340°

10 Commercial Flops That Are Actually Good Games

BY JOHN: There are lots of commercially successful games that are, to put it mildly, not very good. Whether they launch broken, or they’re just a cookie-cutter version of another title, some games just hit the jackpot when it comes to sales numbers.

But, what about those games that are well worth playing but don’t sell well? It can be too easy to miss a great gaming experience just because it wasn’t a commercial smash hit, despite having a strong story or interesting gameplay mechanics. This can be due to poor marketing, the timing not being right in the market or dozens of other reasons.

Here are ten games that flopped commercially but are well worth checking out.

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growngaming.com
TheProfessional551d ago

Prey shouldn't have been connected to the original, they should've changed the name. It looked good and had decent exploration but it was way too long and the ending was trash. Definitely gets more praise in the comments than it should.

FinalFantasyFanatic551d ago

I actually hated Prey after playing the demo, for me, it felt so bad to play, I agree that it gets more praise than it deserves. Most of this list is fine though, there are some really good games on there.

Nacho_Z551d ago

I couldn't get on with Prey either, sounded great on paper but I didn't enjoy it at all. I don't think I like Arkane, tried to get into Dishonored years before and it left me cold.

Concertoine551d ago

Did you play it on ps4/xbone? If so, yeah, it played terribly on those machines. 90 second load times, horrible input lag.

I couldnt enjoy the game until it got updated for Series X

Barlos550d ago

I really want to like Prey. I've gone back to it a few times on my Steam Deck but I don't know, I just can't get into it. Mind you, I'm not the biggest fan of immersive sims

FinalFantasyFanatic550d ago

@Concertoine,

Actually it was PS4, I don't recall anyone mentioning that it was console specific at the time though.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 550d ago
Sciurus_vulgaris551d ago

I liked Prey (2017), but I think the original Prey was more polished and arguably better game of the two. If Bethesda had been so cheap, Prey (2017) could have trade marked as “Nightmare on Talos” or “Typhon “.

Minute Man 721551d ago

Played the demo of Prey (2007)

Never got around to actually playing it but it's BC so one day (soon) I'll hunt it down

shinoff2183550d ago

I really liked prey, but I'll add I never finished. Dishonored, was a borefest for me I couldn't get into it with multiple times of trying.

gigoran8550d ago

The ORIGINAL Prey sequel looked dope as F. I would have loved to have played that instead of what we got.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 550d ago
jznrpg551d ago (Edited 551d ago )

I couldn’t get into Prey when I played it. I own it so I’ll try again someday.

Petebloodyonion551d ago

I think the issue with Prey is how the media were infatuated with everything done by Arkane Studio and the Dishonored Universe.
For some reason they need to remind us all the time that Dishonored is among the best games and everything related to that suddenly becomes near perfection.
cue the same treatment for Deathloop.

Crows90551d ago

Dishonored 1 is incredible. The 2nd is pretty darn good too ...

All their other games have been average to bad.

FinalFantasyFanatic550d ago (Edited 550d ago )

Idk if I agree, I never really hear Dishonoured being talked about a lot, I think the amount of attention Deathloop got was fine for what it was, then again, I never really cared that much for Arkane Studio's games.

gold_drake551d ago

omg. Blur was soo good, still have my copy :)

LoveSpuds550d ago

I think the problem was releasing at the same time as another great racer, Split Second, no doubt the cannibalised each others potential sales.

Both great games but I think I prefer Split Second, just about!!

Show all comments (38)
100°

Arkane Co-Founder Says Dishonored and Prey Fans 'Will Be Happy' With His Next Game

WolfEye Studios president and co-founder of Arkane Studios Raphaël Colantonio has said Dishonored and Prey fans “will be happy” with his new studio's next game.

Marcus Fenix273d ago

Can’t wait to see what they’re working on

Relientk77273d ago

If it's something like Dishonored, then I am totally here for it.

TheNamelessOne273d ago

Let's hope. Their first game, Weird West, really wasn't my thing.

Miacosa273d ago

Ouch, already placing a sales cap on this is potentially bad as these games never seem to sell all too well. Hopefully the budget is in check so no one gets laid off after launch.

Psychonaut85273d ago

Fuck yeah. Even if it’s just a spiritual successor I want more titles like Dishonored in terms of art style, design and gameplay

320°

Sunset Overdrive PS5 Port Ruled Out In Favor of Wolverine

Insomniac has confirmed that a PS5 port for 2014's Sunset Overdrive is not currently planned due to a focus on Marvel's Wolverine.

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tech4gamers.com
RaidenBlack316d ago

:(
.
(well, they're likely also working with Nixxes for the inevitable Spider-Man 2 PC port as well)

Cacabunga316d ago

Wise decision, enough with old gen games already!!!

DarXyde315d ago

Sunset Overdrive was great...

I quite enjoyed the Demons' Souls remake too. I'm more or less begging for a Bloodborne sequel but would snap up a remake in a heartbeat.

Concertoine315d ago

I’d rather play an older unique game than a new Marvel game.

Im so blown out on Marvel, I can’t fathom how some people seem to have a bottomless appetite for it. A studio like Insomniac could do way better.

just_looken316d ago

Yep those poor devs are now a marvel sweat camp

This port and a quick pc patch to fix some bugs would have been a great idea i actualy forgot its not on ps5 you think it would have by now.

But hey they got like you said spiderman 2 pc port then spiderman 3 then spiderman collection with a wolverne/blade tossed in.

