I think it’s pretty safe to say that we’ve had a cracker year so far. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, Batman: Arkham Knight, STASIS, Fallout 4. All fantastic games, that scored many tens of points with us and reviewers all across the world. But nobody cares about a success story. We’re here for the worst of 2015. So far at least. And this universe had a smelly yin to the superb yang that was on offer. Here’s some of the worst stuff that was pumped out this year.
Quick notes: I’m sticking to the Metacritic ratings for the feature this year, which is usually a good aggregate. Usually. I’ll throw OpenCritic in next year, when they’ve had an entire year to collate reviews.
PC
Nope, the bottom spot doesn’t go to Batman: Arkham Knight’s first week sales! In fact, the worst game of the year was tightly contested between Overlord: Fellowship of Evil (A new entry which managed to thoroughly crap all over the legacy of the previous two fantastic games) and Alone In The Dark: Illumination. But when it came to a hot pissing contest, Alone In The Dark: Illumination managed a stream that knocked Overlord: Fellowship of Evil’s 24 aggregate out of the way with an even lower score summary of 19.
As the Jimquisition eloquently summed it up:
Alone in the Dark: Illumination is ugly in every sense of the word, not just visually – though it is about as attractive as an anus in an eye socket. Hideous both inside and out, it’s the consummate fraud that hides behind a recognizable name to deliver interactive poison.
PS4
On the mighty Sony side, my running joke of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 5 came this close to taking the last spot with a Metascore aggregate of 32. Games such as Rugby World Cup 2015 (Metascore aggregate: 25), Basement Crawl (Metascore aggregate:27) and Motorcycle Club (Metascore aggregate: 26) all scored even more terribly however.
But it was the latest Afro Samurai game that took the crap cake. Afro Samurai: Revenge of Kuma Volume One hit the review scene and wound up with an overall aggregate score of 21. Destructoid rated the game a 10 out of a hundred, saying that:
In the words of Samuel L. Jackson, “what kind of f.cked up repugnant shit is this?”
Xbox One
There weren’t too many gaming tragedies over on the reinvigorated Xbox One side this year, that weren’t shared with Sony. Games like Rock ‘n Racing: Off Road (Metascore aggregate: 29) and Giana Sisters: Dream Runners (Metascore aggregate: 32) all scraped the bottom of the review barrel. But it was the digital version of the most popular sport in South Africa, that was an absolute disaster.
Rugby 15 got mauled worse than South Africa when they went up against Japan in the opening round, barely making any impact whatsoever. The current metascore for the game sits at a pitiful 20. It’s not just one of the worst games ever made. It’s the worst sports game ever made, setting a benchmark so low that you can;t even limbo under it.
Wii U
The Nintendo Wii U didn’t have the best year in 2015. Despite a somewhat solid line-up of games that scored high and the mad rush for new Amiibos, consistent releases weren’t happening this year. Naturally, some absolute horse manure was thrown onto the pile of games brought out this year, with the long-in-development Devil’s Third being one of the biggest stinkers.
It only had a Metacritic aggregate score of 44 however, and was quickly trounced by even smellier offerings. Games like Animal Crossing: Amiibo Festival (Metascore aggregate: 40) and Psyscrolr (Metascore aggregate: 35). It was Maze that took home the expired bacon score of 29. A first-person puzzle adventure game that nobody had heard of, Maze was slammed on release, with Nintendo Enthusiast advising to find something else to play:
Despite being an interesting idea, Maze falls really hard on its poor execution: a boring experience during the first half of the game, the good ideas are hardly used in comparison with the bad ones and there are many flaws in the package as well.
And there you go. The worst games of the year. Boy, whoever backed Tony Hawk pro Skater 5 when he was at E3, must be a colossal moron of the highest order, right? I’m sure glad that it wasn’t me, you betcha.
Last Updated: November 19, 2015
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 19, 2015 at 15:05
Can’t disagree with you Big D, but I still think the worst game of 2015 is the MMO, Social Justice Warrior: Echochamber (exclusively on twitter).
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November 19, 2015 at 15:06
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Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:23
Worst spam attempt of 2015!
