We generally like to spend our energy here bringing your attention to deserving projects, but even we feel the sting of letdown from time to time. Our Most Disappointing Game of the Year 2021 selections represent the real bummers of the year, failing to meet our expectations more than any others.
These awards represent the consensus of the Siliconera staff. For more of the year’s award selections, check out our Game of the Year 2021 archive.
Winner: Balan Wonderworld
Even if your expectations for Balan Wonderworld weren’t high, it still failed to meet them. Yuji Naka’s return to platforming was half-baked, glitchy and incoherent. It was also actively hostile to the player, with abilities that were literally out of your control. There are dozens of reasons that the game became a punchline! And it’s a shame for a project that could have been a quirky adventure on the level of Billy Hatcher or Nights into Dreams. It’s more than deserving of this year’s Most Disappointing Game “honor.”
Danganronpa S: Ultimate Summer Camp
When a developer expands a minigame into a full paid title of its own? You’re right to expect more out of it. Instead, Danganronpa S downgrades the V3 board game into a tedious slog. Oh, and it adds real-money purchases for some reason? The new element of the Decadence collection is nothing but a waste.
Disgaea 6: Defiance of Destiny
It’s always tough to make a sequel in a franchise famous for games that never end. Still, Disgaea is clearly running out of ideas. Defiance of Destiny is bland in both gameplay and story, and its move to 3D just didn’t add very much. We’d love to see some course correction for the series’ next entry.
What was your most disappointing game of 2021? Let us know in the comments! And stay tuned for more of Siliconera’s GotY 2021 awards.
