Memes are one of the universal languages in the realm of gaming. Whether it's a clip from a movie, a still image, or an animated GIF, people from various cultural backgrounds and age demographics can understand them. However, just because something is purchased derisively doesn't mean that that dollar is of lesser value.
While Sony got catfished with the numerous Morbius film memes, several companies have capitalized on their un-intended reactions. With the help of numerous comical videos, images, and tweets, some titles have acquired a new life and a new fanbase through self-deprecation and irony.
10 Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 Showed Players Where Their Curly Mustache At
One of the few examples in which memes and internet jokes led to a quality title, Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 was the fighting game crossover that many fans had thought they would never see. The second title in the series was a mainstay of fighting game tournaments and conventions such as EVO.
One such tournament became an internet sensation thanks to the smack talk of Michael "IFC Yipes" Mendoza. Clips of the Seasons Beatings II fighting game tournament went viral due to quotes such as "Where yo curly mustache at?" Deadpool would even pay homage to Mendoza in one of his victory quotes for MVC3.
9 Duke Nukem Forever Didn't Exactly Make Players Hail The King
Following the release of Duke's jump into 3D, the character's various one-liners were used to prank people using the VolP Software known as Ventrilo. Video compilations of these interactions were known as Ventrilo Harassment. During this time, 3D Realms led a very protracted development of a sequel to Duke Nukem 3D that wound up taking 12 years.
Had it not been for the intervention of Gearbox Software, the title may not have seen the light of day. But unfortunately, the final product didn't even come close to living up to the hype with its cringe-worthy cultural references, outdated mechanics, and misogynistic humor.
8 Sony Fell For The Morbius Gambit Years Ago With Knack 2
Knack was one of the marquee titles for the PlayStation 4. Despite being flaunted as a demonstration of the console's mighty new hardware, the final product fell well short of expectations. Knack gained another life thanks to Dunkey's reoccurring joke of placing the game at the top of his Game of the Year lists. Sony apparently wasn't in on the gag and commissioned a follow-up in 2017.
Unfortunately, while Knack 2 made several changes to its gameplay and difficulty in order to shake its reputation as a mere meme, they just weren't enough to overcome the game's dull character, monotonous combat, and underwhelming narrative.
7 Deltarune Fills Undertale Fans With Determination
Toby Fox's Undertale became an overnight sensation following its initial 2015 release. Critics and gamers became enamored with the game's characters, dialogue, soundtrack, and its eclectic blending of JRPG gameplay with several other genres such as bullet hell shooters and platformers. It wasn't long before characters like Sans and Mettaton appeared in numerous memes, videos, and GIFs.
A live band even performed the track Megalovania for the Pope in 2022. With a following like this, it was only a matter of when and not if Fox would release a follow-up to Undertale. Deltarune is an episodic spiritual successor receiving its fair share of praise and memes.
6 Shenmue III Provided New Meme Material And Not Much Else
The first two Shenmue titles are considered the first bold steps toward open-world sandbox titles, but fans and critics laughed at many aspects. After years of videos poking fun at Ryu's search for sailors, his forklift, and the game's dubious vocal performances, a third entry was finally announced at E3 of 2015.
Or, more accurately, a crowdfunding campaign for the third installment. Those who waited literal decades for a satisfying conclusion to Ryu's quest were in for a massive, crushing disappointment. However, it was an oasis in a desert for those who had enjoyed the jank of the previous games.
5 After Two Decades, Players Could Have Battletoads Once And For All
Rare attempted to capitalize on the trend of crime-fighting animals such as the TMNT with their beat 'em up hybrid Battletoads titles. On the internet, the toads gained notoriety for a series of crank calls where pranksters asked Rick Harrison of Pawn Stars, "Do you have Battletoads?"
Critics were polarized on the toads' 2020 return to the gaming scene, with some admiring its blending of different genres and design changes from the original games while others lambasted its attempts at self-aware humor and idiosyncratic structure. Yahtzee Croshaw went as far as to deem the title the 3rd worst game of that year.
4 The Typing Of The Dead Showed There's No Kill Like Overkill
The House of the Dead titles proved sidesplitting thanks to their unintentionally hilarious vocal performances, but Typing of the Dead took the franchise's silliness and cranked it up to 11. In addition, players were armed with keyboards that would allow their WPMs to put these beasts back in their graves.
While the game wasn't a commercial success, it gained fame through various Let's Play-style segments from shows such as Game Grumps. House of the Dead Overkill took the series into a Grindhouse direction with a 70s film presentation and gleefully profane dialogue. Typing of the Dead Overkill combined these two titles like peanut butter and chocolate.
3 Yo Noid! II Is A Fan Sequel Fans Won't Want To Avoid
The Noid was a mascot for Domino's Pizza that represented the obstacles that the company's delivery people could avoid in order to deliver within 30 minutes. When Capcom localized Kamen no Ninja Hanamaru to the States, they made several alterations.
The game was retitled Yo! Noid and released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990. Despite being retired in 1995, the character and his 8-bit tie-in game were constantly lampooned in several shows and internet jokes. In 2017, an indie team led by Dustin Bragg made an unofficial sequel that aped the look and feel of 32-bit platform titles on the PlayStation.
2 Bubsy's Nine Lives Were Squandered On Yet Another Sub-par Title
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Whatever goodwill the bobcat may have gained from his first two numerical titles was absolutely eviscerated with his leap into the third dimension. Years after Bubsy seemingly exhausted the last of his nine lives, Black Forest Games announced a 2D platforming follow-up known as The Woolies Strike Back.
This revelation provoked confusion and even outright hostility from gamers and the press alike. Of course, it didn't help that the bobcat chose to return in a year that also saw the release of far superior platforming throwbacks such as Sonic Mania, Crash Bandicoot N Sane Trilogy, and Super Mario Odyssey.
1 Shaq Fu A Legend Reborn Is A Shaq Attack To Several Senses
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Developed by Delphine Software, Shaq Fu deviated heavily from the French studio's resume of narrative-heavy graphic adventures to a one-on-one fighting game. While the game retained the same quality of animation of their resume, it came at the cost of playability, making for a very frustrating fighter. In addition, the game's premise of pitting NBA star Shaquille O'Neal against a bunch of fantasy fighters was widely panned by critics.