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 15:25
Nice to see the MODS in action 😛
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:27
I’m here all day, might as well do something productive
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 15:30
You have earned your 2 bottle caps for the day.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 15:07
Just the thought of that “Overlord” game even existing given the legacy it shits all over…
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 19, 2015 at 15:07
It brings a tear to my eye…
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:23
huehuehue
James Anderton
November 19, 2015 at 15:09
My Vote: Arkham Knight ON PC
Nothing says shitty console port like WB letting you refund it for the rest of the year.
COME AT ME!
Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)
November 19, 2015 at 15:10
Nope, you win…
James Anderton
November 19, 2015 at 15:11
What, you didn’t have the required 12GB of RAM or?
😀
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:15
That sounds strangely erotic and I am sorry. I have quit porn cold turkey…
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:20
I don’t find refunds that erotic. But, you know, to each his own.
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:21
Wow. I only LOOK at booze and I get drunk. What refunds that’s erotic? Huh? WOt?
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:22
*hands you a beer
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 15:11
Not the unplayable mess of ASS Unity? or Batman on the PC?
I go by technical standards. Tony Hawks is up there with its jaggies.
Biggest disappointment would be The Order 1886. I would have been OK if it was a Prologue but the studio has cancelled anything to do with the franchise. They could have had a winner but… fuck knows.
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:16
Nah. Games featuring moustachioed white men are considered evil. OK. I’ll stop now.
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 15:18
Handle bars are evil
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:19
There’s a dude at work who grows his Movember mo every year into handlebars.
Makes it difficult to look him in the eye when talking to him.
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 15:21
Like a Boss
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 15:22
I can just imagine. Every time he talks to someone he’s like, “hey buddy, my eyes are up here!”
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:31
With those guys you either never make eye-contact, or you never break eye contact.
Trebzz
November 19, 2015 at 15:16
I expected to see The Order on this list as well. Here’s to it being free on PS+ sometime in the near future.
WitWolfy
November 19, 2015 at 19:08
What, they cancelled the franchise??? Screw that then! I’ll get it now when it’s R100
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:15
Batman Arkham Knight on pc is definitely a top one.
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:18
Witcher 3 was totally meh. Must be a low point for sure.
Besides, of course, it being the best damn game of the year! 😀
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:22
Combat was meh, I stand by my words
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:23
You are meh! I stand by MY words!
No, I’m sorry. I like you Hammer, I can’t even joke about it. Agree to disagree? Okay? Cool.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:23
cool 😀
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:23
Combat in the Sims is handled better!
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:24
You’re not supposed to “handle” your sims. Geez man. Get a grip of your emotions! 😀
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:26
This is why we need PC Culture.
*runs*
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:27
I have the words Love, Hate, Happy, Sad, Energized, Flirty, Inspired, Excited tattooed onto my penis…
Nikola
November 20, 2015 at 07:46
What do you know about games?? You play COD so shhhh!!! No right to comment anymore!
Hammersteyn
November 20, 2015 at 07:53
You defend EA and buy their games! I’ll save you a seat in the corner 😛
Nikola
November 20, 2015 at 08:32
OMW!! I don’t support EA flip where is this coming from just one comment I made in which I said “not to defend EA or anything” damn this site hahaha
Hammersteyn
November 20, 2015 at 08:52
XD
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:22
Do you two want to die?
this is how you die.
:^)
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:23
I’m feeling brave and seeing what it might spark. I mean it though.
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:26
Combat was meh i agree but the dialog…. bro….. bro
Yennefer and Triss come at me
Pariah
November 19, 2015 at 15:26
I think the coming happens the other way around if I recall?
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:30
Witcher 3 was a masterpiece that can almost be described as art. Sure, everything wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t need to be. It was seamless, and that’s where it got things right.
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:34
I upvoted that comment 3 times.
You know what the best thing about TW3. It delivered on almost everything that was promised. No over-reaching DLC’s. That free DLC pack doe. Runs extremely well on PC. Looks beautiful. The story grips me like a book. The character emotions really feel like they hit home. Overall A solid game that imo lived up to its expectations.(and this is what gamers want. A working game WORTH the $60.)
