10 Games Everyone Thought Were Scams but WERE NOT

Summary

Game Ranks explores 10 games that were initially doubted by the gaming community but ultimately proved their worth. Titles like 'Black Myth Wukong' and 'Po World' faced skepticism due to their ambitious trailers and small development teams. Despite concerns of being scams or vaporware, these games not only released but also garnered positive reception. 'Kingdom Come: Deliverance' and 'Cuphead' overcame Kickstarter-related doubts, while 'Final Fantasy 7 Remake' defied long-standing skepticism. The list also includes games like 'Omori' and 'Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning,' which battled against communication gaps and publisher controversies to deliver quality experiences.

Takeaways

• 🐵 Black Myth Wukong was initially doubted due to its impressive trailers, but it turned out to be a high-quality game, proving skeptics wrong.
• 🌍 Po World was suspected to be a scam because of its ambitious concept, but it delivered a polished early access game without any fraudulent actions.
• 🎮 Kingdom Come: Deliverance faced skepticism due to its Kickstarter origin, but it managed to overcome hurdles and release a well-received game.
• 💃 Cuphead's ambitious design and art style raised doubts about its release, but it became a successful and acclaimed indie game.
• 🗼 Odin Chronicles: 100 Heroes was seen as a potential scam due to its Kickstarter campaign, but it was completed and released to positive reviews.
• 🧛 Vampire Survivors was underestimated and thought to be a scam because of its simple appearance, but it became a popular and engaging game.
• 🔄 The System Shock remake was considered a scam due to prolonged development, but it was eventually released as a successful remake of the classic game.
• 🌟 Final Fantasy 7 Remake was long-awaited and doubted, but it was released to high acclaim, revitalizing the series.
• 🎨 Omori was suspected to be vaporware after long periods of silence from developers, but it was released to critical acclaim.
• 🏰 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning suffered reputational damage due to its publisher's scandal, but the game itself was well-made and successful despite the controversy.

Q & A

What was the initial skepticism around Black Myth Wukong?

The initial skepticism around Black Myth Wukong was due to its impressive trailers that seemed too good to be true, coming from a small, relatively unknown studio. People were concerned that the game would either be a scam or fail to live up to the trailers' quality.

How did the developers of Black Myth Wukong prove the skeptics wrong?

The developers of Black Myth Wukong proved the skeptics wrong by releasing a real game that was huge in scope, contrary to expectations of it being a scam or an incomplete tech demo.

What was the controversy surrounding Po World's development?

The controversy surrounding Po World's development included skepticism about its ambitious premise and accusations of asset theft from the Pokemon developer, Game Freak. However, the game was released as a surprisingly polished early access title, and the theft accusations were unfounded.

Why did some people consider Kingdom Come: Deliverance a potential scam?

People considered Kingdom Come: Deliverance a potential scam due to its ambitious goals, the risk associated with Kickstarter-funded projects, and the team being first-time developers with a history of high-profile failures in the platform.

How did Cuphead defy expectations and skepticism?

Cuphead defied expectations by not only being released but also becoming one of the landmark indie games of the decade, selling over a million copies in its first two weeks and proving its ambitious trailer was not just vaporware.

What were the concerns about the Iodine Chronicles: 100 Heroes Kickstarter project?

Concerns about the Iodine Chronicles: 100 Heroes Kickstarter project included skepticism about the ability to deliver a spiritual successor to the S aden series with a massive scope, the history of failed JRPG Kickstarters, and the risk associated with the project being led by a celebrated Japanese game developer.

Why did some people initially think Vampire Survivors might be a scam?

Vampire Survivors was thought to be a scam due to its sudden popularity, cheap price, and the assumption that its mobile game-like appearance must involve predatory practices like loot boxes or real money currencies.

What were the development challenges faced by the System Shock remake?

The System Shock remake faced development challenges including long development periods, multiple complete resets, and changes in vision from a very accurate remake to a modernized version, leading to skepticism about its eventual release.

Why was there skepticism about the Final Fantasy 7 Remake?

Skepticism about the Final Fantasy 7 Remake stemmed from its long history of teases and delays, Square Enix's inconsistent track record with the Final Fantasy series at the time, and the announcement that the game would be split into multiple parts.

How did Omori's development history lead to scam suspicions?

Omori's development history led to scam suspicions due to the developer's lack of communication after the Kickstarter ended, long periods of silence, and the extended development time beyond initial estimates, leading backers to assume the project was abandoned.

What was the controversy surrounding Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning?

The controversy surrounding Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was not about the game itself but its association with the publishing partner 38 Studios, which was accused of defrauding Rhode Island out of a significant loan, overshadowing the game's quality.