13 Worst Games That Sold Millions of Copies

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Some video games truly live up to their acclaim, while others don’t receive enough recognition and should outsell even popular franchises. On the other hand, there are a few games that were overhyped and sold too much. Mentioning these titles could potentially trigger unwanted memories of playing them.

This list showcases some video games that were commercially successful, selling millions of copies. Despite causing me personal distress when recalling my time playing them, no gamers were physically harmed in the process. However, it’s important to note that this list doesn’t include the absolute worst games ever created (with one notable exception). When considering gameplay and entertainment value, these titles pale in comparison to many other games that are superior.

13) Aliens: Colonial Marines

Estimated copies sold: 1.31 million

It was clearly a mistake for me to have played the Alien games in reverse order since encountering Colonial Marines after Isolation turned out to be an insurmountable challenge. The broken Xenomorph at the start of this shooter merely set the stage for imminent trouble, and it was terrifying, but for all the wrong reasons. Given my extensive experience with first-person shooter games, the rudimentary gunplay in Colonial Marines feels like a deep wound to me. Despite the game’s impressive graphics and character models, its generic gunplay makes it a tedious experience to play, and over time, it has only grown more tiresome.

12) Devil May Cry 2

Estimated copies sold: 1.7 million

In contrast to what one might anticipate when encountering a Devil May Cry game, you’d actually find Devil May Cry 2 disappointingly simple, lacking in depth, and rather repetitive. The gameplay is restrictive, monotonous, and can become mind-numbing at times. Its storyline is weak, the cutscenes are cheesy, and the environment and character designs leave much to be desired. All in all, Devil May Cry 2 isn’t a title worth playing if you’re looking for an immersive experience within the franchise. Despite its promise of exhilarating acrobatics, dodging attacks, and engaging melee and gunplay, DMC2 seemed to aspire more towards being a shooter game instead. Fortunately, the series has since improved significantly, learning from these early missteps.

11) BRINK

Estimated copies sold: 2.5 million

As a teenager, I chose to play BRINK primarily because its cover caught my eye. Oh, how much easier life was back then! Regrettably, the details of this game have faded over time, due to its unremarkable storyline and multiplayer experience which followed the tedious loop of first-person shooter gameplay common in early 2000s titles. I still find it hard to comprehend customization options that you can’t view while playing. In my opinion, this FPS game is the most disappointing one ever created, and no argument will sway me from that conviction.

10) E.T the Extra-Terrestrial

Estimated copies sold: 2.6 million

Given the substantial amount Atari invested to adapt this classic into a game, you might anticipate a high-quality product. However, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” was involved in the video game crash of 1983. It’s unclear if the money was well-spent. The end result was a game that seemed rudimentary, illogical, and carelessly made, with nothing but hardship as its defining features. There’s something puzzling about every aspect of this game. You gather dots, fall into pits and fly out of holes, get pursued and imprisoned, and perform all these actions flawlessly, only to find that your progress is hindered by a step counter that decreases each time you move. Frankly, it’s not advisable to aid E.T in his journey home.

9) Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora

Estimated copies sold: 2.7 million

As a devoted fan of James Cameron’s Avatar universe, I eagerly anticipated sharing the experience of Frontiers of Pandora with my sister. However, the moment we dove in, I sensed an impending disagreement. To my disappointment, our shared enthusiasm swiftly turned into a chore.

In my opinion, a game can’t survive on visual splendor alone, and yet it seems Ubisoft was banking heavily on this aspect with Frontiers of Pandora. The allure of its stunning landscape and open-world exploration might initially captivate you, but the monotony in its quests and gameplay will eventually wear you down. It’s disheartening to see such a meticulously crafted and immersive world diminished by repetitive content that drags on endlessly. Truly, it’s a shame to witness such potential wasted.

8) The LEGO Movie Videogame

Estimated copies sold: 5 million

I have a soft spot for it, but I must admit that I’m not overly fond of The LEGO Movie Video Game. While the LEGO series has given us some fantastic games, this one doesn’t quite make the cut. Comedy adaptations can be tricky, and this game isn’t always successful in keeping up with the humor found in the source material, sometimes veering into dull moments. It’s more suited for family play than for experienced gamers who prefer action-packed games with laser battles and pushing characters like R2-D2 off edges.

