Top 10 Worst Graphics in Gaming [Best Recommendations]

Over the lifetime of games, if there’s been one thing that developers continue to try to push, it’s graphics. Games have become some of the most beautiful works in art and have continued to cause consoles to be pushed to their limits. However, even now, there are some games with graphics that are just flat out god awful. These games are testaments to what game companies should avoid doing with graphics and equally, games you should avoid playing. Conveniently, we played these games for you in the past and will be making a list to share with you all.

Folks, we warn you in advance; The following games below are rated from bad graphics to downright rotten. With that being said these games have become infamous in the gaming world for being horrible graphically and thus, we know our minds—and our eyes—aren’t fooling us. These are some of the worst graphics in the video gaming scene. Welcome, beautiful souls, to our Top 10 Worst Graphics in Gaming lists.


10. Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis

  • System/Platform: GameCube, Xbox
  • Developer: Lucky Chicken Games
  • Publisher: TDK Mediactive
  • Release Dates: Jul 23, 2003

Black Mantis has returned to wreak havoc on the underwater world of Atlantis and its denizens. However, there is one aquatic hero who has the power to stop him and that is Aquaman. In order to save the kingdom, Aquaman will need to use all of his skills to defeat Black Mantis and his evil minion robots. Can Aquaman stop this evil threat or will he fail and lose his throne? Find out in Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis.

Here at Honey’s Anime, we’re no stranger to terrible comic book games. Though even as time passes, one game in particular continues to haunt us and that is Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis. Crafted by Lucky Chicken Games, Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis makes every bad mistake possible to create one of the crummiest games ever made. With graphics that looked bland despite having the world being set in the beautiful ocean and world of Atlantis, Aquaman’s battle was hard to play and even harder to look at. That’s why we knew early on when making this list of the Top 10 Worst Graphics in Gaming, Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis would be a title that needed to be placed on here.


9. The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct

  • System/Platform: PC, PS3, Wii U, Xbox 360
  • Developer: Terminal Reality
  • Publisher: Activision
  • Release Dates: Mar 19, 2013

The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct follows Daryl Dixon prior to the events of the series. Escaping after Daryl’s father died, Daryl—alongside his half uncle Jess—retreat from the encroaching zombie outbreak. The duo decides to then search the country in order to find other survivors and supplies. Daryl must choose each location to scout out carefully. However, in this zombie infested world, every decision has a consequence and saving one life means another may be sacrificed...

The Walking Dead; Survival Instinct was going to be what fans wanted from a The Walking Dead title. It would have one of the most famous characters, Daryl, fighting zombies off and exploring a story not seen in the main series. Unfortunately, when most gamers popped in The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, they began to notice a volley of flaws but also noticed the absolutely terrible looking graphics. For a 2013 game, The Walking Dead; Survival Instinct looked more akin to an early 2000s game with blocky environments, ho hum character models and terrible animations. We, here at Honey’s Anime, know we weren’t alone in our disappointment of The Walking Dead: Survival Instinct, but at least we had the vastly superior The Walking Dead Telltale Games series to wash the pain of it away.


8. Body Harvest

  • System/Platform: Nintendo 64
  • Developer: DMA Design
  • Publisher: Midway Home Entertainment, Gremlin Interactive (EU)
  • Release Dates: Sept 30, 1998

In a far off future, humanity has faced a dire situation due to an alien force invading. Every 25 years, humans are taken by the aliens and transported back to their world. Though humanity refuses to let this continue. One warrior named Adam Drake has taken up arms to fight against the alien forces and prevent them from continuing to steal humans. Can Adam save the remaining humans or will the aliens prevail?

The Nintendo 64 had some iconic games that, even today, impress gamers despite not looking that great. Though even back in 1998, Body Harvest didn’t impress anyone with the mediocre graphics it presented. Adam is supposed to be a strong looking hero but looks more like a mini orange toy that you would get from a 25 cents capsule machine. Even the world environments look more akin to toys destroying the perceptions of this epic world you’re supposed to be saving. Body Harvest isn’t a bad game as it has some fun run and gun mechanics, but if you’re looking for a nice looking game, then you won’t find that here.


