20 Trailers So Bad They KILLED Video Games

Gollum isn't just one of the most significant characters in The Lord of the Rings, but among the most iconic characters in literature. And yet, the ring craving hobbit isn't the kind of character who warrants a standalone game, which is why it was bewildering when Daedalic Entertainment announced they were helming just that.

Now, the prospect of exploring the majestic world of Middle-earth was encouraging, so Tolkien fans wanted to give The Lord of the Rings: Gollum the benefit of the doubt.

However, any hope for the project dried up once that teaser dropped. Unlike his movie counterpart, this incarnation of Gollum appeared lifeless and devoid of complexity. The first shared footage struggled with conveying a tone, failing to explain why this story should be told. Although the trailer established the stealth mechanics, this proved to be unappealing, as fans wanted to fight Orcs, trolls, and Uruk-hais, not hide from them.

And yet, the initial reaction was generous when compared to LOTR: Gollum's ultimate reception. The disastrous title struggled so badly to maintain its ghastly graphics and janky animation, it always seemed to be on the verge of crashing.

Though the trailer demonstrated The Lord of the Rings: Gollum was going to be trash, the game itself was worse than anyone could've imagined.