With the next generation of consoles here, gamers can expect the remainder of 2020 to be exciting. Though, it is important to look back and reflect so that mistakes of the past do not become mistakes of the future.
There were many awesome games released this year, but there have also been quite a few awful ones. Metacritic conveniently combines and averages scores from reputable critics in order to give the world precise and efficient ratings on media. Critics can be relied on to identify the bad apples from the good, thereby saving gamers from wasting their hard-earned money on unworthy titles.
10 XIII Remake – Metascore: 35 (PC)
XIII was a diamond in the rough back when it was first released in 2003. Fans loved the gameplay and it stood out among other titles of the day for its unique and fun take on the First-Person-Shooter genre.
The remake, however, suffered from a tremendous amount of glitches and bugs that made it somehow feel older than the original. The XIII Remake was also released on the Playstation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. So far, out of these consoles, it only has been reviewed on the PS4, earning a Metascore of 44.
9 Mittelborg: City Of Mages – Metascore: 34 (Switch)
With few games that combine city-building and adventure elements, one would expect Mittelborg: City of Mages to make use of its great potential. The art style and premise of managing a magical land seem promising, but this game's poor translation, awkward controls, and boring gameplay leave much to be desired.
Furthermore, most of the game takes place on a single screen and the mechanics are heavily reliant on sheer luck. To top it all off, the story is dull and uninspired as well, leaving gamers with very few reasons to check out this title.
8 Fast & Furious Crossroads – Metascore: 34 (PC)
With high-speed racing action combined with explosions, a beloved franchise, and A-list actors reprising their roles, Fast & Furious Crossroads should have been a hit. Fans of the movie franchise were rightly furious when they realized this was not the case.
The biggest qualms regard janky physics, lack of content, and an expensive price tag. For the poor gameplay and very short story, players who bought it feel ripped off. Even fans of the movies cannot, and will not, defend it. This game was also released on the PS4 and Xbox One, which have Metascores of 35 and 49 respectively.
7 Dawn Of Fear – Metascore: 33 (PS4)
Attempting to emulate the feel and impact of old-school horror games is a fine notion and even a concept desired by many fans of modern horror titles. However, those trying out Dawn of Fear will be disappointed. The greatest issues are the rampant technical problems that constantly break the player's immersion and create frustrating obstacles that should have never been there.
In addition, there is very little genuine tension or scary qualities from the story and environment. Without any actual impact from events taking place, there is little reason to even consider playing Dawn of Fear.
6 Doug Hates His Job – Metascore: 32 (Xbox One)
For a game all about the comedy arisen from hating one's job, this title is surprisingly unfunny. The sloppy controls and repetitive gameplay drain all fun that the dialogue and setting try to establish.
Most critics describe Doug Hates His Job as somewhere between irritating and infuriating. The bland and uninspired gameplay makes many think that this title isn't worth the money to acquire and play.
5 This Is The Zodiac Speaking – Metascore: 30 (Xbox One)
Another promising premise is thrown into the trash as This is the Zodiac Speaking disappoints on almost every level. Many are likely familiar with the events portrayed in this game from other media, and like those, this game attempts to be a thriller with investigative elements.
Unfortunately, due to nearly nonsensical stealth mechanics, poor voice acting, and generic story, This Is The Zodiac Speaking leaves players wanting. The visuals feel washed out and the audio does little to draw gamers into the setting, effectively dulling one's mind in combination with the bland storytelling. This game has been reviewed on PC as well, though it did not fare much better and only earned a Metascore of 56. Most would be better off watching the 2007 movie based on the same events instead.
4 Tiny Racer – Metascore: 29 (Switch)
Shrinking vehicles down and racing among regular-sized objects is a concept that has been done before, but Tiny Racer doesn't seem to do anything different or better than other racing games that go for the same gimmick. The most hated part of this game is that there is little control over the vehicle that the player is driving.
Getting bumped by other vehicles or hitting a ramp slightly the wrong way will send the player's car careening out of bounds. The immense sensitivity isn't the only issue, as many complain that all vehicle options feel exactly the same and that there is nothing that makes this title preferable to the mass of other racing games available on the Switch.
3 Outbreak: The New Nightmare – Metascore: 26 (PS4)
Another game aiming to emulate the older Resident Evil games, Outbreak: The New Nightmare on the surface looks like it has potential as a survival horror game, but looks can be deceiving. In most regards, the game feels unfinished.
The tremendous amount of bugs and scant storytelling don't give the player much reason to like this title. There isn't even anything remotely scary due to how poorly the various aspects are displayed, making this game feel more like a mockery of the genre than a solid entry to it.
2 Robot Squad Simulator X – Metascore: 25 (Xbox One)
For a game about robots tasked with jobs too dangerous for people, Robot Squad Simulator X is remarkably boring and frustrating. Bomb diffusion and drone piloting have the potential for high-tension gameplay that could give the player a sense of accomplishment when pulled off, but the awful controls and game design make it incredibly irritating for players to do anything.
The robotic arm that is controlled feels about as dextrous as an infant learning how to pick up individual pieces of spaghetti.
1 Bounty Battle – Metascore: 23 (Switch)
Lo and behold, this is the worst game of the year. To start with, Bounty Battle had a wide release and appeared on all major consoles, though was hated on all of them. The worst of its Metascores was on the Switch, but it didn't fare much better on the Xbox One (32), PS4 (34), and PC (39).
Bounty Battle attempts to be the Super Smash Bros. of indie games but pales in comparison in every regard. Abysmal framerate, poorly explained combat mechanics, unintuitive menus, crude animation, and outright ugly in-battle graphics make this game one to stay away from.