The 10 Biggest AAA Game Flops of the Last Decade

AAA games promise top-tier experiences with massive budgets and high expectations. But sometimes, even the biggest studios deliver titles that crash and burn, leaving players frustrated and disappointed.

From broken launches to uninspired gameplay, I’ve rounded up ten AAA games from the last decade that missed the mark. These are the releases that had all the resources but failed to deliver the fun.

Fast & Furious Crossroads (2020)

This game aimed to capture the high-octane thrill of the ‘Fast & Furious’ franchise but stumbled hard. Its visuals looked dated, with clunky car models and bland environments that failed to evoke the series’ cinematic flair.

Gameplay was equally rough, with awkward driving mechanics and missions that felt repetitive and shallow. Despite the star power of Vin Diesel’s voice, the story was forgettable, making this a forgettable cash-grab that disappointed fans of the films.

Umbrella Corps (2016)

‘Umbrella Corps’ tried to spin the ‘Resident Evil’ universe into a competitive shooter, but the result was a mess. The game’s controls were sluggish, and its maps were small and poorly designed, leading to chaotic, unsatisfying matches.

It also lacked the horror atmosphere fans loved, feeling like a generic shooter with a tacked-on ‘Resident Evil’ label. With minimal content and a lack of polish, it quickly faded into obscurity, leaving players confused by its existence.

WWE 2K20 (2019)

‘WWE 2K20’ was a disaster for wrestling fans, plagued by glitches that ranged from hilarious to game-breaking. Character models would warp, animations would fail, and matches often felt like a glitchy fever dream.

The gameplay took a step back from its predecessors, with clunky controls and a lack of new features. Fans expected a polished experience, but this release felt rushed, tarnishing the series’ reputation until later entries recovered.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite (2017)

‘Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite’ had the potential to be a fighting game gem but fell flat. Its roster was smaller than past entries, missing fan-favorite characters like the X-Men, which frustrated longtime players.

The visuals were a letdown, with stiff animations and a forgettable story mode that failed to capture the crossover magic. Despite some solid mechanics, it couldn’t live up to the legacy of its predecessors, fading quickly from the spotlight.

Mass Effect: Andromeda (2017)

‘Mass Effect: Andromeda’ promised a new chapter in the beloved sci-fi series but launched with technical issues that became infamous. Facial animations were stiff and unnatural, earning memes across the internet.

The story and characters felt bland compared to the original trilogy, and exploration was bogged down by repetitive tasks. While patches improved it, the damage was done, and the game never recaptured the series’ former glory.

Anthem (2019)

‘Anthem’ was BioWare’s ambitious attempt at a live-service shooter, but it launched with a hollow world and repetitive missions. The flying mechanics were fun, but they couldn’t save the game from its lack of meaningful content.

Technical issues, like long loading screens and bugs, frustrated players further. Despite its gorgeous visuals, ‘Anthem’ failed to deliver a cohesive experience, and its servers were eventually shut down, marking it a costly misstep.

Battlefield 2042 (2021)

‘Battlefield 2042’ aimed to revolutionize the series with massive battles but launched in a broken state. Maps felt empty and unbalanced, while missing features like a proper scoreboard angered fans of earlier titles.

Bugs and performance issues made gameplay feel unpolished, and the shift to specialists over traditional classes alienated many. Though updates helped, the launch left a sour taste, making it a low point for the franchise.

Redfall (2023)

‘Redfall’ was hyped as Arkane’s next big hit, blending vampire horror with co-op shooting. Instead, it launched with clunky AI, barren open worlds, and a lack of the immersive storytelling Arkane is known for.

The game felt like an unfinished alpha, with repetitive missions and technical hiccups. Even after patches, it couldn’t shake the disappointment, leaving fans wondering how such a talented studio could miss so badly.

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 (2015)

‘Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5’ was meant to revive the iconic skating series but instead buried it. The game was riddled with bugs, from broken physics to crashes that made it nearly unplayable at launch.

Levels were uninspired, and controls felt stiff, stripping away the fluid fun of earlier entries. It was a sad low point for a beloved franchise, with fans turning to the later remasters for redemption.

Skull and Bones (2024)

‘Skull and Bones’ spent years in development, promising a pirate epic inspired by ‘Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag.’ When it finally arrived, it delivered repetitive ship battles and a shallow progression system that bored players quickly.

The live-service model felt forced, with a world lacking depth or personality. After countless delays and reboots, it failed to capture the swashbuckling magic fans hoped for, sinking under its own weight.

Which AAA game flop disappointed you the most, or did I miss one that deserves a spot? Drop your thoughts in the comments!