7. Rogue Warrior

  • System/Platform: PC, PS3, Xbox 360
  • Developer: Rebellion Developments
  • Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
  • Release Dates: Nov 26, 2009

Rogue Warrior puts you into the boots of U.S. Navy SEAL Richard Marchinko. Sent into Unggi North Korea to retrieve info on ballistic missiles, Richard finds the mission turning sour quite fast. Apparently, a mole told North Korea of the mission ahead of time endangering Richard and his team. Despite his team getting destroyed and the mole being killed, Richard wants to stop the North Koreans and their planned assault. With his skills, Richard continues the mission despite disobeying orders and isn’t afraid to face an army alone.

Rogue Warrior is one of those games that plays okay and has a decent idea but the graphics for it aren’t as decent. Now, some could say it was because Rogue Warrior came out in 2009—by that, we mean those of the current gaming age—but this was the same time where great titles like Assassin’s Creed 2 and Batman: Arkham Asylum were released to the world. Thus, Rogue Warrior had no reason to look as poor as it did. Most of these games on this list we say to never play because they are both terrible in the graphics department but also because they play pretty terribly as well. Though with Rogue Warrior, if you have a few dollars to spare—it literally could be bought at stores for like $2-$3—it isn’t a terrible game and has a decent story that is very mature.


6. Gods and Generals

  • System/Platform: PC
  • Developer: Anivision Value
  • Publisher: Activision
  • Release Dates: Mar 1, 2003

Based on the movie, Gods and Generals follows a soldier on either side of the Civil War. Help the Union or Confederacy win various fights and/or survive the war one mission at a time. With 9 missions taking place in iconic battles like Second Battle of Bull Run and the Battle of Chancellorsville, Gods and Generals will put you into the war directly. Get ready, soldier. The battle for America starts here in Gods and Generals.

Gods and Generals was a great movie when it released back in 2003. Within the same time, developer Anivision Value released a video game version and, needless to say, it followed the same theme of most video game moves…it was terrible. Though we could forgive the gameplay if the graphics were at least decent, but for Gods and General, the graphics were downright terrible. Gods and Generals might be a short game title, but it won’t feel short once you begin playing. You’ll stare at the ugliness in war but not because of the actual theme of war but because Gods and Generals is a downright horrible looking title.



5. Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing

  • System/Platform: PC
  • Developer: Stellar Stone
  • Publisher: GameMill Publishing
  • Release Dates: Nov 20, 2003

While there are hundreds of shooters and first-person games in the video game world, there are even more racing games. Racing games have basically hit every genre made and have given players the ability to race on different environments and with numerous vehicle types. However, like most of the games on our Top 10 Worst Graphics in Gaming list, there are numerous examples of bad racing games in both gameplay and graphics. A perfect example of this comes in the form of Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing for the PC.

Have you ever thought an 18-wheeler truck could pass through solid objects and/or go backwards faster than it moved forward? Well, Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing allows you to do that. Though we digress from the horrible gameplay of Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing as this isn’t a gameplay focused article but one that focuses on graphics after all. Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing is terrible looking with bland environments, trucks that have barely any design to them, and have odd lighting problems—the brake lights literally float behind the truck. Even the numbers indicating speed and such on the left side don’t look good but grainy. We could nit pick every poor detail seen in the graphics of Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing but we’ll just say this, the game is horrible to look at and is worth being on this list.


4. Zelda’s Adventure

  • System/Platform: Philips CD-i
  • Developer: Viridis Corporation
  • Publisher: Phillips Interactive Media
  • Release Dates: Jun 5, 1994

The Hero of Time Link has found himself in a terrible predicament. Captured by Ganon Zelda—the princess of Hyrule—needs to now go and save him. Armed with her sword and magic, Zelda must collect powerful signs to stop Ganon’s army and save Link. Can the princess accomplish such a difficult task where Link failed? Time to find out in Zelda’s Adventure!

The Philips CD-i wasn’t a powerful console by any means but it had some decent games for it like The Apprentice—not the TV show—and Hotel Mario. Zelda’s Adventure however wasn’t one of those. With terrible graphics that used a mixture of real-life images and drawn art, Zelda’s Adventure looked grainy and poor throughout the whole adventure. We thank the gaming gods that Zelda’s Adventure isn’t considered canon. Honestly, if it was, we’d have to always remember it but thankfully, since its not canon we can just pretend it doesn’t exist, which you should also do.


