7 Worst RPG Games of All Time

by

Role-playing games, or RPGs, are incredibly popular for good reason. They let you become deeply invested in a character you create, developing their abilities and stats over time. Many iconic game series, like *Elder Scrolls* and *Baldur’s Gate 3*, feature RPG elements. However, not all RPGs are successful, and there have been some truly bad ones.

What makes a role-playing game (RPG) truly bad? It varies from person to person, but generally, clunky gameplay, repetitive and frustrating tasks, and a boring story are major flaws. The seven games listed here commit some serious video game mistakes, making them some of the worst RPGs ever created. We based our choices on both how fans view these games and their very low scores on Metacritic, identifying some truly poorly designed RPGs.

7. Lunar: Dragon Song

While not as critically panned as some other games here—it has a Metascore of 59—*Lunar: Dragon Song* disappointed many fans of the *Lunar* series. This Nintendo DS game is often considered one of the weakest entries in the franchise and has a poor reputation among JRPG players.

While *Lunar: Dragon Song* is intended as a backstory to the series, it doesn’t quite live up to the strong storytelling found in the other games. It doesn’t build upon or connect with the existing lore in a meaningful way. However, the biggest issues lie with how the game plays. New mechanics, like equipment randomly breaking and limited enemy targeting, feel unnecessary and frustrating. One player on Reddit summarized it well, saying *Dragon Song* “manages to mess up almost every game mechanic, making the experience worse.”

6. Dawn of Mana

I have to admit, when *Dawn of Mana* came out, a lot of us fans were pretty upset. It just didn’t *feel* like a Mana game, especially coming so soon after *Children of Mana* and *Friends of Mana*. Honestly, it barely played like a traditional RPG – they really shifted the focus to action-adventure, and it just didn’t work. It was a big misstep for Square Enix, a company usually so solid with RPGs.

Most reviewers agree that *Dawn of Mana* doesn’t live up to expectations in many areas, including voice acting, story, and how the game is controlled and viewed. While the game looks and sounds good, it received a Metascore of 57 because it strayed too far from what fans liked about previous games in the series.

5. Hydlide

Hydlide was one of the first action role-playing games, and it experimented with open-world design. While it helped shape later RPGs, it wasn’t very popular in most countries. The version for the NES was especially criticized for its incredibly repetitive and annoying music, which made the game difficult to enjoy.

Hydlide is a game plagued by awkward controls and a poor frame rate, resulting in choppy movement. While the graphics were somewhat limited by the technology of its time, they haven’t aged well. Despite its historical significance in paving the way for action RPGs, Hydlide’s reputation has declined. It’s a classic best left in the past, as its controls, visuals, and sound design make it difficult for modern players to enjoy.

4. Falling Stars

Released in 2007, *Falling Stars* was an RPG designed for children, intending to offer a complex RPG experience that was still easy for young players to understand. However, the gameplay turned out to be overly simplistic, potentially underestimating the abilities of younger gamers. While the game didn’t get many reviews, its Metacritic score of 32 is among the lowest for any RPG.

The game received poor reviews mainly because the turn-based combat felt uninspired and the characters weren’t very engaging. Instead of making the gameplay better, the included mini-games just added more frustrating tasks. It never became popular, and the reviews explain why – it didn’t appeal even to players who might have been interested.

3. Magus

Released on the PS3 by Black Tower and Aksys Games, *Magus* is widely considered a poor game. Its graphics look outdated, resembling those of the PS2, and the gameplay is filled with frustrating bugs and glitches. Critics gave it a very low Metascore of 32, and player reviews aren’t much more positive.

The only good thing about *Magus* is that it’s short and doesn’t overstay its welcome. While a few players have found some enjoyment in it, most agree that the game’s clunky mechanics and truly awful dialogue make it one of the worst RPGs ever created. Even the box art is uninspired, adding to the game’s overall poor reputation.

2. Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars

Released in 2007, this fantasy role-playing game unfortunately holds the record for the lowest Metacritic score of any RPG. With a score of just 25, its intended release on the Wii was cancelled, probably because of how poorly it was received on PC. Unlike many other forgotten games, you can still purchase it on Steam for less than a dollar if you’re curious enough to try it.

Call for Heroes unfortunately doesn’t deliver on what makes a good role-playing game. It was full of bugs, featured uninspired level design, and had combat that was overly complex and confusing. The story and conversations weren’t very engaging either, making the frustrating gameplay even harder to enjoy. As a result of negative reviews and poor sales, the game has largely been overlooked.

1. The Legend of Alon D’Ar

Both critics and players often mention this game when discussing the worst RPGs ever made. *The Legend of Alon D’Ar* will be remembered, unfortunately, for all the wrong reasons. While a few fans exist, it’s mostly known for being a frustrating and unenjoyable experience. It was originally released in 2001.

With a Metacritic score of 45, *The Legend of Alon D’Ar* is considered a poorly-made game, largely due to uninspired quests and dull fighting. It also suffers from common issues like awkward camera angles and clunky controls. Even for its time on the PlayStation 2, the graphics weren’t impressive, and the story doesn’t help matters. Interestingly, the game was developed by Stormfront Studios, who would later create successful RPGs such as *Neverwinter Nights* and *The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers*, making this early title a clear misstep in their history.

So, have you ever stumbled across any RPGs that were just… terrible? I’m curious to hear about them! Let’s chat about the worst ones we’ve played over in the ComicBook Forum – come share your experiences!

https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/best-rpg-games-for-dungeons-dragons-fans/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-14 22:14