Top 10 Video Games That Divided Fan Bases

Welcome to WatchMojo and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Games That Divided Fan Bases.

For this list, we’ll be going over the video games whose subject matter, gameplay, and other features proved polarizing among new players and longtime fans.

If there are some divisive games we forgot, please be sure to argue about them with other fans in the comments!

The 3D “Mario” games have all been almost universally praised… with one exception. “Super Mario Sunshine” has been praised for its precise controls, innovative movement options, and interconnected, resort-themed world. However, its detractors dislike how linear and homogeneous it is compared to other 3D “Mario” titles, as well as numerous abrupt and frustrating difficulty spikes. The central F.L.U.D.D. (word not letters!) mechanic also proved polarizing, with some appreciating how it could augment Mario’s movement, while others considered it a shoehorned gimmick. But whether you consider “Sunshine” a tropical paradise or the vacation from hell, it’s still a decent game, even if you don’t think it’s a good “Mario” game.

A mind-bending entry in the “BioShock” franchise, “BioShock Infinite” has proven as polarizing as its politics. Its critics insist that it’s a step down from its predecessors. Frequent gripes include having fewer choices in how to play, with everything from fewer weapon customizations, to linear levels, to a lack of consequences for story decisions. Features present in the E3 trailer not being present in the game certainly didn’t help either. However, proponents cite “Infinite’s” compelling story, gorgeous setting, and memorable characters as reasons it stands alongside the rest of the series. Who’s right? Well, like the flying city it’s set in, we feel it’s “up in the air.”

Given how long it’s been going on, the “Final Fantasy” franchise was bound to have some entries that split fans, and “Final Fantasy XIII” was just “unlucky” enough to be the one fans can’t agree on the most. Its admittedly gorgeous graphics haven’t stopped many from deriding its other aspects. “XIII” reached unprecedented levels of linearity for the series, with the illusion of choice in its progression grid and literal hallways making up much of its map. The poorly explained worldbuilding and irritating characters are other gripes, plus the fact that you can coast through most of the game on auto-battle. Still, for how split the fans are on this game, it did get a few sequels, so it does have its defenders.

“Fallout 4” debuted to much hype and fanfare. However, while everyone agrees that it’s a perfectly competent Bethesda action RPG, trademark bugs and glitches notwithstanding, plenty of fans have taken issue with some changes made to the previous games’ formula. In trying to make the game more accessible, some felt “Fallout 4” removed features that had made the prior games so beloved, such as more self-determination in how to approach the story, as well as other role-playing elements. Although the disappointed fans probably agree that it’s better than the wasteland it’s set in, “Fallout 4” still elicits nostalgia for the style of earlier titles.

In fairness to “Death Stranding,” no game could probably live up to the hype of being known as Hideo Kojima’s much-delayed passion project. Although the cinematics and acting received praise from almost all, the story and gameplay proved more polarizing, with many calling it a glorified walking simulator. It’s certainly a departure from his previous work, which was more action-oriented. For every person who thinks Kojima is a genius, there’s someone else who thinks he ought to be put on trial for not cutting that awful “Princess Beach” line.

The “Batman: Arkham” games are to superhero games what “The Dark Knight” is to superhero movies. And like the third installment in that series, “Arkham Knight” proved a divisive finale. While the core gameplay and story have generally been praised, some found parts of the story predictable and one major aspect of the gameplay drew criticism – the Batmobile. What would normally be a tool for the Caped Crusader is instead a requirement for large swaths of the game, which many found grating. It may not have finished as strongly as some would’ve liked, but “Arkham Knight” is definitely still worth playing. Even if we still don’t know why races are considered riddles…

Although “The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker” (not walker! Rhymes with “baker”) was also divisive upon release, over time most people have come around to it. Not so much this entry in the franchise, at least not as much. “Skyward Sword” is as great a game as you could want, with a unique world set above the clouds, a beautiful art style, and a lot of fun gameplay. But many felt like it was a step backward for the franchise. Its amazing world felt empty. The bosses felt repetitive. And the most common complaint – the poorly implemented motion controls. “Skyward Sword” reached for the skies, but a lot of fans felt it didn’t manage to get that high.

We don’t usually do two in one entry, but both of these games were just so divisive that we honestly couldn’t choose between them. Both games featured a greater emphasis on RPG elements, which were a hit with some, but a step down from the action-oriented roots of the series for others. Continuing bugs, as well as unsatisfying combat, are also complaints made about both. Perhaps most notably, “Origins” and “Odyssey” each deemphasized stealth, which some fans took as a betrayal of the series’ premise. Although “Valhalla” has tried to bridge the two camps, time will tell if this fractured fanbase will heal.

Every “Super Smash Bros.” game is generally seen as exceptional in its own way, but if there’s a black sheep of the bunch, it’s definitely “Brawl.” Although its expansive and cinematic single player is fondly remembered, as are several of the new features, aspects of its gameplay were seen as a downgrade from its immediate predecessor. The combat is often seen as being floatier and less precise. The Final Smash ultimate moves were also divisive. There are two things of the game that casuals and diehards can agree on though – Meta Knight is straight-up OP and tripping is garbage!

Before we get to our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions:

A Bungled Launch & a Potentially Watered Down Experience Has Plagued This Entry

A Linear Map, Missing Features, & Cut Corners Make Some Fans Want to Stab These Games

A Switch in Protagonists & Some Loooongggggg Cutscenes Have Fans Divided

A New Studio & Controversial Story Choices Made Many Fans Balk at the New Direction

The most recent game on our list, “The Last of Us Part II” is a divide that still hits fresh. While its gameplay is as highly praised as the first game, with some improvements, the story and characters are where it split everyone down the middle. The game’s depiction of a transgender character was predictably controversial, but what truly set the internet on fire was the fact that a primary character is murdered. This alone would probably have been divisive, yet on top of that, players are forced to play as the murderer and asked to empathize with them. For a lot of players, this was the last straw for “The Last of Us Part II.”