10 "WTF Did I Just Pay For?!" Video Games

Gollum wasn't a game anyone asked for, but plenty still thought it could be fun, as the Lord of the Rings IP is one folks expect a lot from. But then, it arrived (after 18 months of delays), and oh boy, people were more disappointed than Denethor at Faramir's birthday party.

This game is about as clean and polished as Gollum himself, with so many glaring flaws it's almost unplayable. The dreadful user interface and countless glitches are abysmal, making the game appear entirely unfinished despite releasing over a year later than promised.

Not only is the game buggy and broken but it's also, simply put, boring. There's little to do, the gameplay isn't fun, the narrative is subpar at best, and the visuals are blander than porridge.

Unfortunately, IGN reported that Daedalic and Nacon (the developer and publisher) had mistreated their staff, enforcing unpaid overtime, paying below minimum wage, and creating a toxic work environment. So, if you want to point the finger at someone, do it at them.

Still, in at least one turn of good luck for Lord of the Rings: Gollum, there is another game that seems to have beaten it to the title of 2023's worst game...