Summary
The video game industry has heavily relied on licensed titles to adapt popular franchises from movies, TV shows, and other media into interactive formats. However, the rush to cash in on a brand’s popularity has led to the development of many disappointing modern licensed games, likeMarvel’s AvengersandThe Lord of the Rings: Gollum. This highlights the importance of quality in game development, as these titles not only let down fans but also stained the reputation of the franchises they are based on.
There are a number of more recent licensed video games that have failed to meet expectationsdespite having the backing of well-known intellectual properties. These titles suffered from technical issues and poor game design, turning what could have been an exciting experience into a complete disaster.
15 Best Video Game Movies Of All Time, Ranked
Video game movies are beginning to prove their worth in Hollywood with a string of great releases, and these are some of the best of all time.
10Planet Of The Apes: Last Frontier
Fell Short Of The Film Series' High Standards
The reboot of thePlanet of the Apesseries,beginning with 2011’sRise of the Planet of the Apes, has shown that it can rival the original films and, in some respects, even surpass them. However,the video game adaptation does not match its cinematic counterparts. CallingPlanet of the Apes: Last Frontiera game is a bit of a stretch, as it resembles more of an interactive movie with various choices more than actual gameplay.
Set between the events ofDawn of the Planet of the ApesandWar for the Planet of the Apes, the game follows a tribe separate from Caesar’s, as well as a group of human survivors.Players' choices can lead to different outcomes and affect their relationshipswith the various characters they interact with. Despite the impressive graphics and the involvement of Andy Serkis,Last Frontiercouldn’t deliver a satisfying conclusion and ended up losing the battle before it even began.
9Ghostbusters (2016)
Failed To Capture The Spirit Of The Franchise
It’s a stretch to callGhostbustersa tie-in game, since it doesn’t feature any of the film’s characters, plot, or any real connection to the movie. However, it was officially licensed and released to coincide with the2016Ghostbustersfilm. This is a twin-stick shooter game whereup to four players can play through uninspired and unattractive levels, encountering unappealing characters and unfunny humor, all for the high price of $50 at launch.
The game is more of a hero shooter with aGhostbusterstheme and doesn’t capture the essence of theGhostbustersexperiencebeyond the character uniforms and the game’s branding. Unfortunately, the developer, FireForge Games, filed for bankruptcy three days after the game’s release, which didn’t forecast the game’s future well.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattanshould have been a perfect combination, bringing together the popular heroes in a half-shell and Platinum Games, known for itsexcellentBayonettaseries. However,it turned out to be a big disappointment, with uninspired combat, dull boss fights, uninteresting level design, and an unsettling redesign for the turtles.
The absence of couch co-op multiplayer was just one of the issues with this game.Mutants in Manhattanfeels like a cash grab anddoesn’t live up to the quality fans expectfrom these properties. Perhaps the game’s saving grace is that it is relatively short, limiting players' exposure. Unfortunately, this entry in theTMNTfranchise left fans feeling more disappointed than satisfied.
7Rambo: The Video Game
Fails To Capture The Essence Of The Iconic Action Hero
Rambo: The Video Gamewas supposed to allow fans to step into Rambo’s shoes and re-experience the original trilogy. Considering how the character evolved from a PTSD-afflicted veteran inFirst Bloodto an over-the-top action hero in the later films, this was an interesting idea. The game could have been a simple, albeit superficial, way to pass time. Unfortunately, instead of providing an authentic Rambo experience,the developers restricted the character to an on-rails shooterwith unimpressive quick time events, making it feel like the action lacked meaning.
The game has PS2-quality graphics and is filled with bugs and glitches, making it fall short in almost every aspect. Instead of authentic action-hero moments, players are subjected to a tiresome and overly structured experience. This failed adaptation leaves much to be desired, turning what could have been an engaging homage into a frustrating ordeal.
South Park: Snow Daywas expected to be the next big hit in theSouth Parkgaming franchise, following the success ofThe Stick of TruthandThe Fractured But Whole. Unfortunately,Snow Dayfalls shortand is reminiscent of the N64-era failures that plagued the series' early video game adaptations.The game suffers from a noticeable drop in quality, as it swaps the nearly perfect recreation of the show’s art style for bland 3D models that fail to capture the vibrant energy of the previous titles.
