Summary
- Despite initial criticism, some video games manage to bounce back and build dedicated fanbases over time.
- Titles like Fallout 76, Days Gone, and Sea of Thieves survived negative feedback to become beloved by players.
- With dedication from developers and continuous updates, games like No Man's Sky and Final Fantasy 14 have achieved remarkable turnarounds.
Emotions tend to run high around the gaming community, and occasionally for good reason. Unfortunately, that passion often means that an initially poor reaction to a new video game can be impossible to reverse down the road.
Related15 Underrated PlayStation 5 Games
The PlayStation 5 has a good selection of games you may have accidentally skipped.
PostsBut sometimes, you'll find a title that braved the vitriolic waters and surfaced unscathed. Either through a series of improvements or simply waiting for the loud YouTube people to find other targets, these plucky underdogs managed to not only survive the negative onslaught, but cultivate their own dedicated audiences.
11 Fallout 76
CloseFallout 76
Action RPG Developer(s) Bethesda Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One Powered by Expand CollapseWhen Fallout 76 was first announced, series fans had been experiencing a bit of a drought after what some considered an underwhelming entry in 2015's Fallout 4. So more of that but online wasn't exactly greeted with the enthusiasm Bethesda had likely anticipated.
Fans were already against the idea and then came the technical issues, but despite the wasteland-wandering game's notoriously poor launch, Fallout 76 has since bounced back through constant updates (even letting you play as a ghoul) and a devoted fanbase. The Amazon Prime show didn't hurt either.
10 Days Gone
CloseDays Gone
Open-World Action Adventure 2.5/5 Developer(s) Bend Studio Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 4 Powered by Expand CollapseAsk fans of Days Gone, and they'll likely tell you many reviews at launch seemed to want things from the game that it never promised. The prevailing sentiment was pretty down on the game, noting a repetitive structure and lack of a "wow" factor.
But thanks to several years out of the spotlight, players have had a chance to discover this open-world zombie-killing biker experience on their own. Without the influence of the reviews, Days Gone has found its way into the hearts of a significant audience.
9 Sea Of Thieves
CloseSea of Thieves
Adventure Developer(s) Rare Platform(s) PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X Powered by Expand CollapseIn a rather comical subversion, Rare's Sea of Thieves was originally seen by many as a cheap attempt to latch onto Ubisoft's then-upcoming Skull and Bones multiplayer pirate game. You know, the one that was delayed for nearly a decade before finally coming out to mixed-at-best reviews so, at launch, since Sea of Thieves didn't immediately hit a home run, the vibe was pretty negative by default.
RelatedSkull And Bones Vs. Sea Of Thieves: Which Game Is Better?
So, you want to be a pirate? Sail the high seas, plunder some booty and drink some rum? You came to the right place.
PostsBut as proven time and time again, effort and dedication from the developers managed to turn things around, and now Sea of Thieves is the go-to pirate game for friends looking to have high sea adventures. It's also had a 6-year head start on Skull and Bones; nice work, little guy.
8 Assassin's Creed: Unity
CloseAssassin's Creed Unity
Action Open-World Developer(s) Ubisoft Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC, Stadia Powered by Expand CollapseThe initial backlash surrounding Assassin's Creed: Unity remains legendary among the gaming community, and it's not hard to see why. Hilarious glitches and forgettable characters dominated the discussions for years and seemed impenetrable.
However, things turned around in a big way; updates fixed the glitches, and thanks to Ubisoft literally using the game to help rebuild the nearly-destroyed Notre Dame in Paris (and many still praising the game's parkour mechanics), by 2019 players were actually review-bombing Assassin's Creed: Unity with love.
7 The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker
CloseThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Action Adventure Developer(s) Nintendo EAD Platform(s) GameCube Powered by Expand CollapseIt's difficult to properly convey just how much hatred for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker's cartoonish art style permeated the gaming world at the time. Numerous players were apparently so terrified of enjoying a "kiddie" game that they refused to give it a try.
The years since have been much kinder to Wind Waker, with legions of fans proudly enjoying it and praising its visuals after finally growing past the age of 12. Not to mention a shiny remaster on the Wii U, so if you can play a Mario game, then Toon Link should have never been an issue.
6 Mass Effect: Andromeda
CloseMass Effect: Andromeda
Action RPG Developer(s) BioWare Platform(s) PS4, Xbox One, PC Powered by Expand CollapseBioWare's Mass Effect: Andromeda carried the tragic misfortune of following a beloved trilogy and having easily memorable moments. So jokes like "my face is tired" drowned out actual good-faith reviews, driving away potential players who just assumed it was bad.
Related8 Games That Should've Had DLC
With video games having the ability to add even more to their original story or add requested features, it's a wonder these games don't have DLC.
PostsIt's still not a smash hit, but years later, the memes have finally quieted and the game is rarely not on sale. So those willing to engage with Andromeda on its own merits have easy access to what players tend to agree is a delightful galaxy-spanning romp with satisfying gameplay, really cool builds, and their new spiky girlfriend.
5 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons Of Liberty
CloseMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Stealth Developer(s) Konami Platform(s) PC, PS3, Xbox 360, PS Vita Powered by Expand CollapseHideo Kojima pulled off possibly one of the most infamous bait-and-switches in video game history. Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty. Promo materials and even the demo featured Solid Snake as the main playable character, only to be replaced by the far more pretty Raiden in the main game.
Fans of the series were outraged, to say the least. But time heals all wounds, and most have come to appreciate not just the sheer audacity, but the game itself and Raiden's own contributions to the beloved and scarcely coherent stealth series.
4 Batman: Arkham Origins
CloseBatman: Arkham Origins
Action Adventure Developer(s) WB Games Montreal Platform(s) Nintendo Wii U, PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 Powered by Expand CollapseHaving a Batman game without the late Kevin Conroy in the role can feel like seeing a Bette Midler musical with her understudy. That's what happened when WB Games Montreal created their prequel to Rocksteady's now iconic Arkham series with Batman: Arkham Origins.
Between the lack of Conroy and a different developer, many players automatically assumed it was a lesser product. But over time, that sentiment has softened, with some even calling Arkham Origins their favorite in the series and offering glowing praise for Roger Craig Smith's voice performance.
3 Final Fantasy 14
CloseFinal Fantasy 14 (2010)
MMORPG Developer(s) Square Enix Platform(s) PC, PS3, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S Powered by Expand CollapseBetween the residual negativity surrounding Final Fantasy 13 and its sequel's status as an online game, it's a wonder Final Fantasy 14 even survived a year after release. After an almost unanimously-panned launch in 2010, Naoki Yoshida (aka Yoshi-P) came in and worked some magic.
Related19 Best MMORPGs For Solo Players
These MMORPGs feature vibrant and well-populated living worlds, but they're still very solo-friendly!
Posts 1Under Yoshida's supervision and plenty of communication with players, Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn eventually launched to acclaim, and now stands as one of the most beloved MMORPGs out there. Don't call it a comeback, but it's one heck of a comeback.
2 Marvel's Midnight Suns
CloseMarvel's Midnight Suns
Tactical RPG Developer(s) Firaxis Games Platform(s) PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X Powered by Expand CollapseThe hatred in the case of Marvel's Midnight Suns took a different form. Thanks to its status as a card-based game, many potential players took the Mass Effect: Andromeda route and assumed it was bad just based on that.
Unfortunately, things didn't turn around monetarily for this tragically underrated game. But those who took the time to check it out on their own discovered a remarkably deep experience that's equal parts strategic superhero fights and playing wingman for Blade.
