10 Video Games You Didn't Realise Secretly Bombed

8. Control

control game
Remedy

Remedy's Control was one of 2019's best-reviewed games, to the extent of receiving a heap of Game of the Year nominations and being passionately championed by fans and critics in year-end discussions.

Despite its firm rep, however, the psychedelic action-adventure game failed to chart in the NPD Top 20 in its month of release, even being eclipsed by The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan, which released on the penultimate day of the month with decidedly average reviews.

Though Remedy claimed that Control didn't need gangbusters sales due to its modest €30 million budget - and being paid €9.49 million for Epic Games Store exclusivity probably didn't hurt - it's painfully obvious that the game was yet another critically acclaimed commercial disappointment for Remedy.

At least if the rumours about Control heading to Xbox Game Pass in the near-future are true, they should be able to mitigate their losses somewhat.

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Contributor
Contributor

Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.