On Xbox, there have been numerous standout games that are hard to forget. However, it’s important to note that not every game has been a success. Sometimes, a game falls short of expectations, and in other cases, the failure is so significant that it either halts the development of future series or tarnishes the reputation of an already established one. It’s inevitable that there will be both hits and misses. Xbox is home to popular franchises such as Halo and Forza Horizon, but it’s also worth mentioning that it has had its fair share of duds as well.
So, if you’re curious about learning which Xbox franchises are the worst, here are the details.
1) Crackdown
Initially released as a shock victory, the original “Crackdown” stood out due to its expansive open world, a protagonist with super-abilities, the liberty to roam, and an engaging narrative. It successfully offered all these elements in 2007, earning it widespread acclaim. The popularity of “Crackdown” led to a follow-up title, which was also well-received. Reflecting back, however, “Crackdown 2” essentially provided more of the same excellent gameplay, but failed to reach the greatness of its predecessor.
Personally, I was truly excited for the franchise with the upcoming release of Crackdown 3. The anticipation built as we were promised dynamic, destructible environments and a plethora of unforgettable missions in an expansive open world. However, things took a turn for the worse when delays started cropping up, dampening my enthusiasm for the game.
Upon its release, it was evident that the destructible environments in Crackdown 3 were quite restricted. The game world felt routine, with missions being repetitive. Furthermore, the game seemed unrefined and dull, leading to a generally negative reception for Crackdown 3 on the Xbox One. The franchise has remained stagnant since then, and it’s hard to imagine Crackdown 4 ever making an appearance.
2) Perfect Dark
While Perfect Dark isn’t entirely negative, it ranks among the less favorable Xbox series for enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the franchise has been tainted due to recent occurrences. In the year 2000, Perfect Dark was introduced as a first-person shooter incorporating elements of stealth. Players had the option to blend in with non-player characters (NPCs) undetected, carry out silent takedowns, or escalate into gunfights if desired. Additionally, an engaging alien conspiracy aimed at replacing the President with a clone served as a backdrop to the action.
In 2005, the spin-off sequel titled “Perfect Dark Zero” was released. This game showcased a blend of first-person and third-person viewpoints. The visuals were notably improved and fully utilized the capabilities of the Xbox 360’s hardware. However, the narrative wasn’t particularly compelling, and the gameplay didn’t introduce any fresh elements.
In summary, “Perfect Dark Zero” wasn’t particularly impressive. Later on, it was planned to revive “Perfect Dark,” with a new version announced at The Game Awards in 2024. This remake was expected to be playable on the Xbox Series consoles. Although the gameplay appeared generic, fans were eager to play it. Regrettably, the “Perfect Dark” reboot was cancelled in July 2025, with no explanation provided. Despite this, it’s clear that the cancellation didn’t indicate a more capable management of the “Perfect Dark” franchise by Xbox.
3) Too Human
Initially unveiled in 1999 for PlayStation, the game titled Too Human faced numerous challenges and was often stuck in development limbo. An initial shift to Nintendo’s GameCube occurred, but continued struggles persisted. The game eventually moved to Xbox 360 as an exclusive title, spending nearly a decade in production. Eventually, in 2008, it made its way onto store shelves after such a long wait.
Despite the significant passage of time, upon its release, Too Human appeared somewhat dated. Its graphics were antiquated, and while its gameplay showcased creativity, it grew monotonous as the story unfolded. At launch, the game suffered from various technical issues, and the controls felt awkwardly unintuitive. To add to this, the abrupt ending of the story left a sour taste after an otherwise immersive experience. Regrettably, Too Human was not a well-received title, yet it still wasn’t the most dismal offering in gaming history.
After its debut, my favorite game, “Too Human,” found itself embroiled in a legal battle with Epic Games, orchestrated by its developer, Silicon Knights. The court’s decision compelled Silicon Knights to scrap all their Unreal Engine 3 projects, including “Too Human.” As a result, the game vanished from shelves. Sadly, Silicon Knights filed for bankruptcy in 2014, which unfortunately nixed two potential sequels. Playing “Too Human” was an eye-opener about the hardships that can beset the gaming world and undeniably stands as one of the most unfortunate Xbox series in the platform’s chronicle.
4) Dead Rising
The Dead Rising series, consisting of four games, unfortunately seems to decline in quality as you advance through them. The initial Dead Rising for Xbox 360 was a standout title due to its expansive shopping mall setting that served as an open world. Overrun by hordes of zombies, the game offered a variety of weapons like planks, bowling balls, and bicycles to eliminate these brain-eaters. Dead Rising 2 continued the trend of chaos with more of the same engaging gameplay, although it didn’t significantly surpass the first game in terms of improvements, it still maintained the same level of enjoyment.
In a nutshell, Dead Rising 3 signified a dip in the franchise’s quality, as its storyline and environment weren’t as captivating compared to previous installments. The game encountered more technical glitches at launch than usual, and it leaned excessively on its wacky arsenal of weapons to maintain an enjoyable experience. Overall, Dead Rising 3 offered a blend of positive and negative aspects.
In a somewhat different yet understandable manner, let me rephrase the given text:
The game Dead Rising 4 marked a low point for the franchise, as it delivered generic gameplay, focusing on the idea that “bigger is better.” The enemy designs were underwhelming, and there weren’t many standout moments or characters to remember. The protagonist, Frank West, appeared in Dead Rising 4, but his character, humor, and voice actor all changed dramatically compared to previous games, which fans found disappointing. It seems that the developers intended to increase sales for the Xbox One with both Dead Rising 3 and 4. Regrettably, these installments were weaker than their predecessors, ultimately earning a reputation as some of the worst Xbox franchises ever created.
5) Crimson Dragon
An oversight on Microsoft’s part was releasing the game titled “Crimson Dragon” for the Xbox One.
The tale in Crimson Dragon was average, the gameplay was similarly so, and while the graphics were serviceable, they felt outdated. Neither Crimson Dragon nor its mobile counterpart, Crimson Dragon: Side Story, offered anything particularly exceptional. In fact, Critics often rank Crimson Dragon among the least impressive Xbox series due to design decisions. Unfortunately, this game, which initially cost $20, heavily relied on microtransactions, making it a less appealing choice for many gamers.
The game’s advancement structure and map design encouraged players to shell out excessive amounts of in-game money. As previously mentioned, Crimson Dragon was merely an average game within the rail shooter genre, offering no significant innovations. However, if microtransactions had not been present, Crimson Dragon may have garnered a modest following. Unfortunately, with these transactions in place, it faced justified criticism.
6) State of Decay
The original “State of Decay” game did an exceptional job capturing the essence of survival with its expansive open world, scarce resources, and intense zombie threat. Although it lacked cooperative multiplayer, it provided an enjoyable experience overall. In 2018, “State of Decap 2” addressed that issue by introducing multiplayer but unfortunately took a few steps backward in other aspects as well.
The sequel to State of Decay, titled State of Decay 2, faced criticism for its subpar writing and lackluster tension in the setting. To add to this, the game was plagued with numerous technical glitches that took a long time to resolve. This led to mixed reviews and a rapid decrease in its player base. Although there are some positive aspects, it’s challenging to defend State of Decay from being labeled as one of the worst Xbox franchises. Two years later, in 2020, a third installment was announced, but its release is yet to happen. Given Microsoft’s recent layoffs, there’s a possibility that State of Decay 3 may never be launched.
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2025-08-20 00:41