Top 10 Worst Video Games of 2020 (So Far)

Top 10 Worst Video Games of 2020 (So Far)

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2020’s been bad enough, so we all could have done without these games. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Worst Video Games of 2020 (So Far). For this list, we’ll be looking at those particular games that missed the mark in one, or all, aspects. Whether the games garnered low ratings from critics and gamers alike, didn’t live up to the hype, or are just plain broken, if it’s a poor excuse of a video game, it’s eligible for this list.

#10: “Fallout 76: Wastelanders” (2020)

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Fallout 4 was a decent entry into the Fallout franchise, and while it wasn’t as robust as previous entries, it was still a fun time. Bethesda then released Fallout 76, an “Live-Service” iteration using Fallout 4’s engine and gameplay mechanics, with literally everything else that was beloved about the series taken out, namely, NPCs, or, the main reason why the stories in these games are praised. While Wastelanders has NPCs and a lot of general improvements, it’s still a buggy mess and often just a chore to play.

#9: “Predator: Hunting Grounds” (2020)

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The idea and gameplay concept is great on this one. Unfortunately, its execution lets it down. Sub-par gunplay, accompanied by dull A.I., is a big detractor from this multiplayer experience. While there are some fun mechanics, the lack of overall content meant general interest and enjoyment while playing dwindled incredibly fast. Performance is abysmal on consoles, and if you want to play as the Predator more than the soldiers, be expected to wait a lot longer for matchmaking. Hey, you’ll probably have more fun playing as one of the soldiers, anyway.

While there are genuine moments of exhilaration and joy while playing, its core camera issues make it almost unplayable. There’s nothing worse than being defeated because the camera couldn’t track you or your enemies effectively, and instead whips around, unable to catch up to the movement. With only two modes to play, there’s not enough content to keep the experience from becoming stale, and the fact that it’s so often compared to Overwatch meant that either we weren’t looking for another game of this type, or Bleeding Edge just didn’t have enough variation in it to make it stand out.

#7: “The Elder Scrolls: Blades” (2020)

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You can’t expect a half-decent mobile game to get a console release and be well-received, can you? While the game was marketed as a complete Elder Scrolls experience, players were disappointed to find that it was anything but. No world exploration, no freedom, no in-depth character customization. Essentially, what you’re playing is a repetitive dungeon crawler with levels that all blend together, interrupted by obtrusive micro-transactions. While the combat can be fun at times, and the idea of rebuilding your town can be intriguing, that’s just not enough to keep you engaged.

#6: “Cooking Mama: Cookstar” (2020)

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The graphics have been improved from its predecessors and… actually, that’s it. When we say ‘improved,’ we’re not sure we mean it. Sure, the presentation is more complex, but it loses its charm that was prevalent in the Nintendo DS games. The only positive this game offers is that you might learn a recipe or two, but learning them is a chore. The motion controls barely register, and the cooking minigames are so repetitive. Also, if we have to hear Cooking Mama say ‘looking good’ one more time, we’re just going to order takeout instead.

#5: “Mafia II: Definitive Edition” (2020)

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When a game released in 2010 is remastered and re-released this year, we’re going to expect a more than negligible difference. One of Mafia II's main problems is that despite its outdated graphics, we’re still getting frame drops. One would hope that when a decade-old game is remastered or released for modern hardware, that the performance is improved, which is certainly not the case for this title. With glitches, texture and object pop-ins, frame drops, and barely updated visuals, you’re better off just playing the original release.

Can you imagine playing a game with absolutely zero likeability? There’s not one part of Waking that’s unique, enjoyable, or visually appealing. It’s a mish-mash of multiple genres, clunky controls, poor animations, outdated graphics, and a horrible bloom effect that hurts your eyes. While it attempts to come off as a deeply personal experience, the entire game is a slog to get through, meaning you won’t even care what it’s trying to do. If you do decide to give it a go, and actually beat this game, you deserve an award.

#3: “Dawn of Fear” (2020)

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Fixed camera angles, a mansion, zombies, inventory management, and puzzles are all included here in Resident Ev - ahem - Dawn of Fear. The game’s appeal to our nostalgia is its only redeeming quality. It’s not that we hate fixed camera angles, it’s just that they were framed beautifully in the Resident Evil series. Here, we have generic shots of the area, and they’re filled with poor graphics, terrible animations, uninspired monster designs, and a horrible frame rate, not to mention poor storytelling. We would have loved to see some voice acting, even if it was as bad as the original Resident Evil’s. It would have added some charm.

#2: “Warcraft III: Reforged” (2020)

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This is getting frustrating now. What is it with recent remasters either barely improving on the original’s experience, or actually worsening it? Reforged is an insult to all Warcraft fans, and has left us all bitter with Blizzard as a whole. A lot of the promises Blizzard made were unfulfilled, and the price is way too high for a remaster that looks like it should have come out fifteen years ago. It’s poorly optimized, even on high-end PC’s, and the experience is buggy. If you’re still unsure as to whether or not it really is this bad, just take a look at the user Metacritic score. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few dishonorable mentions.

Because Everything Is Just Sub-Par.

Because It Looks and Plays Like It Should Have Been Released Ten Years Ago.

Because of Poor Visuals and Lack of Fine-Tuning.

If you’re going to combine a bunch of different game styles into one, it has to work. A fatal flaw with the Crucible’s game design is that you’re playing a team-based shooter, in which your only way of communicating is by a ping system. No in-game text or voice chat. The gameplay itself is also just excruciatingly dull. The map is way too large for your character’s movement speed, which means you’re probably going to be walking around for most of your playtime. Its three game modes, while varied, offer nothing new to the genre. This entire experience is something we’ve all seen before.