The Lowest-Rated Video Games of All Time
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Gaming - February 1st 2025, 13:00 GMT+1
For this list, we dove into the stats over at HowLongToBeat to uncover the lowest-rated games. Their rankings are based on user reviews rather than the opinions of gaming news outlets or critics (though who knows how many of those users might just be trolling…). Keep in mind, this isn’t a definitive "worst games" list – some titles made the cut because they’re poorly rated, even if only a handful of people reviewed them. Remember: The number next to the title represents the average score of the game.
We also decided to trim out any repeat entries from special editions to keep things focused. With all that said, which game do you think belongs here? Let us know in the comments!
Imagine a game that wants to be a sci-fi thriller but ends up feeling like a low-budget B-movie – and not in the fun, campy way. Albedo: Eyes From Outer Space tries hard to immerse players in a first-person puzzle adventure set in an alien-infested research station, but the clunky controls, awkward visuals, and nonsensical puzzles make it feel like it’s trolling you. The story is as coherent as an alien transmission, and the voice acting… well, let’s just say it wouldn’t win any awards. It’s a game that’s bad enough to be memorable – but maybe not for the reasons the developers hoped. | © Z4GO
You’d think a game based on Where’s Waldo? would be a surefire hit. After all, how hard can it be to translate the joy of finding a stripey-shirted guy in a crowded scene to a video game? Well, apparently, it’s very hard. The Great Waldo Search strips away all the charm of the original books and gives you blurry, pixelated messes that barely resemble anything human. The “gameplay” is just aimlessly scrolling around trying to figure out what you’re even looking at. Waldo deserves better. We all deserve better. | © Bethesda Softworks
Somehow, Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu managed to make fighting with Super Saiyans feel like an absolute chore. Released for the Game Boy Advance, this 2D fighter features painfully stiff animations, lifeless combat, and a roster that feels like it was chosen at random. Where’s the epic energy? The fast-paced battles? Instead, you’re left button-mashing through something that looks like it came from a parallel universe where DBZ was about sleepy slap fights. Fans still shudder at the memory. | © Atari
If you’ve ever wanted to play a game that feels like an existential crisis wrapped in amateur art, then Make It Indie! might be for you. This experimental indie title tries to explore the struggles of game development but ends up being more confusing than profound. The gameplay (if you can call it that) is a mishmash of vague choices, abstract visuals, and quirky dialogue that doesn’t seem to lead anywhere. It’s a weird meta-commentary on making games… that ironically feels like it needed more work. | © Sometimes You
Calling detuned a “game” might be generous. This interactive music visualizer for the PlayStation 3 is essentially an acid trip with a joystick. Players manipulate a man sitting in a chair to trigger bizarre, surreal animations set to music. While the concept might sound intriguing, there’s not much to do besides make his head turn into a balloon or make him play imaginary instruments. It’s weird for the sake of weirdness, and the novelty wears off in about five minutes. | © The Danish National Symphony Orchestra and DTP Entertainment
Armor of Heroes is what happens when a company celebrates its anniversary by giving us… well, this. Released during SEGA’s 60th birthday festivities, it’s a top-down tank battle game that feels more like a party favor than a proper release. With retro graphics and simple mechanics, it might entertain for a few rounds, but the repetitive gameplay and lack of depth wear thin quickly. If you ever wanted a free game that feels like it came from a bargain bin, this one’s for you! At least it was free. | © SEGA
Oh, Bad Rats. This game has achieved cult status for being hilariously bad. It’s a physics-based puzzle game where you help a crew of rats exact Rube Goldberg-style revenge on a group of unsuspecting cats. The concept sounds amusing enough, but the execution is a disaster: clunky physics, horrifying visuals, and animations that look like they crawled out of the early 2000s internet. Its infamy has given it a strange place in gaming culture, but let’s not mistake “so bad it’s funny” for “good.” | © Invent4 Entertainment
If you loved the earlier FlatOut games, Chaos & Destruction is here to ruin your day. Once a series known for its fun, chaotic vehicular destruction, this third installment feels like an unfinished mess. The controls are clunky, the visuals are dated, and the “chaos” just feels more like frustration. Fans were left wondering how the franchise went so off-course, and critics were even harsher. Let’s just say the title wasn’t lying – this game is chaos and destruction, but not in the way you’d want. | © Team6 Game Studios
Inspired by the 2016 Ben-Hur movie (which wasn’t exactly beloved either), this chariot-racing game feels more like a punishment than entertainment. You race around ancient Roman tracks in what can only be described as a soulless slog, with clunky controls, awkward graphics, and almost no variety. It’s free, but even at that price, many gamers feel like they overpaid. Chariot racing should be thrilling, but here, it’s about as exciting as waiting for paint to dry. | © Liquid Development
Rise of the Robots was hyped as the future of fighting games, with promises of revolutionary AI and cutting-edge visuals. What players got, however, was a clunky, lifeless game where even the robots seemed bored. The controls are stiff, the combat is sluggish, and the supposed “advanced AI” just feels like it’s taking a nap. Combine that with a paper-thin story and a laughably small roster, and you’ve got a game that crashed harder than a malfunctioning mech. | © Mirage Technologies
