10 Worst Video Games Of 2020 (According To Metacritic) - Screen Rant

With the year coming to a close, many gaming fans are reflecting on the best games of 2020. While some titles have enjoyed top scores, like Persona 5 Royal and The Last of Us Past 2, there have also been both AAA and indie games that have flopped with fans and critics, and these have found themselves at the bottom of the pile, according to Metacritic.

The best and worst games of Metacritic's year are determined by ratings amassed from January 1 to December 31 across all platforms. Hades ranked twice in the top 10 for the year, both on PC and Nintendo Switch, for overall success on both platforms. Indie games have a more difficult time making top ranks, as their developers are often less known, so they have more to prove against established developers and popular game series. While indie games like Hades and Among Us were able to soar in popularity, there are just as many that scored painfully low.

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There are many factors that can cause a game to score poorly with both fans and reviewers. Titles that fail to deliver a coherent story, have poor gameplay mechanics, or lack anything unique to stand out against other games tend to fall to the wayside. It's hard for anyone to enjoy playing a game riddled with glitches and bugs or with controls so broken players can't enjoy the experience. Below is the list, according to Metacritic, of 2020's worst games of the year.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #10 Elder Scrolls Blades (Switch)

Elder Scrolls Blades released for the Nintendo Switch on May 14, giving Bethesda fans a chance to experience another title on the portable platform. However, fans were met with a less-than-amazing port that felt arduous and uninteresting. For players hoping for another Skyrim experience for the Nintendo Switch, this was not it, earning a Metacritic scored of 42 to match the disappointment.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #9 Gleamlight (Switch)

In a time where side-scroller games have been very popular, thanks to titles like Ori and The Blind Forest and others, Gleamlight did anything but shine. Released on August 20 for the Nintendo Switch, Gleamlight failed to capture any of the charm or interest of others in the genre. With a boring storyline and a world devoid of things to do, Gleamlight scored a 42 on Metacritic.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #8 Street Power Soccer (PS4)

There are a good number of sports videos games on the market, which means new titles have to stand out above the crowd. Street Power Soccer for the PS4 managed to grab gamers' attention, but not in a good way. The game sports particularly dated graphics for a title that came out this year, and reviewers found the content boring and not quite worth its $30 price. It scored a 41 on Metacritic.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #7 Tamarin (PS4)

Tamarin is a confusing game. While it looks like it should appeal to children, with its adorable graphics and wide-eyed characters, instead it ends up taking a turn for destruction. Tamarin for the PS4 is rather violent, with bugs carrying assault weapons and a monkey set to murder them. This game could easily be purchased as a family-friendly title, only for its true nature to come out on screen. To top it off, the mechanics are broken, making for frustrating gameplay. This surprisingly violent game earned a 40 on Metacritic.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #6 Remothered: Broken Porcelain (PC)

The horror genre often struggles with games that are very hit or miss. Unfortunately, PC's Remothered: Broken Porcelain was a big miss. The game is marred by bugs and glitches, as well as wonky pacing. The biggest issue is that it just doesn't stand out. In a genre with a large amount of competition, Broken Porcelain failed to do anything to make it memorable for players. Between the lack of originality and the broken gameplay, it scored a 39 on Metacritic.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #5 Arc of Alchemist (Switch)

Arc of Alchemist for the Nintendo Switch brings back the mid-2000s, and not in a good way. With other JRPGs constantly improving their graphics and gameplay, this game fell tragically short. Its 3D models missed the cute style most fans of the genre look for, and its U.I. is clunky and dated, so Arc of Alchemist is just an unfortunate game to look at. Reviewers found its story just as poorly done, and it earned a Metacritic score of 36. With so many other titles to pick from, fans are better off grabbing Persona 5 Royal or Octopath Traveler to fill their adventure needs.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #4 Fast & Furious Crossroads (PC)

Fast & Furious Crossroads for the PC has been harshly judged, both by Metacritic and on Steam, for its empty narrative and genuinely bad controls. The game is an overall bust, with little to hold it up in the racing genre or make it worth buying. What really made this game a letdown for fans, though, is its price tag: On Steam, the base price sits at a hefty $39.99. With controls so bad reviewers found the game only just playable, Fast & Furious Crossroads earned a 34 on Metacritic.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #3 Dawn of Fear (PS4)

Dawn of Fear for the PS4 is exactly what it looks like: another horror game. While the story itself isn't terrible, broken mechanics - both for puzzles and for combat - make playing the game a chore. With nothing to really make it remarkable, Dawn of Fear was drowned by the better titles in the genre, earning itself a 33 on Metacritic.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #2 XIII Remake (Xbox One)

A reimagining of a game from 2003, XIII Remake was so bad that developer Microids issued an apology to those who purchased it. The story deviates badly from the original narrative, and reviewers found it generally unappealing to play. XIII Remake scored a 32 on Metacritic.

Metacritic's Worst Games Of 2020: #1 Tiny Racer (Switch)

Sitting at the very bottom of the barrel for the games of 2020 is Tiny Racer for the Nintendo Switch. This game, which is basically a low-resolution car wreck, allows players to drive tiny cars on a racetrack. The game was called soulless and unfinished by critics, and several reviewers said it was a low point for Nintendo's willingness put anything in the Nintendo eShop. Sitting at a stale 29-point score on Metacritic, Tiny Racer will likely only be remembered for its lack of quality.

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Sources: Metacritic, Steam, Microids

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Laura Gray (150 Articles Published)

Laura Gray is a writer, illustrator and gamer in cozy Boise Idaho. They have had a wild freelance career in being a nerd, spending time traveling as a professional cosplayer and becoming a published illustrator while working the night grind as an IT tech. Laura is currently a content writer for D&D campaigns and Screenrant while working on personal writing projects for publication. They are also busy welcoming their first child into their life, which has been the best adventure life has given yet.