10 Recent Failed Video Games That Became Cult Classics

The enjoyment that comes with a video game experience can be one of the best feelings in the world but, for some, the added sensation of feeling like they're in a well-kept secret can take things even further.

Not every video game is created equal, and not every title can enjoy the accolades and sales of the Super Marios, Grand Theft Autos and Call of Dutys of this world. And whilst gamers often associate flopping commercially with a poorly-made game, that isn't always the case.

In fact, there have been plenty of video games that have shown a lot of promise and still ended up by the wayside. Be it an ambitious storyline, a dramatic change in tone or just an overly-saturated market upon release, there are many reasons why a game or series might not hit the heights a publisher had hoped for.

Nevertheless, these games are still treasured by their fanbases and wear their 'cult classic' honours with pride.

Here are some of the best examples of games that started off on the back foot, but have successfully gone on to find their own little corners of the industry.

2015's Mad Max is an open-world survival title developed by Avalanche Studios. Whilst not following the events of any one Mad Max film, the game clearly takes a lot of inspiration from them, with its post-apocalyptic wasteland setting. One of the first titles to emphasise vehicular combat across its open world, players are required to upgrade their rides as they battle Scabrous Scrotus' gang.

However, in an era where open-world titles dominated the market, Mad Max failed to make the splash Avalanche were hoping for.

The bulk of its mixed reception stemmed from the game's storyline, which only came to life right at the end (by which time most players had tossed it to the back of their library). The game's quests also came in for some flack, as well as a number of technical bugs that hadn't been ironed out.

Nevertheless, the game's setting and Batman Arkham-esque combat has seen Mad Max's standing with gamers begin to climb again. On the back of a possible sequel being in the works, the game saw its player count jump to its highest point since October 2021 with a peak of 2,436 players in September 2022.