Take Frogger, strip away its charm, polish, and sense of fun, and what you’re left with is Road Bustle. This low-effort endless runner tasks you with crossing roads and avoiding obstacles in the most repetitive and mind-numbing way possible. The graphics look like they came from a middle school Unity project, and the gameplay feels like it was designed to test your patience more than your reflexes. It’s the kind of game that makes you think, “This is why we have quality control.” | © RandomSpin
If you’ve ever wanted to know what it feels like to lose your eyesight pixel by pixel, Where’s Waldo? for the NES has you covered. This adaptation of the beloved children’s book series somehow manages to turn a fun search-and-find concept into a blurry, frustrating mess. The tiny, indistinct characters are nearly impossible to differentiate, and the timer makes the experience even more stressful. Waldo might be hiding, but it feels like the real mystery is how this game ever got released. | © Bethesda Softworks
Horror games are supposed to scare you, but Garten of Banban might just make you cringe instead. Set in a creepy kindergarten, this game features mascot characters that try (and fail) to be unsettling. With janky animations, predictable jump scares, and gameplay that’s over in the blink of an eye, it’s more like a bad parody of popular indie horror titles than a game in its own right. Even fans of ironic bad games might struggle to find the fun here. | © Euphoric Brothers
If you thought a game called Banana might be ripe with entertainment, think again. This surreal indie title is as bizarre as it sounds, offering players the chance to… do banana things? The gameplay consists of minimalistic visuals and cryptic mechanics that seem to lean heavily into existential absurdity. Is it art? Is it a joke? Is it even a game? The answers remain as elusive as the meaning of life itself. For those brave enough to peel back its layers, Banana might be worth a laugh – or a head-scratch. But for most, it’s one slip too far. | © Adema Games
Ah, the infamous E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, the game so bad it literally buried Atari. Released in a rushed effort to cash in on the hit movie, this game is legendary for its confusing mechanics, bland visuals, and maddeningly repetitive gameplay. Players spend their time falling into holes (a lot of holes) while trying to collect random items that may or may not make sense. The game’s failure was so catastrophic it’s often credited with sparking the 1983 video game crash. Iconic, but not in a good way. | © Atari
Chickens On The Road asks the age-old question: “What if you could play a game where you run over chickens with your car?” The answer? Chaos, confusion, and a whole lot of squawking. This bargain-bin title gives you a simple task – run over chickens for points while avoiding cows – but the awkward controls and repetitive gameplay make it a road trip to nowhere. It’s silly, sure, but not in a way that keeps you coming back. This game isn’t crossing the road anytime soon. | © Bitaronic
If Little Adventure on the Prairie sounds charming, don’t be fooled. This 2D side-scrolling action game is infamous for its bare-bones design, laughably bad animations, and enemies that seem to have given up halfway through the fight. The game is so short that it feels more like a demo than a full release. The silver lining? It’s easy to finish if you’re a trophy hunter. Otherwise, this “adventure” is as flat as the prairie it takes place on. | © Infinite Madaa
Buckle up – Ride to Hell: Retribution isn’t just bad, it’s legendary. This action-adventure game follows Jake Conway, a biker out for revenge, but everything about it is an unmitigated disaster. The controls are clunky, the story is nonsensical, and the awkward cutscenes (particularly the infamous “romance” ones) have gone down in gaming infamy. The combat is dull, the driving is laughable, and the whole experience feels like a fever dream. If there’s a hell for bad games, this one’s revving its engine. | © Eutechnyx
Poor Bubsy. Once a wannabe mascot trying to rival Sonic and Mario, his jump into 3D ended with a resounding thud. Bubsy 3D is often regarded as one of the worst platformers ever made, thanks to its awkward controls, atrocious camera, and jagged, nausea-inducing graphics. Bubsy’s constant one-liners (“What could possibly go wrong?”) only add to the pain. The answer to that question, Bubsy, is everything. | © Eidetic
Superman for the Nintendo 64 is the stuff of legends – and not in a good way. Known as Superman 64 to fans and critics alike, this game traps the Man of Steel in a nonsensical mess of flying through rings, poorly rendered environments, and clunky controls. The story barely makes sense, the graphics are an eyesore, and the gameplay feels like it’s actively fighting against you. It’s not a bird, it’s not a plane – it’s one of the lowest-rated games of all time. | © Titus Interactive
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Not every video game can be a masterpiece. While many titles captivate audiences with compelling stories, innovative gameplay, and breathtaking visuals, others fall far short of expectations – earning them a place on the dreaded list of lowest-rated games.
Whether due to broken mechanics, lackluster design, or unmet promises, these games have been panned by critics and players alike. In this article, we’ll explore the infamous missteps of the gaming industry, examining the titles that left players frustrated, disappointed, or outright angry. Buckle up as we take a journey through the most notorious failures in gaming history!
Not every video game can be a masterpiece. While many titles captivate audiences with compelling stories, innovative gameplay, and breathtaking visuals, others fall far short of expectations – earning them a place on the dreaded list of lowest-rated games.
Whether due to broken mechanics, lackluster design, or unmet promises, these games have been panned by critics and players alike. In this article, we’ll explore the infamous missteps of the gaming industry, examining the titles that left players frustrated, disappointed, or outright angry. Buckle up as we take a journey through the most notorious failures in gaming history!
