Games are one of the hardest mediums to review. It takes a lot longer, on average, to play a game. Watching a movie, TV show, or reading a book has its hurdles as well. However, games require varying skill levels that not all players have. Strategy games may be a piece of cake for one gamer but may look like high science to another.

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It’s tricky to review games in this case. Then some games are universally panned by all and yet still maintain a fan base for one reason or another. These are games so bad that they have to be played to be believed. Does that make them good? It’s up for the player to decide, but these eight should not be overlooked. They’re weird, guilty pleasures, and maybe even a little underrated.

8 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand

Fighting an enemy in 50 Cent: Blood On The Sand

50 Cent: Blood on the Sand has one of the most outrageous plotlines in a video game. The game opens with 50 Cent and his crew performing a concert in the Middle East. Afterward, the club owner can’t pay up. He gives 50 Cent a crystal skull instead which then forces a group of terrorists to trail his gang to get it back. It’s played 100% seriously which makes the tone feel off. The gameplay mechanics are fine for a third-person cover shooter, but they’re nothing special compared to the wacky story.

7 Deadly Premonition

Francis York Morgan from Deadly Premonition 

Deadly Premonition is the pinnacle of good bad games. The reason why this game has smitten audiences for a decade is because of the characters. The mysterious death of a young girl in a small town has been done before. Not with characters this zany though. The protagonist, Agent Francis York Morgan, is the glue that binds it all together. Everything else is a complete disaster from the graphics to the gameplay to the actual performance. It’s a beautiful mess.

6 Earth Defense Force 2017

Fighting enemies in Earth Defense Force 2017

Earth Defense Force 2017 is not the first entry in the series, but it is notable for growing a cult following upon its release. These games are giant homages to b-movies of the 1950s. Aliens invade earth in multiple forms including giant bugs and robots. The dialogue is just as cheesy as one of those movies.

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One of the most infectious lines in this game, and series overall, can be heard from NPC soldiers that chant, “EDF!” on repeat. What holds it back is the terrible frame rates and literal slow gameplay as most character classes in this shooter may as well be based snails.

5 Metal Wolf Chaos

Promo art featuring the mech from Metal Wolf Chaos

Metal Wolf Chaos was an oddity that eluded Western gamers for years. It was released exclusively in Japan for the original Xbox. It remained exclusive until 2019 when it finally came to North America on most modern consoles. What’s weird is the fact that everything in the game was in English from the start.

That’s what makes it so charming despite bad mech gameplay. The dialogue is over-the-top and takes itself way too seriously. The premise is also bonkers in that the Vice President kicks out the real President in a coup d'état. Now the President has to take back the White House for all of America. Again, it is wild.

4 Mister Mosquito

Promo art featuring the titular mosquito from Mister Mosquito

Mister Mosquito is sort of like Shadow of the Colossus. Players assume the role of a tiny mosquito who is only trying to do what it knows best, suck blood. Each level focuses on a different member of a Japanese family. Through stealth and quick reflexes, players will need to drink as much as possible before they are spotted. It is very much a boss-focused experience. Mister Mosquito is certainly one of the unique games around. It’s hard to say if it is necessarily fun to play or not though.

3 Naughty Bear

Naughty Bear from Naughty Bear

Naughty Bear is unsettling on many levels. It’s sort of like the Manhunt series. Instead of a grim death-based game show, players assume the role of a murderous teddy bear. Naughty Bear is not liked by his friends, so he decides to finally take revenge.

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Each area has a few bears in it, all focused on their loop of chores. The goal is to kill without getting caught, be it a simple stab to the back or catching a bear off guard with a trap. Even though there is nothing but stuffing, these kills can feel pretty messed up. It’s funny, shocking, but another example of a stealth game with not that tight of a gameplay loop.

2 Pepsiman

Pepsiman box art and running in Pepsiman

Pepsiman is another Japanese exclusive that has English voice acting in it. However, unlike Metal Wolf Chaos, it’s still stuck on PS1 over there. The game itself is a runner wherein the titular Pepsiman runs away or towards the camera. The goal ultimately is to pick up Pepsi cans to distribute to the thirsty population.

In-between each level is a sweaty dude in a chair, live-action, who cheers the players on while drinking a disgusting amount of Pepsi. It’s a simple game with not much to it. Still, the live-action segments and poor acting have made it a staple amongst good-bad gaming enthusiasts.

1 The Quiet Man

Dane from The Quiet Man

The Quiet Man is one of the most bizarre modern games ever constructed. It seems like a misstep on every level. The main character is deaf meaning that players can’t hear either. Bold choice. That is, not until the second playthrough when the audio unlocks. The game wants to be played twice, but it’s a struggle to get through the first time. It splices live-action cutscenes with poorly rendered in-game brawling segments. It feels like it was slapped together in an afternoon. This is a game that needs to be seen to be believed.

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