The game’s humor and gameplay feel uninspired, with players limited to basic combat arenas that hardly differ from one another. It features recycled dialogue anda significantly toned-down version of the series' trademark humor. Instead of the expansiveSouth Parkworld that fans love, the game restricts players to unoriginal, repetitive content.
5Fast & Furious Crossroads
The Game Misses The Finish Line In Style & Thrill
Fast & Furious Crossroadswas expected to be an exciting addition to the long-standing franchise, but unfortunately, it did not live up to its potential. Despite theFast & Furiousseries' 20-year history and its reputation for pushing boundaries, this game from Slightly Mad Studios - known for its work onProject CARSandNeed for Speed- ultimately provides a rather unexciting experience.
The gameplay is extremely uninspired, with a disappointing lack of the high-octane thrills that define the films. Despite including numerous gadgets and unlockable vehicles from the franchise’s history,the game fails to capture any of the cinematic excitement.The story falls flat, featuring uninteresting new characters, and even Vin Diesel and Michelle Rodriguez seem disengaged in their performances. For die-hard fans,Crossroadsoffers little more than a stark reminder of what the series could have been, making it a major letdown in an otherwise thrilling franchise.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollumseems to lack an intended audience. Despite Gollum’s popularity as a character in theLord of the Ringsmovies and Andy Serkis' exceptional portrayal of him,there wasn’t much demand for an expanded backstory, especially one not written by J.R.R. Tolkien himself.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum Review - Not So Precious
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum has the titular character roaming Middle-earth, but its oddly inventive premise is bogged down by technical issues.
The game faced many delays before its release, and when it finally came out, it was filled with bugs and glitches, making it almost unplayable. The gameplay was terrible, the muddy and blurry graphics and the story didn’t make sense.The Lord of the Rings: Gollumwas a bigger disaster than anyone expected, and it received such bad reviews that Daedelic Entertainment decided to close its development division.
Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice Leaguewas expected to be an exciting new release from the popularBatman: Arkhamseries creators. However, it turned out to be a huge disappointment.Rocksteady, known for itsgreat single-player games in theArkhamtrilogy, inexplicably released one of the last decade’s worst live-service games.
The final product fell far below expectations, featuring a heavy focus on microtransactions, a battle pass system, and no clear plan for future content. The story mistreated beloved characters, andthe gameplay quickly became monotonous, offering little to redeem it. After waiting nine long years sinceArkham Knight, it was disheartening to see a game that seemed to be created solely for corporate greed. This title serves as a stark reminder of how even the most highly anticipated games can fail spectacularly.
Marvel’s Avengershad the potentialto be an outstanding superhero game comparable to the success of Insomniac’sSpider-Man. However, Square Enix’s decision to turn it into a live-service game instead of focusing on a polished single-player experience led to a critical failure.The game’s ambitious concept was overshadowed by numerous issues, such as an excessive number of in-game currencies for cosmetic items that did not affect gameplay and an overly expensive battle pass that even dedicated players found unpleasant.
The game had a surprisingly engaging story, but the game’s mistakes diminished its narrative strength. The initial excitement was drained by a game full of bugs, repetitive content, and an exploitative monetization model. As a result,the game failed to meet player expectationsand faced a disheartening fate. After years of criticism, support for the game was eventually discontinued, and it wasdelisted from digital stores.
The Walking Dead: Destinieswas a significant letdown, failing to meet the high expectations set by the franchise’s previous games and the beloved TV series.The game’s main problem was its uninspired execution, which is evident in its gameplay and storytelling. Instead of providing the engaging, story-focused experience fans have come to expect,Destiniesoffered a repetitive gameplay loop. The combat mechanics were awkward, and the progression felt tedious, diminishing the intensity and suspense that are central toThe Walking Deaduniverse.
The game’s poorly conceived story failed to capture the emotional depth and character development that made the franchise compelling. The characters were also poorly written, lacking the complexity and distinction that fans had grown accustomed to. Coupled with outdated graphics and numerous technical issues, the title felt rushed and more like a cash grab than a thoughtful addition to theWalking Deadlegacy – a similar case toMarvel’s AvengersandThe Lord of the Rings: Gollum.
