It’s surprising, but some games become huge commercial successes even when they launch with problems and receive negative reviews. Despite issues like glitches, frustrating gameplay, or aggressive in-game purchases, strong marketing, recognizable brands, and good timing can often lead to record sales and large player bases. Here’s a look at twenty games that received a lot of criticism but still performed very well financially.
‘Cyberpunk 2077’
Despite launching with significant technical issues across all platforms, this role-playing game was a huge commercial success, breaking preorder records and selling incredibly well on its first day. It quickly became one of the best-selling PC games ever released, consistently topping digital sales charts. Even after reports of refunds surfaced, physical copies continued to sell briskly. Regular updates and new content kept players engaged and fueled continued strong sales.
‘No Man’s Sky’
When this space exploration game first came out, many reviewers pointed out that it was lacking some features and the gameplay could get repetitive. However, despite these criticisms, it still sold very well, ranking high on sales charts. A good marketing campaign and an interesting idea created a lot of initial excitement on both computers and consoles. Over several years, the developers released many free updates, which gradually improved the game’s reputation and brought players back. This continued support kept the game popular and profitable for a long time, even after its difficult launch.
‘Pokémon Scarlet and Violet’
Despite some technical difficulties and performance issues, these games achieved record-breaking sales in many areas. A strong brand reputation and new gameplay features, including a more open world design, attracted both new and dedicated players. Sales figures, both in stores and online, showed a quick and enthusiastic response to the launch. Continued support through updates and special events helped maintain player interest.
‘Diablo Immortal’
Despite criticism of its in-app purchases, this mobile action RPG earned a lot of money. Its well-known brand and worldwide launch attracted a large player base, and regular updates and events kept players spending money consistently across different countries. The game consistently ranked high in terms of revenue on mobile app stores.
‘Fallout 76’
Despite launching with some technical issues and missing content, a popular game series successfully transitioned online and quickly sold millions of copies. Its established reputation and strong pre-order numbers contributed to its initial success. The developers continued to improve the game with frequent updates, added free content, and special events, which kept players engaged. Offering discounted packages and linking the game to subscription services further boosted its long-term sales.
‘Star Wars Battlefront II’
When the game first launched, there was a lot of debate about loot boxes, but strong brand recognition helped it sell well. It quickly became a top seller in many countries. The publisher listened to feedback and removed the most disliked features, later improving how players advance. Regular updates and connections to the popular film series kept players interested and coming back for more.
‘Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition’
The release of this collection wasn’t without its issues – many players reported technical problems. However, it quickly became popular, climbing the digital sales charts. The timeless appeal of the included classic games attracted both longtime fans and new players. The publisher responded by releasing updates to fix performance and graphical glitches. Even with the criticism, the collection continued to be prominently featured in online stores.
‘Call of Duty: Ghosts’
Despite being considered one of the less popular games in the series, this shooter was still the best-selling game of its release year. Its success was driven by the franchise’s strong online multiplayer community and the fact that it was available on both older and newer gaming consoles. A big marketing push and support for competitive gaming helped maintain player interest, while downloadable content and map packs continued to generate revenue long after the game initially launched.
‘Assassin’s Creed Unity’
Despite a rocky launch with some technical problems on new consoles, the game still performed well commercially, benefiting from the popularity of previous installments. Strong pre-order numbers were driven by the appealing Paris setting and marketing for the latest gaming technology. Post-launch, the developers fixed performance issues with free updates and patches. Sales continued steadily through game bundles and discounts.
‘SimCity’
Despite a bumpy start due to the need for a constant internet connection and some server issues, the game sold very well at launch. Many fans had been eagerly awaiting a new installment after a long hiatus, and the game’s established reputation helped drive those sales. The publisher responded to early problems by increasing server capacity and later adding an offline play option. Continued support with new content and updates kept the game popular with players who enjoy building cities.
‘Aliens: Colonial Marines’
Even though critics didn’t love it, this video game, based on a popular movie, sold well thanks to a lot of pre-orders and prominent placement in stores. Familiarity with the movie and early advertising generated excitement before reviews came out. Sales were further boosted by package deals and discounts after the game launched, and it consistently appeared on sales charts in its first few weeks.
‘Duke Nukem Forever’
Despite taking many years to develop, the game launched to negative reviews, but surprisingly sold very well at first. Strong initial sales were driven by people wanting to try it out and those with fond memories of similar games. Special offers and limited collector’s editions also boosted early profits. While interest waned after the first few weeks, the strong start was enough to make the game a commercial success.
‘Mass Effect Andromeda’
The game received mixed reactions from critics due to problems with character animations and a somewhat inconsistent story, but it still sold a lot of copies when it first came out. The popularity of the previous three games resulted in a large number of preorders and a busy launch. Updates fixed many technical issues, and downloadable content kept players engaged for longer. Despite changes to future plans, the game remained successful for the publisher.
‘Anthem’
Despite launching with some technical issues and a limited amount of end-game content, this online shooting game quickly became a bestseller in many regions. Strong marketing and positive early previews generated a lot of interest. The developers released frequent small updates and events to keep players engaged in the months following launch. Although plans for ongoing support later shifted, the game had a very successful start in terms of sales.
‘Sonic the Hedgehog’
Look, this game had a rough launch, let me tell you. It was notorious for being full of bugs, but somehow it still sold over a million copies! I think a lot of that was just because everyone knew the character, and it was on pretty much every platform. They really pushed it in stores too, and eventually dropped the price, which kept fans like me coming back. Honestly, it’s become a bit of a case study – a good example of how a strong brand can help a game recover from a really shaky start.
‘Battlefield 2042’
Despite initial criticism about its focus on ongoing updates and missing content, the game still sold very well at launch. Its popularity stemmed from a large existing player base and marketing that highlighted epic battles. Regular, substantial updates and redesigned maps helped maintain a steady player base, while sales and subscription options kept the game relevant and available.
‘Resident Evil 6’
Reviews were mixed regarding the game’s new approach, but strong brand recognition drove impressive sales worldwide. Successful marketing campaigns and features tailored to different areas and player groups broadened its appeal. The game remained popular for a long time thanks to releases on updated systems, and related merchandise and franchise tie-ins kept players engaged.
‘Warcraft III: Reforged’
Despite some initial criticism regarding missing features and technical issues, this remastered game still sold very well, largely thanks to a wave of nostalgia. Many returning players were drawn back by the game’s history of community-created modifications and custom maps. Subsequent updates fixed stability problems and improved the game’s visuals. The game’s well-known brand name helped drive strong sales right away.
‘Madden NFL 21’
Despite typical yearly issues and glitches, this sports game remained the top-selling sports title in its release cycle. Its official league license and the popular Ultimate Team feature provided consistent revenue. Offering upgrades for new gaming consoles encouraged players to buy the game during console transitions. Regular roster updates and live in-game events kept players engaged throughout the year.
‘Overwatch 2’
The game faced some initial criticism due to changes in how content was organized and some technical problems, but it quickly became very popular with a large number of players. Offering the game for free on multiple platforms helped attract a wider audience. Regular updates like battle passes and special events kept players engaged and brought in consistent revenue. A thriving competitive community and appealing cosmetic items also helped maintain the game’s visibility, even after the initial negative reactions.
Share which other messy launches you remember selling like crazy in the comments.
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2025-10-31 16:18