6 Beloved Video Game Franchises That Died In 2017

4. Shadow Of Mordor/War

It's already one problem when a franchise can't even lock down a name.

Back in 2014/2015 this was going by its full title of "Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor", only to drop the first half on various digital storefronts, and then have something of a rebrand for the sequel.

Most annoyingly, was the reality of seeing publisher meddling at war with developer intent in the game. Whoever coded the microtransaction marketplace to have an orc gleefully rubbing his hands together is some sort of rebels-infiltrating-the-Death Star genius, as you'll go from solid, enjoyable combat to protracted loot grinds-requiring-better-gear-and-orcs-from-blind boxes the next.

Ultimately it feels like you're engaging with slot machines and number generators rather than more of the Tolkien fiction-twisting fun that was Shadow of Mordor. Any progress made (and there is a lot) with how many dynamic encounters can come from orc nemeses are constantly undercut by being overly grindy and repetitive overall.

Here's hoping Shadow of... Whatever can think of something, because this was a poor, poor showing.