5. Gangland (PC)
To be fair, Gangland wasn't really all that special. This PC title about controlling a fledgling mafia empire came out in a time when simulators and 4x RTS games were starting to become quite popular. It followed a fairly predictable pattern. Players start small, bullying local shop keepers for money with hired goons. Eventually, players are extorting entire cities, building illegal gambling operations, and going to all out war with other bosses in the area. There was nothing too creative about the idea. However, it was still a ton of fun to play. The game captured the perfect mix of cartoonish violence, economic management, and novelty. Critics didn't really think so, though. Gangland received a couple decent scores from more generous reviewers, but the majority of publications saw it as boring. Additionally, sales lagged well behind competing titles. It was essentially a failure on the part of the developer. None of that changes the fact that it was still an intensely fun game for any gamers looking to live out their dream as a crime lord.