10 Great Video Games That Are Ugly On Purpose

For all the flak it received for its brutal violence - to the extent it was even accused, and later cleared, of inspiring a murder in the UK - there's no denying that Rockstar weren't trying to deceive anyone with Manhunt's makes-you-want-to-shower aesthetic.

Given that Manhunt tasks the player with participating in a series of snuff films in order to earn their freedom, it's fitting that the developer decided to style their game in the vein of a grungy, grotty VHS tape that's spent years festering in a police evidence lockup.

The various executions you're able to mete out to your victims are typically displayed through a rough VHS filter, complete with video tracking lines and artifacting suggesting a tape that's been watched a few times too many.

While not pleasant to the eye, this style is absolutely effective in keeping the player on an uneven keel, ensuring they're always unnerved and anxious about what's coming next.

Throw in the fairly bland texture work and lack of colours and this is a game that bleeds violent miserable atmosphere from every pore.

If certainly not as refined as most of Rockstar's beloved AAA efforts, Manhunt nevertheless remains a cult classic for a reason: it pushed the bounds of taste and decency while mostly making good on its Running Man-inspired concept.