Which cant be said about a certain Bethesda game 🙂
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:37
Hehe. Now you’re looking for trouble.
But I agree with you. It lived up to all its promises and it pulled you in and made you a part of that world while you were playing it. It felt like every tiny little thing in TW3 was thought about and served a specific purpose. Nothing was just plopped down.
And it wasn’t an area with random events occurring, it was a living, breathing world filled with people, character and diversity.
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:41
haha im sorry :p.
I mean if you focus on one area in TW3. Ard of Skellig. That area was supposed to be what Skyrim was pushed as. Seriously that Area alone did more for me in terms of Fantasy/Medieval magic and swords than what Skyrim did.
You are 100% correct in saying that the world moved and lived with you. You felt like you where actually making a difference in said space. Yeah no. TW3 GOTY (for me). Nothing i feel has done what they did this year.
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:43
Yes. Witcher 3 takes my GOTY too.
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:25
Haven’t bothered loading my copy of Witcher 3. Don’t know if I should waste my time on it. Hammer complained about the combat and Nikola complained about the loading time. So I might just give my copy back to the shops
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:25
You, you can just get in the sea, do not pass go, do not…just….get in the sea
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:28
XD I’ll drop you in first
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:29
You probably would. 😉
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:29
You can only redeem yourself in my eyes if you play and finish that glorious magnificent game
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:31
I promise I’ll get to it eventually. Then I’ll rave about it in a year or 2 time and you can ask what took so long 😛
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:32
By then I’ll probably own a second copy.
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:33
DROP EVERYTHING AND PLAY THE GAME, you are good at dropping things
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:35
Lol I don’t think my family would appreciate me dropping them
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:44
I’m sure they would, your wife will tell you, go on an adventure, Geralt needs you!
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:45
Lol XD XD if only
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:26
Well, maybe it’s not for all. But I honestly think it was the best game of the year. But I’m a total sucker for fantasy and cool stories.
And monsters.
And open worlds.
And sword fighting.
And beards.
So it suits me. 🙂
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:27
I think I’ll just stick to CoD. Can’t get enough of it.
Pariah
November 19, 2015 at 15:27
Can’t tell if trolling or… O_o
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:32
Trolling 😛
Pariah
November 19, 2015 at 15:33
Then simply… ggwp. 😛
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:28
Look. I dont think you should judge a possible GOTY on a few plebs ( im joking guise :^) )
Seriously that game is so gripping, the least i can say is, give it a chance.
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:35
I definitely will when time allows me. I bought Witcher 1 and 2 on Steam to play through first since I missed the whole Witcher story but ya, they don’t handle to well my on laptop. So need to get a machine that runs it properly first.
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:36
The beauty of the writing in TW3 is the fact that you dont have to play the first 2.
The story and history is woven so well that you are given enough backstory in the moment that you dont actually have to play the first two.
After im done with TW3 im going back and playing the first two, just because im so inlove with that story that i want to replay the entire series 😀
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 15:30
If you want a story-based RPG, with okay combat, it’s the best you’ll ever play. If you’re expecting an action-RPG with the focus more on combat, like Dark Souls, then you’re going to be disappointed – because it’s not an action game.
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:32
Action only games are for the soulless!
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:37
Careful you might invoke a Rince
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:38
Good point.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 15:42
I’ll grab my nose plugs, just in case.
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:45
xD
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:45
Oh snap
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:45
Oh crackle
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:46
Oh poop
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:47
If y ou had said Oh pop I would have had a comeback worth a billion zim dollars for you.
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:49
“I felt like destroying something beautiful”
(where’s Hammer now?)
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:51
You did. Go home and feel bad.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 15:53
bowchickawowow
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:54
Now I’m curious.
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:37
I’m pretty sure I’ll enjoy the game. Main problem is finding the time
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 19, 2015 at 15:41
I spent 150 hours on it, being a completionist. The most time I’ve spent on a single play through of a game in years. 😉
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:43
I did 98 hours. But I want to play it again. I miss it.
