Video game storytelling doesn't have the best reputation. Many view the medium as a vehicle for simple, immature, or simply poorly told stories, whether that's fair judgment or not. Several games, both recent and classic, have challenged these perceptions. Titles like The Last of Us, Disco Elysium, and Red Dead Redemption 2 have shown gaming's potential for storytelling.
However, some titles are willing to live down to the worst expectations of the medium. They tell stories that are juvenile, sloppy, or downright nonsensical. Many poorly written games are shovelware or low-quality titles with no reach. However, even some mainstream, notable games remain infamous for their poor writing.
10 Metroid: Other M
Metroid games thrive on straightforward, effective stories. They don't feature lengthy, cinematic narratives or thematic observations. Instead, they attempt to immerse players in a universe and endear Samus Aran to them as simply as possible. Metroid: Other M tries for a more narrative approach and has been lambasted for it.
Fans and critics consider Metroid: Other M the worst title in the series. It's panned for its unskippable, repetitive cutscenes and clumsy dialogue. However, the worst criticism is for its portrayal of Samus Aran. She becomes a weak, insecure woman in sharp contrast to every other appearance she's made. It feels uncomfortable for many fans and leaves the story completely unpalatable.
9 Bioshock Infinite
Bioshock is beloved for its storytelling. Even though the game's plot is straightforward, everything around it is well-realized. Rapture is a lifelike, compelling game word that reflects the Objectivist philosophy's natural conclusion. Its scant dialogue and central plot twist have become iconic in video game stories. Bioshock Infinite fails to come close to this success.
In the eyes of many, Bioshock Infinite drops the ball on both its world and its themes. Columbia is an interesting premise that raises many questions. However, the game abandons any proper exploration of its setting. Instead, it fumbles a revolutionary message and criticizes the oppressed for rising up. Bioshock Infinite is considered a clumsy mess by fans despite its incredible presentation.
8 Soulcalibur V
The Soulcalibur series doesn't prioritize its storytelling. It's a fighting game most concerned with getting athletic warriors to brawl. However, it has a unique setting, compelling characters, and an enjoyable enough narrative — except in Soulcalibur V. Many consider V to be one of the series' worst games because of its story.
Soulcalibur V sidelines most of the beloved cast to follow new character Patroklos. He quickly alienates fans with his arrogance, cruelty, and zealous nature. Despite this, Soulcalibur V tries to present his quest to save his sister as some epic redemption. It falls completely flat. Patroklos is one of the least popular Soulcalibur characters, and he drags the game's story down with his mere presence.
7 YIIK: A Post-Modern RPG
Few games alienate audiences more than YIIK: A Post-Modern RPG. It's a deliberately strange game that attempts to put a new spin on storytelling in gaming. However, gamers criticize it for doing this with unlikable characters, a nonsensical plot, and heavy-handed themes.
Particular points of critical for YIIK revolve around the character, Alex. The game's creator has said Alex is meant to be dislikable and become more palatable over time. However, most players find Alex intolerable throughout. His constant, melodramatic narration throughout the game's events doesn't help. Additionally, YIIK's inspiration from real-world tragedies has even led some gamers to describe it as disrespectful.
6 Fire Emblem Fates
The Fire Emblem franchise has an inconsistent approach to storytelling. Titles like The Blazing Sword and Engage use simple, trope-heavy stories. Their main storytelling appeal comes from likable characters. Titles like Radiant Dawn, Three Houses, and Genealogy of the Holy War prioritize storytelling. Fire Emblem Fates attempts to do this but doesn't succeed.
Fire Emblem Fates stumbles due to its three-part story. It's told across Birthright, Conquest, and Revelation, despite all three routes being separate, incompatible games. On their own, none of these stories make any sense. However, even the complete narrative faces criticism for plot holes, questionable characterization, and a general lack of polish.
5 Heavy Rain
Quantic Dream games attempt to tell mature, sophisticated stories that set themselves apart from other games' narratives. Most of these prove polarizing. Titles like Beyond Two Souls and Detroit: Become Human divide gamers on their quality. However, few are more contentious than Heavy Rain.
Some applaud Heavy Rain for its emotional weight and thought-provoking themes. However, many gamers pan it for a multitude of plot holes, some of which remain completely unexplainable in the game's narrative. Heavy Rain also breaks many unwritten rules of mystery storytelling. In particular, the reveals around Scott Shelby prevent the player from figuring out any of the game by themselves.
4 Twelve Minutes
Twelve Minutes attempts to be an emotional, cinematic experience. It even casts big-name actors like James McAvoy and Daisy Ridley to lend weight to its narrative. However, most gamers have found its story exploitative and objectionable rather than thought-provoking and hard-hitting.
Twelve Minutes revolves around a time loop. Every twelve minutes, a homicidal police officer attacks a man and his wife. However, many iterations of this loop reveal that there's far more to the situation. However, reviewers and gamers agree that elements like domestic abuse and incest feel thrown in for shock effect rather than explored in a mature or compelling fashion.
3 Duke Nukem Forever
A popular conception of video games is that they're puerile and immature. Many games refute this point of view. However, Duke Nukem Forever revels in it. Duke Nukem's central concept as a character is that he's overly macho, callous, and obnoxious. However, Duke Nukem Forever fails to do anything with this besides throw it in the player's face repeatedly.
Duke Nukem Forever could have been an effective satire of toxic masculinity and action movie heroes. However, it straddles the line between glorification and indecisive parody. Even outside of Duke, the plot has been criticized as basic, unoriginal, and full of moments in extremely bad taste.
2 Sonic The Hedgehog (2006)
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006)'s story faces criticism on many fronts. Fans and critics alike point to its attempts to take a family-friendly franchise in such a dark direction as an odd choice. Even when they accept the choice, many think the game fumbles its attempts to be more mature.
Sonic the Hedgehog (2006) has been panned for its writing, delivery, and plot. One of its most contentious aspects is the character of Princess Elise and her relationship with Sonic. Even with the hedgehog's humanlike traits, a central romance between a human and an animal is too much for many to bear.
1 Ride To Hell: Retribution
Ride to Hell: Retribution isn't just infamous for its narrative. It's a common candidate for one of the worst video games ever made. However, its storytelling is one of the most prominent criticisms it faces. Ride to Hell: Retribution embodies some of the worst instincts of video game writing.
On the most basic level, Ride to Hell: Retribution suffers from an incoherent plot and poor dialogue. However, many criticize it for far deeper problems. In particular, its story drips with misogyny in its portrayal of every single female character. Several critics consider it a standout example of poor writing in gaming.