Activision has been around the block more than a couple of times. Established in 1979, Activision set the pace for third-party developers by being the first independent studio on the market, developing countless games for Atari's systems. Over the course of four decades, Activision has had a hand in publishing a seemingly endless string of great (and not so great) games.
Nowadays, Activision might be mainly known for Call of Duty, but the FPS franchise is just the tip of the iceberg. Using Metacritic as a reference, let's take a look at the five best and worst games developed or published by Activision!
To add a touch of variety, franchises will be limited to one entry.
10 Best - Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (2019) - 91
FromSoftware's tough-as-nails title, Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, reaffirmed the studio as the standard-setters when it comes to crafting challenging but fair action games. Stripping back the RPG mechanics seen in Dark Souls and Bloodborne, Sekiro does a brilliant job of putting players in the shoes of a deadly but still vulnerable shinobi named Wolf.
Taking place in an alternate version of Sengoku-era Japan, Sekiro oozes atmosphere and style, even if the shift to parry-based combat might take some getting used to for fans of FromSoftware's other titles.
9 Worst - Revolution (2002) - 29
A lesser-know shooter developed by Fun Labs and published by Activision, Revolution does seem promising on the surface; unfortunately, it shouldn't take someone long to realize that any potential was squandered in this poor excuse for a video game. The sci-fi shooter suffers from terrible pacing, broken levels, and finicky controls.
The story amounts to a former employee of an evil Corporation (called The Corporation) joining a resistance force (called the Resistance) after noticing that his employers are about as skilled at concealing their sinister intentions as the Empire in Star Wars.
8 Best - Rome: Total War (2004) - 92
The Total War series has been a constant source of great strategy games for the best part of two decades. Out of all the many entries, Rome is arguably the best of the bunch, even if some of the subsequent entries do improve upon the gameplay elements seen in 2004's release.
The "Campaign" mode offers a robust single-player experience where the goal is to conquer fifty provinces and become Rome's newest emperor. Battles are fittingly epic and exciting, with Rome providing various options so a user can decide how involved they want to be in the prep-work prior to a march.
7 Worst - Pimp My Ride (2008) - 26
Pimp My Ride would have probably done pretty well if it was released a few years after 2008, mostly because it is the type of terrible game that YouTubers enjoy tearing into. Based on MTV's television series, Pimp My Ride is a minigame collection with no charm, depth, or passable games.
The lowest rated version is the one published on the Wii, which came out nearly a year after the other console releases. Did it improve upon any elements of the terrible PlayStation 2, Xbox 360, or PSP versions? Do you really need to ask?
6 Best - Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions (2015) - 94
Developed by Lucid Games and published by Activision, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions was the long-awaited third entry in the highly regarded Geometry Wars series. The iOS port is the one that earned a 94 rating, although the PS4 and Xbox One also did well with critics.
Like the previous entries in the series, Dimensions is a multidirectional shooter that emphasis achieving high scores to unlock new boss battles. The twin-stick shooter is addictive but somewhat light on content and variety, which explains why the mobile version might have been better received. Geometry Wars 3 is ideal for short play sessions.
5 Worst - 007 Legends (2012) - 26
All Bond games live in the shadow of Rare's GoldenEye 007. That said, the license actually has a solid track record, with titles such as Everything or Nothing and Nightfire being more than respectable shooters. At the moment, 2012's 007 Legends was the last console Bond game to be released, and talk about going out with a whimper.
Meant as a celebration of the film franchise's 50th anniversary, 007 Legends ended up being a stain on the license's name, one so notoriously bad that it managed to put a halt to what once was a rather prolific video game series.
4 Best - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2009) - 94
Out of all of Activision's many properties, none are as synonymous with the publisher as Call of Duty. As the sequel to the most influential entry in the franchise, Modern Warfare 2 managed to be a worthy successor to Call of Duty 4. The campaign is split between five playable characters, with the story revolving around Task Force 141's ongoing struggle against an ultranationalist terrorist group led by Vladimir Makarov.
The single-player content was enthralling and among Call of Duty's best, while the multiplayer was a noticeable step up from Modern Warfare. Call of Duty is not going anywhere anytime soon, but the franchise is unlikely to once again touch the heights reached by 2009's entry.
3 Worst - Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2013) - 25
Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a witty, action-packed, and engrossing modern take on the '80s cartoon classic. Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a disappointing cash grab with barely any content, combat that yearns for the depth of Dynasty Warriors, and visuals that look fine on the 3DS but fail to impress on the Xbox 360.
Even with the inclusion of unlockable combos and collectibles, Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles grows stale nearly instantly, as missions throw hordes of Foot Clan soldiers at the player in the hope that one of them will magically inspire something resembling fun.
2 Best - Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (2000) - 98
With the exception of the fifth entry, Activision's numbered entries in the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater franchise were a reliable source of quality games up until the sixth generation of gaming. Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 and 4 are also highly rated on Metacritic, but 2000's second entry takes the top spot as the best title in the series and the greatest game published by Activision (according to Metacritic).
Packed with a wealth of content and smooth gameplay that caters to both extreme sports fans and casuals, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 earned its place as a PlayStation classic.
1 Worst - Fast & Furious: Showdown (2013) - 21
Ending with a licensed game that mostly drove by unnoticed, Fast & Furious: Showdown is a mishmash of racing cliches that never come together in a way that is remotely enjoyable. Split into various missions that generally revolve around bashing into cars and hoping for the best, Showdown limply apes famous scenes from the movies with none of the energy, testosterone, or dedication.
Fast & Furious seems like the ideal franchise for a fun arcade racer; sadly, Showdown is a boring mess and Activision's worst game.