But they’re also not shy in expressing their hatred of video games, especially those that have huge hype but are massive disappointments. This is one of the reasons why being a video game developer is not easy. Not only are there more competitions now, but you also have to deal with very passionate and vocal fans.
Mistakes do happen, and it’s not uncommon to come out with games that don’t meet expectations. And fans do have the right to hate on games that underdeliver. They paid for it, so it’s only fair to expect it with the game.
But many bad games don’t stay bad. As developers continue to update and provide fixes, some of these supposed bad games when launched are now actually good. And in this article, we’ll discuss some of the most hated video games that are now very good.
No Man’s Sky (2016)
Probably one of the notorious games that people love to hate is No Man’s Sky, which was released in 2016. And there’s a good reason for that. The game had generated a lot of hype before its release. And what’s not to be hyped about? It’s a sci-fi game where you get to explore the vast universe and visit planets while riding a spaceship.
So, fans were expecting a lot before the game was launched. Sadly, the game was a massive disappointment upon launch. Many of the features mentioned and shown in the trailer are not yet present. The gameplay is a bit monotonous and No Man’s Sky just missed the mark.
But Hello Games listened to fans’ criticisms and provided lots of improvements and updates. It’s now a great game to play that any gamer will enjoy playing. Sadly, its early mishaps are hard to forget, so many fans still hate the game. But if you’re curious, it’s a game worth trying now.
Fallout 76 (2018)
Many players know Bethesda for its Fallout series games. And it was understandable that fans were excited when Fallout 76 came out in 2018. It’s going to be the first multiplayer in the Fallout series and everyone expected it to be a hit.
Unfortunately, that didn’t happen when it was released. The game was full of bugs and issues, that made it hard to play. And when you’re able to play, it didn’t bring as much excitement as the other Fallout games.
The absence of human NPCs also made the game much duller to play. It was the hated game in the franchise and started with the Wastelanders update where NPCs and new quests are.
The gameplay and setting were also adjusted to make it feel more like a game that’s part of the franchise. And from there, the developers continue to provide improvements and good updates to keep Fallout 76 a good game.
Fortnite (2017)
Probably one of the most popular games on this list is Fortnite, which came out in 2017. When it first launched, it had a lukewarm reception at best. This is even after the release of its battle royale game mode. Battle royale gameplay was not new and many accused Epic of just copying PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG). They just added the sandbox concept to look innovative.
But one thing that people can’t deny is that it’s a good game and it eventually won out. It’s one of the most popular games right now, especially for many streamers on Twitch. The complaint with Fortnite now is that it seems more like a big billboard because of its numerous deals and collaborations with other brands. It’s a game that will likely continue to attract hate, but they at least can’t deny that it’s good to play.
Diablo Immortal (2022)
Here’s a case of a game that’s already hated even before its initial release. One of the primary reasons for fans’ hatred of Diablo Immortal is that they were expecting Diablo 4, not a mobile version of the popular RPG. Then reports that this latest game will be pay-to-win didn’t help matters one bit.
So, when it came out, it already had a lot of backlashes. The pay-to-win issue turned out to be true since players would need to spend thousands of dollars in the game just to get good gear and become stronger.
But the game turned out to be good and very fun to play. Some people who tried enjoyed what Diablo Immortal has to offer. Yes, it’s still a pay-to-win game, especially once you reach the end game, which is the deeper part of this RPG. But if you’re only here to play the campaign and story mode and just have fun, there’s no need to spend anything.
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
The last game on our list is Cyberpunk 2077. This is another game that had a lot of hype before its release. The developers of the game are the ones that brought the Witcher trilogy. Trailers and announcements about the game only add up to fans’ excitement and expectations.
But like with games on this list that were hyped up to be the game of the century, Cyberpunk 2077 was a massive flop upon its release. The game has glitches and issues, which made it hard to play. And when you’re able to play, it is still a bit lacking.
Fans can’t help but compare it to a similar open-world game like GTA, which offered overall better gameplay. But as updates and fixes continue to come to Cyberpunk 2077, the game has now become good and fun to play. Of course, many are still not over the massive disappointment, but at least they can now enjoy playing this glitch-free game.
Final Thoughts
There are many more games out there that fans love to hate. And deservingly so, especially for those that are huge disappointments. But as you can see from the list above, just because a game didn’t meet expectations during its launch, it doesn’t mean it can’t improve. The list above shows that there will always be room for improvement. And who knows, maybe the game you used to hate is now very good.
