When talking about the lowest quality games, Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing (2003) is a legendary example. Released as a racing game, it quickly gained notoriety for being one of the worst titles ever to hit the shelves. What makes this game stand out, even more, is how it’s almost entertaining in its brokenness.
Gameplay Issues: In Big Rigs, the AI never works – meaning your opponent never moves, making every race an automatic win. In fact, you can even drive through obstacles and structures with no consequence. There’s no collision detection, no challenge, and no penalty.
Graphics and Design: The game had outdated and poorly designed graphics for its time. The worst offender was the game’s infamous bug where your truck could reverse at infinite speed without limit, and when you crossed the finish line, the infamous “YOU’RE WINNER!” message appeared, solidifying its reputation.
Despite all its flaws, Big Rigs has managed to cultivate a cult following because of how unapologetically broken it is. Gamers find themselves playing it just to experience the sheer absurdity.
Superman 64 – A Hero Falls Short
Superman 64 (1999) is widely considered one of the most poorly executed games based on a major superhero. Released for the Nintendo 64, this game was intended to let players experience the thrill of being Superman, but instead, it turned out to be a tedious mess.
Gameplay Problems: Most of the game consists of flying Superman through rings in a time trial format. What should have been action-packed sequences of battling enemies or saving civilians was reduced to a frustrating ring-flying simulator.
Control Issues: The controls were a nightmare, making the simple act of flying clumsy and difficult. The camera angles were also disorienting, adding to the frustration. Combat felt like an afterthought, with sluggish mechanics and a lack of enemy variety.
Despite its shortcomings, Superman 64 holds a place in gaming history as a prime example of how licensed games can go wrong. Yet, its status as an infamous failure has made it oddly memorable.
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – The Game That Buried a Console
No discussion of low-quality games is complete without mentioning E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) for the Atari 2600. This game was rushed to market to coincide with the movie release and ended up becoming one of the biggest commercial failures in video game history.
Uninspiring Gameplay: Players took on the role of E.T. as he attempted to gather parts for a phone to “call home.” The objectives were confusing, and the repetitive tasks of falling into pits and levitating out became extremely monotonous.
The Downfall of Atari: The game’s failure is often credited with contributing to the video game industry crash of 1983. So many unsold cartridges existed that, according to legend, they were buried in a landfill in New Mexico – a story that was proven true when the cartridges were excavated in 2014.
While the game is remembered as one of the worst, it still has a certain nostalgic charm for some who remember it as part of the early days of gaming.
Shaq Fu – When Basketball Players Try Martial Arts
Shaq Fu (1994) is another title that is beloved despite being widely regarded as a bad game. Starring the famous basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, the game attempted to blend basketball stardom with martial arts fighting – with bizarre results.
Odd Storyline: The plot involves Shaq being transported to another dimension to battle mystical enemies in a martial arts tournament. The concept was confusing and didn’t align with Shaq’s basketball image, making it seem like a forced attempt to capitalize on his fame.
Poor Combat Mechanics: The gameplay was unbalanced, with clunky controls and dull combat sequences. The characters were forgettable, and the fighting moves were repetitive. Shaq’s involvement in the game couldn’t save it from its many flaws.
Despite its low quality, Shaq Fu is remembered with a kind of ironic affection. Its weird premise and tie-in to a larger-than-life celebrity make it a nostalgic favorite for some gamers.
Ride to Hell: Retribution – A Biker’s Worst Nightmare
Released in 2013, Ride to Hell: Retribution is widely regarded as one of the most broken, poorly designed games ever made. It was intended to be an open-world game that explored the rough and tumble life of a biker gang, but it failed miserably on almost every front.
Unpolished Gameplay: The game had an abundance of glitches, horrendous AI, and a story that was disjointed and filled with poorly written dialogue. The combat mechanics were sluggish and repetitive, making even basic tasks in the game frustrating.
Cringe-Worthy Cutscenes: Ride to Hell also became infamous for its awkward, borderline offensive cutscenes. What should have been gritty biker action ended up feeling like a half-hearted attempt to push the boundaries in the worst possible way.
While it’s almost universally hated, Ride to Hell: Retribution has developed a reputation among bad game aficionados for being so bad that it’s laughable.
Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties – The Awkward “Adult” Game
One of the strangest low-quality games to gain a cult following is Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties (1993). This obscure title was released for the 3DO console and is more of an interactive slideshow than a traditional game.
Confusing Format: The “game” is essentially a series of still images with text and voice-over narration, purporting to tell a romantic comedy story. There are hardly any real gameplay mechanics, and the plot is nonsensical, jumping from one bizarre scene to the next.
Adult Themes: The game awkwardly incorporates adult humor and romantic situations in a way that feels forced and uncomfortable. It’s remembered mostly for how absurd and out-of-place it was, given its presentation and format.
Despite being a mess of a game, Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties has garnered a bizarre fandom. Gamers love to poke fun at its absurdity and question how it ever got released.
These games, while low in quality, have managed to leave a mark on gaming culture. Some are beloved because of their flaws, while others are remembered more for their catastrophic failure than any redeeming qualities. Still, they continue to serve as a reminder that not every gaming experience needs to be perfect to be memorable.