Amplitude315d ago

From everything we've seen, it's not like Insomniac is being forced to make Marvel games - it's clearly a good partnership that results in good games. They're still making Ratchet games anyway which is what really matters

Redemption-64315d ago

I have no idea why people like you keep making lies. Does it help you sleep at night? Where are you getting this information that they are either being forced or made into a Marvel camp? Sony approach Insomniac when they were independent to work on a Marvel IP and they picked Spider-Man. After the success of Spider-Man, it was Insomniac who pitched Wolverine to Sony/Marvel and was given the green light

316d ago Replies(5)
-Foxtrot316d ago

This is new…it pretty much confirms it can happen eventually.

I thought Microsoft had publishing rights or something

Eonjay316d ago

Yes you are right. Microsoft allegedly has rights to the first game. Perhaps Microsoft wasted to sell it back to Sony in exchange for a port to Xbox Series. This would make the statement make more sense because I can't imagine that a port of this game even compares to the creation of Wolverine. So Microsoft probably requested a multiplat port.

gold_drake316d ago

yeh, the article says as much that MS does have publishing rights.

Profchaos316d ago

They do but Microsoft doesn't really care about the game they are considering Halo 1 for ps5 so this would be nothing

badz149316d ago

MS doesn't just have the publishing rights for SSoD, they also have publishing rights for the next 2 games in the franchise!

Zeke68315d ago

" The game was later pitched to various publishers, which rejected them because Insomniac demanded to retain ownership of the intellectual property. The project was later pitched to Microsoft Studios, which was eager to work with Insomniac. Microsoft allowed Insomniac to own the rights to the game"

Seems Insomniac own the rights after all...

badz149315d ago

@Zeke68

publishing rights is not the same as IP rights or ownership. for SSoD, Insomniac owns the IP, MS owns the publishing rights. just like Sony with Spider-man. Sony only owns the publishing rights to the movies and games but the IP is still owned by Marvel/Disney.

Zeke68315d ago

See my comment below. When Insomniac left M$ they let Microsoft keep their publishing rights for... drumroll... Xbox and PC.
If they want to release it on PS they can let Sony publish it.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 315d ago
Abnor_Mal316d ago

“It is important to note that Xbox owns the publishing rights to Sunset Overdrive.

Therefore, a PS5 port would need to be approved by Microsoft.”

I said this eight days ago and got disagrees.

Fishy Fingers316d ago (Edited 316d ago )

Most people dont read bro..

Had it been their IP through and through it would of been an easy release for them and its a fun game, probably would of already happened. The people saying no ones cares about Sunset Overdrive would be saying cant wait to play in 4K 60 if announced

NotoriousWhiz315d ago

"Most people dont read bro.."

Facts.

Zeke68315d ago (Edited 315d ago )

"Most people dont read bro..."

"The game was later pitched to various publishers, which rejected them because Insomniac demanded to retain ownership of the intellectual property. The project was later pitched to Microsoft Studios, which was eager to work with Insomniac. Microsoft allowed Insomniac to own the rights to the game. Sunset Overdrive was made for Microsoft's Xbox One console; it was released on the 20th anniversary of Insomniac, in 2014"

What I read is that Insomniac still own the rights to the game. Prove me wrong! ;)

Edit M$ owns publishing rights on Xbox, not Playstation as they never intended to release it on PS ever.

KwietStorm_BLM316d ago

We can forget about all of their iconic IPs. They're a Marvel studio now.

Show all comments (43)
220°

All Hopes I Had For A Prey Sequel Have Been Crushed — Well Done, Microsoft

The magnificent Prey was once again abandoned as Microsoft disregarded Arkane Austin's achievements and crucified it just for Redfall.

RaidenBlack361d ago

well, not entirely ... the main Arkane studio i.e Arkane Lyon's still there ...
Its only that, the sequel will take more time now ... after Blade & Dishonored 3

MrBaskerville360d ago

But who knows, Dishonored 3 could have been Austins next project, so might be cancelled.

RaidenBlack359d ago

Dishonored is Lyon's flagship IP ... Austin only assisted in the first one, the sequel was wholly developed at Lyon whilst Austin developed Prey.
If Dishonored 3 was indeed greenlit ... rest assured, it would've been helmed primarily by the Lyon studio.

-Foxtrot361d ago (Edited 361d ago )

Not even this Prey

Still longing for a sequel to the original Prey with Tommy

The studio didn't even want to call this Prey, it was just Bethesda being dicks to them for some reason.

RaidenBlack361d ago

MS closed Roundhouse Studios (ex-Human Head Studios) as well

Yui_Suzumiya361d ago

Yeah, that's who was going to do the original sequel.

bunt-custardly360d ago

Don't worry there are some other games in development that might fill that void. Look up Vigilancer.

isarai361d ago

Came here to say this, my hooes for a Prey sequel died when this "Prey" came out

Profchaos360d ago

Prey 2017 still hurts to play because what could have been looked so incredible

Profchaos360d ago

Same Bethesda basically screwed over the original developer team human head back around 2011 so it was really never going to come despite a honestly amazing trailer. I liked prey 2017 but it always held a stink of disappointment due to what we never got

FinalFantasyFanatic360d ago

I really didn't like this game, tried it because of how loved the original Prey was, played the demo of this one and thought it was garbage, it didn't feel nice/fun to play.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 360d ago
LostPotato361d ago (Edited 361d ago )

Keep dreaming then as Prey and Dishonored 2 did not sell well enough to get sequels.

Hence we got Deathloop and Redfall instead.

RaidenBlack361d ago

lol, Deathloop came from Prey: Mooncrash idea

Unknown_Gamer5794361d ago

To everyone who cheered MS’s acquisitions, we told you so…

Inverno360d ago

Those people will just argue that Arkane Austin and Tango would've been shut down either way.

MrBaskerville360d ago

Zenimax allready put them in a tight spot by demanding them to do a multiplayer title. So it's not unlikely, considering how bad the game performed. They didn't stand a chance. MS had the money to save them and to correct Zenimax' mistakes.

Show all comments (25)