8 Video Games That "Couldn't Fail" (That Still Failed)

Call of Duty games are often compared to fast food in a derogatory sense, but that analogy also implies that, in the very least, the FPS franchise reliably offers up the familiar, basically satisfying goods.

And that was more-or-less true until the release of 2023's Modern Warfare III. Up to this point, it was just assumed that each new Call of Duty would tout a baseline level of quality that, in the very least, made it a breezy fun time.

But Modern Warfare III was the first - and to date, only - mainline entry in the series to receive many negative reviews, with much criticism being levelled against its piecemeal campaign, as well as the multiplayer suite's lack of new maps on launch, with players instead having to settle for remasters of classic maps.

While Modern Warfare III did still turn a profit, the negative aura that plagued the game's release caused it to sell significantly less than the previous game, Modern Warfare II.

Above all else it was proof perfect that Call of Duty wasn't an entirely bulletproof IP, and that if Activision lazily shipped a slop-bucket product, they'd suffer financially for it.

Thankfully the series enjoyed quite the rebound with last year's Black Ops 6, which scored strong reviews and the largest launch weekend in the franchise's history.