While most games inevitably lose players and die off, some rebound and recapture strong player bases and interest. Here’s Game Rant’s 8 biggest video game comebacks.
These days, if a video game releases with significant issues or to poor reviews, it doesn’t necessarily spell the end for that game. While the games of previous generations would be quickly forgotten, developers often have opportunities to make up for shortcomings via online updates,free content, and heartfelt apologies distributed via social media.
As we look through the history of gaming, not every failed title has made a comeback. However, there are a few examples of games that not only made a comeback, but have also continued to perform well since their resurrection.
Our team at Game Rant struck out and found some of the most notable comeback titles. Interestingly, many of these games did well at launch, often due to marketing hype and pre-orders. However, each struggled to maintain strong player numbers and eventually faltered, only to be brought back to life. Here are Game Rant’s Top Eight Biggest Video Game Comebacks.
9Pokemon
It might surprise people thatPokemonwasn’t always considered a top-tier gaming property. When it was first debuted in Japan, the firstPokemongames,Pokemon RedandGreen, experienced modest sales. Sure, the game’s creator, Satoshi Tajiri, was pleased with the opportunity to release his dream creation, but the overall sales weren’t stellar for Nintendo.
That changed, however, once players discovered Mew in the game. That discovery led to a local magazine, CoroCoro announcing a “Legendary Pokemon Offer,” which promised to give Mew to 20 entrants. That contest garnered nearly 80,000 entrants and quickly skyrocketed sales of thePokemongames. With sales on the rise,Game FreakreleasedPokemon Bluewith improved graphics and sounds, pushing the franchise toward the success gamers now know.
8Diablo 3
When Blizzard launchedDiablo 3, gamers around the world rejoiced at the continuation of the Diablo franchise. Unfortunately for the developer, excitement forDiablo 3quickly waned once reviews began to surface. For many critics and gamers,Diablo 3didn’t measure up to expectations set by the first two games in the series. Many of the complaints hinged on the poor gear RNG (random numbers generator), which forced players to grind for hours just for a chance at better gear.
Fast forward three years after Blizzard updated the game with numerous bug fixes, gameplay improvements (including loot drops), and amassive expansion for the title. The result was strong sales and a revival in the player base forDiablo 3. In fact, sales have been so successful thatDiablo 3has climbed its way into the list of top 10 best selling games ever. That’s an impressive feat considering where the game started.
7Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
WhenRainbow Six: Siegewas first announced, gamer reactions were mixed. While some were excited for the first-person tactical shooter, many saw the title as aCall of Dutycopy-cat that differed too much from the earlier titles in the series.Sales were initially strongfor the game, but the player base quickly faded away due to numerous connection issues and bugs that plagued the game.
Ubisoft reacted by making many much-needed adjustments and balances to the game during its first year. The end result was awell-balanced shooterthat saw a rise in players and interest. Thanks to the developer releasing a steady stream of new free maps and paid DLC, gamers had fresh content available to enjoy in the game. That coupled withRainbow Six: Siege’s position as a potential candidate for competitive gaming has helped the once written-off title become a major player in the first-person shooter genre.
6Destiny
When players think of failed games,Destinysurely doesn’t come to mind, and quite frankly it shouldn’t.Destinyreleased to overwhelming praise, with impressive sales numbers around the globe. However, after the release of the game’s first few DLCs, many gamers and critics began to wonder about the title’s longevity. Once touted as a multi-year title, it seemedDestinywould whither away after its first year.
Developer Bungie heard the feedback and implementednumerous positive changeswhen it releasedDestiny’s fourth expansion, The Taken King. In fact, Bungie promoted The Taken King as more than just a simple DLC pack. Rather, The Taken King would bring a complete overhaul toDestinythat would make it worth playing for years to come. The Taken King undoubtedly sparked new life intoDestiny, and with the help of last year’smajor April update, has helped reclaim a healthy player base for the sci-fi shooter.
5GTA Online
When Rockstar Games first announcedGTA Online, there was a collective round of applause within the gaming world. Finally, gamers would have the opportunity to enjoy the incredible, immersive world ofGrand Theft Autowith their friends. But unfortunately, the amazing idea struggled at launch, withGTA Onlineexperiencing server issuesand numerous bugs. The problems withGTA Onlinedrove many gamers to other titles, leaving a gaping hole of disappointment in Rockstar’s prized creation.
Like other developers mentioned in this list, Rockstar opted to make improvements and corrections, rather than abandon its title. The result has been tremendous. Over the last few years,Grand Theft Auto 5has been one of thebest selling titlesevery month and year in nearly every region of the world. Despite the constant stream of new game releases,Grand Theft Auto 5(which allows players to accessGTA Online) continues to make stellar sales. Thanks to a constant stream of new updates, content,events, and features within GTA Online, there’s little doubt Rockstar’s flagship title will continue to perform well and maintain an impressive player base.
4Tom Clancy’s The Division
For years, gamers looked toThe Divisionas the “Destinykiller.” The open-world, cover-based shooter looked to shake up the gaming world to deliver a unique environment and player experience that would last for years. Excitement was so great that upon release,The DivisionbecameUbisoft’s best-selling new IPwith little trouble. That all changed, however, once players reached the end game and discovered the numerous problems contained withinThe Division.
Unfortunately for Ubisoft and developer Massive, those problems continued through the release of multiple updates and the first major expansion. Players left in droves for other titles, includingDestiny, which was in the middle of its impressive comeback. The rough patch led to Massive holding off additional expansion in an effort to fix the game and revitalize the player base. The move worked, and with therelease of its 1.4 patch,The Divisionwas able to successfully call back thousands of players, giving them a reason to once again enjoy the post-apocalyptic destruction of New York City.
3World of Warcraft
World of Warcrafthas been the most successful massive multiplayer online (MMO) title in history, making billions of dollars for Blizzard and Activision. Since its release over a decade ago, the game has set the standard and continues to dominate the MMO genre. But, as one would expect from a game with so much life, players eventually lost interest and began abandoning the game.
Blizzard attempted many tactics to reclaim lost players and entice new ones, but it wasn’t until the release ofLegionthat the game made a comeback. Before the release of Legion,World of Warcrafthad at one time sported 12 million players. That number had declined steadily to around five million in late 2015. At the time, many critics saw this as the beginning of the end forWorld of Warcraft. Then Blizzard released Legion, which successfully pushedplayer numbers back to over 10 millionby late 2016, breathing new life intoWorld of Warcraft.
2Counter Strike: Global Offensive
Who could have predicted thatCounter Strike: Global Offensive(or as it’s better known,CS:GO) would be as successful a title as it is now. The first-person shooter doesn’t sport the most impressive graphics or variety of gameplay by any stretch. In fact, the game looks like it’s still stuck in the early 2000s whenCounter Strikewas first launched as a mod for Half Life.
CS:GOexperienced a rocky start when it was released in 2012, but that didn’t stop Valve from working to improve the title and provide new features. Over the course of a couple years and after many fixes and updates,CS:GObegan to grow in popularity. That popularity led to the explosion ofCS:GOas one of the most well-knowncompetitive gamingtitles, and prompted the addition of in-game alterations, such as weapon skins. Together, these changes and additions have drivenCS:GOto nearly 500,000 concurrent players and almost one million peak players over the last month, a stat that has risen steady since 2014.
1Other Impressive Comebacks
There are undoubtedly many other titles that would fit well in this list. What games do you think should be included? Let us know your picks for top comeback games in the comments below.
