While the year 2023 has undoubtedly brought us remarkable video game experiences, it has also seen its fair share of disappointments and underwhelming releases that have left both critics and players dissatisfied.
For every chart-topping success like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, there are unfortunate instances where games have fallen short of expectations, even with notable developers behind them. Now, it’s time to shed light on the worst-rated games of 2023, at least for the first half of the year, as determined by Metacritic.
Ranking the Flops
We present to you a comprehensive ranking of the games that received the least critical acclaim. In the case of multiplatform games, we have considered the version with the lowest ratings. Additionally, we have included only those titles that failed to meet the mark, with a maximum average score of 60.
Here are the worst games of 2023 so far:
- The Lord of the Rings – Gollum (PS5) – Metascore: 34
- Greyhill Incident (PC) – Metascore: 37
- Loop8: Summer of Gods (PS4) – Metascore: 47
- Clive ‘N’ Wrench (Switch) – Metascore: 50
- Crime Boss: Rockay City (PC) – Metascore: 52
- Redfall (PC) – Metascore: 53
- The Last Worker (PC) – Metascore: 53
- Ravenbound (PC) – Metascore: 54
- Colossal Cave (PC) – Metascore: 54
- Nadir: A Grimdark Deck Builder (Switch) – Metascore: 55
- Blood Bowl III (PS5) – Metascore: 56
- Wanted: Dead (PS5) – Metascore: 57
- Death or Treat (PS5) – Metascore: 57
- Farming Simulator 23 (Switch) – Metascore: 57
- The Settler: New Allies (PC) – Metascore: 57
- God of Rock (Xbox Series X) – Metascore: 58
- The Last Case of Benedict Fox (PC) – Metascore: 58
- The Last of Us Part I (PC) – Metascore: 59
- Stray Blade (PC) – Metascore: 60
- Curse of the Sea Rats (PC) – Metascore: 60
- The Clear Leader: The Lord of the Rings – Gollum (PS5)
Unsurprisingly, the PS5 edition of The Lord of the Rings – Gollum currently claims the title of the worst game of 2023. Its launch was so disastrous that it even led to Daedalic Entertainment quitting video game development. This high-profile disappointment stands out among the other titles on the list.
Other Notable Flops
Among the notable failures, Crime Boss: Rockay City deserves mention. Despite its ambitious concept and star-studded cast, it fell short due to various shortcomings. Additionally, the PC version of The Last of Us Part I received significant criticism for its unacceptable launch state. Moreover, Redfall, the highly anticipated Xbox Series X exclusive with an 80 euro price tag, has failed to live up to expectations.
As the year progresses, it will be interesting to see how this “flop 20” evolves and if any other titles can challenge Gollum’s dubious honor.
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