7) JUMP FORCE

Estimated copies sold: 5 million

It’s surprising that JUMP FORCE sold as well as it did, given how it seemed like an obvious choice among anime fighting games. However, upon playing the game, I found it to be quite disappointing, much like its counterpart, Jujutsu Kaisen: Cursed Clash. Both games follow a monotonous narrative with poor cutscenes and repetitive gameplay that can quickly become frustrating and tiresome. It’s almost as if I had grown tired of Naruto Uzumaki’s voice while watching the TV show, switching back and forth between dub and sub to alleviate the boredom.

6) Watch Dogs: Legion

Estimated copies sold: 5 million

As a devoted fan, I must admit that I found Watch Dogs: Legion utterly underwhelming, given my deep affection for the first two installments. Sadly, it seemed to have strayed far from its original essence, sacrificing captivating characters and storylines for a monotonous recruitment system (much like Shein’s take on Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood). With no compelling character to connect with, the lack of emotional investment was palpable, especially when faced with a world that felt bland in comparison. The inclusion of mechanics from previous games, which were arguably superior, only served to make Legion an unappealing choice for me. Instead, I found myself drawn back to the immersive and entertaining worlds of the first two games.

5) Need for Speed (2015)

Estimated copies sold: 9.7 million

As a hardcore fan of racing games, I’d have gladly placed Most Wanted (2012) on my list, but it sadly dishonored the original (my all-time favorite driving game). The 2015 reboot of Need for Speed , however, really takes the prize. It was all style, no substance – the live-action cutscenes hogged the spotlight over the actual racing experience. This game somehow turned a driving game into something tedious; there was nothing to draw me into the driver’s seat. The move to online play was tough, and I can’t help but miss the good ol’ days with those iconic wanted posters of drivers I had to chase down to become the top dog. Back then, the franchise was effortlessly cool. Nowadays, newer titles are lackluster, which is a real pity.

4) Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (2023)

Estimated copies sold: 21.2 million

In the heyday of Call of Duty, I immersed myself deeply, from long-range sniping with the Intervention in nail-biting one-on-ones on Rust, to conquering the Terminal’s plane for fun. The announcement of Modern Warfare 3 had me rekindling my passion after a break post-Ghosts. I expected a refreshing multiplayer experience, but found it remarkably similar. However, what truly mattered to me was the campaign, and Modern Warfare 3’s fell flat with brief, forgettable missions and the ill-conceived open-ended ones where you could “roam”. My discontentment towards Modern Warfare 3 has remained profound (and continues to be so).

3) Pokémon Scarlet and Violet

Estimated copies sold: 26.79 million

Kindly spare me the criticism, fellow Pokemon enthusiasts. As a gaming aficionado who constantly measures every new Pokemon title against the iconic duo of HeartGold and SoulSilver, stepping into Scarlet and Violet was quite an unpleasant surprise (and it remains so). Yet, it’s astonishing to see how many copies this game has managed to sell. In my ideal world, I long for a free-roaming environment where you can capture Pokemon in the wild (similar to Arceus) along with Gym Leader battles. Unfortunately, I was left preparing sandwiches in a glitched landscape, yearning for the appearance of a Ho-Oh to remind me of the days when Pokemon were truly spectacular.

2) Wii Play

Estimated copies sold: 28.02 million

Nothing evokes more nostalgia than Wii Sports for me, reminding me of my time making Mii characters that strangely resembled family members, sparring with my sister, hitting home runs, and landing perfect strikes. Given this fondness, I assumed Wii Play would be a logical next choice. However, after playing it, I found it disappointing. Essentially a collection of mini-games, Wii Play is like the beginner’s pack for video games. Since Wii Sports came free with a bundle offer, I felt that paying $49.99 for nine mini-games in Wii Play was an overpriced and unnecessary purchase from Nintendo.

1) EA FC (FIFA) Every Single Year

Estimated copies sold: 325 million (franchise)

Despite the franchise changing its name, the quality of the titles hasn’t improved noticeably. Year after year, Electronic Arts releases a new game under this new moniker, yet the complaints from FIFA fans remain consistent – “This year is the worst.” Consequently, I consider them all as one franchise that has generated billions in sales by repeatedly offering essentially the same game each year, with occasional glitches added to make it distinguishable from its predecessor. To be fair, Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) or eFootball should also be included in this critique, but my loyalty lies with Become a Legend, so Electronic Arts Football takes the brunt of the criticism.

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2025-07-12 14:40