3. Bubsy 3D

  • System/Platform: PS1
  • Developer: Eidetic
  • Publisher: Accolade
  • Release Dates: Nov 25, 1996

Bubsy has come back to the world but now in 3D. Kidnapped by the dreaded Woolies and brought to their home world of Rayon, Bubsy needs to find a way back home. Looking all over the planet, Bubsy has begun to search for parts to build a rocket ship to head home. Though the Woolies won’t make Bubsy’s mission easy! Time to show them what this cat can do in Bubsy 3D.

Bubsy has always been a series that aimed to be a fun platformer no matter what console it was on. Unfortunately, almost every console game with this white shirt sweater hero was not good. This is especially true for Bubsy 3D on the PS1, Bubsy’s first attempts at being a 3D mascot. With terriblly bland environments and enemy designs, Bubsy 3D was easily the worst PS1 game in terms of graphics. Some of us here at Honey’s Anime own Bubsy 3D and question our past choices when we come across it locked away in storage.


2. Superman 64

  • System/Platform: Nintendo 64
  • Developer: Titus Software
  • Publisher: Titus Software
  • Release Dates: May 31, 1999

Quick, Superman, Metropolis needs you! Lex Luthor, once again, is up to no good and only you can stop him. Race around and accomplish Lex’s tasks given to you so he won’t blow up the city. However, time is not on your side, Superman, and with the Kryptonite fog your powers have been weakened. Show that even when the cards are down you’re still the best superhero, Superman!

We have, in recent history, seen a lot of comic book based heroes have their own video games. This applies to as far back as the days of the old consoles like Nintendo and even, Sega Genesis. Though in 1999, when games were becoming significantly better thanks to the powers of PS1 and the Nintendo 64, we expected games with decent visuals which we didn’t get in Superman 64. Clunky designs—both visually and gameplay wise—made every image and every piece of environment look putrid. There are a ton of other issues we had with Superman 64 but we will just stick with talking about how bad the graphics were.


1. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

  • System/Platform: Atari 2600
  • Developer: Atari, Inc.
  • Publisher: Atari, Inc.
  • Release Dates: Dec 1982

Based on the movie of the same name, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial follows ET. Players must guide the little alien as he searches for pieces of a communication device to call home. However, always close by are dangerous agents that plan on taking ET away to lock him up. Search pitfalls to find the pieces but you must hurry in your goal. Time is ticking away and your chance at returning home grows ever slimmer.

We here at Honey’s Anime will presume all of you know the story of the now infamous E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial video game by Atari. A failed game in every sense of the word, what made matters worse was how atrocious E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial looked graphically. Some gamers will argue that was to be expected as most Atari games looked pretty bad but E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial look downright terrible due to the designs of ET—which didn’t even look like ET from the movie in any form—and the ugly backgrounds that are constantly brown and green. Needless to say, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was a terrible game to play and a terrible game to look at. That’s why avoid ever playing it yourself and just let E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial lie in that desert where all the games were abandoned at.


Final Thoughts

Some games are terrible to look at if our article proves anything. Though there are some games with bad graphics that still play pretty well. The list above, however, aren’t those games though, so you should just avoid them like the plague all together. Have you played any games recently with horrible graphics and or any of the games above? Why not share those experiences down below in the comments to help your fellow gaming brothers and sisters avoid those titles or explain why they look bad? For even more gaming articles like this one, make sure to keep stuck to our hive here at Honey’s Anime!

The-Walking-Dead-Survival-Instinct-wallpaper-700x394 Top 10 Worst Graphics in Gaming [Best Recommendations]

Writer

Author: Aaron

Hey everyone I’m Aaron Curbelo or Blade as I’m called by my YouTube Subscribers. I’ve been an anime/manga fan since I was a young kid. In terms of anime I have watched nearly a thousand shows and have read hundreds of manga series. I love writing and honestly was so happy to join Honey’s Anime to get a shot to write articles for such a wonderful site. I’m a firm believer in respect in the anime community being the most important embodiment we should all have. We all love anime and we have varying opinions of series but we should respect one another for those differences! Life is too precious to spend it making needless arguments in a community that should be the shining example of loving an amazing medium. I hope as a writer for Honey’s Anime I can bring you folks some amazing articles to read and enjoy!

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