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:44
Damn. I have OCD when it comes to these games and I have to complete every quest and side mission and point of interest. Took me just over 70 hours in Dying Light and I spent roughly 30 hours on Shadow of Mordor. So Witcher 3 I can expect to take 200+ hours
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:45
oh you have OCD and are interested in playing Witcher 3? Good luck friend. See you in the new year.
Guild
November 19, 2015 at 15:47
I collected so many weapons in Dying Light with the idea to save them for the hardest missions……. I never used them in the end.
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:47
That is like two months from now?
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:48
Yeah and he wants to play TW3. Do you understand how much useless shit is in that game? bro. bro. Literally my map is just one huge “?”
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:50
Bro Bro. That vinyl of yours stuck again bro? Bro? Bro?
Care for a pumpkin spice late bro? (Just trolling you a bit.)
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:51
I feel harassed.
Reported to valve. enjoy low prio
:^)
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:52
You wish I would harass you. 😛
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:51
and yes ill take that pumpkin spice you little shit :D?
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:52
I am NOT a little shit. I am THE shit! And that is MISTER Shit to you!
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:52
Yes Mister shit sir. I mean Sir shit.
what about Lord shit. That has a ring to it :p
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:53
Care to explain the trend of asshole bleaching?
oVg
November 19, 2015 at 15:26
Roach does win worse Horse of the year 😛
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:28
She should. She’s awesome.
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:41
D-Horse in MGS works much better. Also the D-dog works better than the one in Fallout
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:42
But I like the way Geralt calls Roach.
And because I’m biased and secretly wish I was Geralt.
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:45
You even tried to self-scar…
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:46
You can’t buy that kind of dedication!
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:30
*worst
And yes, that horse is insane
Nikola
November 20, 2015 at 07:46
I read your first sentence and was like I am going to go off this dude right now he is being all crazy and shit then read below lol
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:21
Duck Penis…. you know that indie game.
BakedBagel
November 19, 2015 at 15:22
Sunset Overdrive anyone?
Ir0nseraph
November 19, 2015 at 15:24
Wrong year
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:27
Inorite, that game had 2009 written all over it
Ir0nseraph
November 19, 2015 at 15:27
XD
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:30
Boom, gg
Ir0nseraph
November 19, 2015 at 15:34
why is there no mobile game category, o that’s right they don’t qualify as games 😛 inorite ?
Captain JJ the Goo
November 19, 2015 at 15:37
Take my upvote!
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:40
^THIS!
WitWolfy
November 20, 2015 at 07:14
What? Did that game suck?!? Wanted to buy it recently but decided against it.
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:22
Hatred. I saw it released and never a word peeoped about it.
Pariah
November 19, 2015 at 15:24
Scored around the 60s. Not enough to qualify for the worst.
Dutch Matrix
November 19, 2015 at 15:24
Fair enough. Dunno why that game crossed my mind though.
Mistake Not...
November 19, 2015 at 15:25
Worstest game of the year? The Last Guardian, so bad it doesn’t even exist.
Mistake Not...
November 19, 2015 at 15:26
Don’t kill me Umar
Grand Admiral Chief SpaceNinja
November 19, 2015 at 15:30
Bwahahaha
Hammersteyn
November 19, 2015 at 15:26
Rugby World Cup 2015, shameless cash in. People should be refunded for that game. It’s tantamount to fraud
ElNicko
November 19, 2015 at 15:27
Think they actually got worse from the 2011 offering which was utter excrement back then.
AfricanTime
November 19, 2015 at 15:29
Destiny : the Taken King…?
Pariah
November 19, 2015 at 15:30
I think some people were quite taken by that though. 😛
Marcus
November 19, 2015 at 15:31
Now I can only vote on what i played, so… My crap gamed of the year goes toooo….
Battlefield Hardline! Take a bow you fucking piece of shit!!!
WitWolfy
November 19, 2015 at 19:03
We all already know what my game is…
Nikola
November 20, 2015 at 07:47
Worst game I played 2015 that I actually bought and thought it was going to be good a AAA game was Mad Max started off well turned out to be such a disappointment!
Frik van der Hewerskink
November 20, 2015 at 07:56
Wait people still make games for the wii u ?
Hammersteyn
November 23, 2015 at 09:05
RAVENS CRY!