are spots where the game could’ve been polished a little more. Wrecking your vehicle can feel a bit off, although these arcade-styled racing games are what we need more of, and Dangerous Driving does scratch the itch for those who would rather drift away from more realistic racers.
Game #5: Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition
Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy was supposed to be fan service to the max. The original GTA games but with updated graphics and more modern controls? Sign me up! Unfortunately, an IGN review from November 2021 gives The Trilogy a five out of ten, which is a mediocre score that audiences wouldn’t typically associate with the beloved GTA series. IGN notes the horrific rain effects, which is hard to disagree with if you go onto YouTube and search for “GTA Trilogy rain effect.” It truly does look headache-inducing.
Fortunately, Rockstar Games have acknowledged the issues in The Trilogy; and thankfully, updates have been rolled out to address these problems, including an adjustment of the rain effects, which have made it much less abrasive to look at. While the games are a nice trip down memory lane, it still isn’t as captivating as the original games, but perhaps the fuzzier graphics on the PS2 are simply more nostalgic than this “upscaled” version. Still, it’s a game that players should try out whether they’ve played the originals or not, because it’s still a fun ride!
Game #6: Battlefield 2042
Many user reviews on Steam are very blunt about Battlefield 2042. As someone who has rarely dabbled in the Battlefield franchise, I still remember hearing the Call of Duty versus Battlefield discourse quite often back in the day. I’ve always viewed Call of Duty to be the more run-and-gun, fast-paced FPS whereas Battlefield was grander in scale and required you to play more strategically. And, after playing 2042, I still think this is the case. While I didn’t encounter the Secure Boot issues that many players on Steam have spoken out against, I did find the loading to be egregiously slow, although that may be an issue with my hardware rather than the game itself, so this has no bearing on how I’d rate the game. Overall, aside from the battle pass system (which I loathe in all games that have it; I only consider it slightly better than loot boxes), I think the game is enjoyable!
Game #7: Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted
With mixed reviews on Steam, Plants vs. Zombies: Replanted felt familiarly unfamiliar at launch. It’s the classic tower defense game where managing Sun and finding lawn-friendly (or pool- and roof-friendly, once you get to the later levels) strategies to prevent the undead from breaking into your home to consume your brains. Honestly, aside from the lack of dynamic music at launch and a few console-specific bugs, such being unable to pick up seed packets for certain minigames, it isn’t bad. What it really lacks is further additional content that could’ve catapulted the game from 2009 to 2025, namely an online multiplayer mode, although the addition of extra Survival Endless levels was nifty. If you’re not crazy about how this sounds, maybe try something else from the Plants vs. Zombies universe instead.
Do you agree with these takes? Did I miss any games? Are there any low-rated games that you secretly love? Let us know by leaving a review on Bibliocommons! See you next time!