Skip to main content

13 Awesome Video Games That Were Complete Hell To Make

By Every Day Story13 items
Share
🔥 66 votes

About this list

Creating a AAA title can be a daunting task for video game developers, with the crunch of development often taking a heavy toll. Chaotic developments can either lead to titanic misfires or, as seen with Diablo III and the Doom reboot, result in classics. Even top developers like Square Enix and Bethesda face troubled productions. Some games, however, emerge from development hell to become beloved titles. Gamers are now enjoying these classics, which were well worth the wait.

Crowd-ranked
Games
updating live13 items
  • 1
    Fallout 3

    Fallout 3 is listed among 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.Fallout helped turn Black Isle Studios into a beloved game studio.Games helped Black Isle Studios become a beloved game studio. The studio started working onFallout 3.Interplay Entertainment filed for bankruptcy in 2003 before the parent company.Interplay Entertainment sold the Fallout rights to Bethesda.the Fallout rights.Fallout.Bethesda began work on the sequel the next year.

    Bethesda has a history with Elder Scrolls games.Elder Scrolls.Gamers expected a huge sequel for these games. A big problem hit when the studio tried to make Washington, DC. That effort seemed too big, so Bethesda changed plans and onlyBethesda changed plans, recreating only half of Washington, DC.On October 28, 2008, Bethesda recreated half the area.Fallout 3 arrived five years after development began.Fallout 3 finally arrived five years after development started.

  • 2
    Resident Evil 4

    Development for Resident Evil 4 began in 1999.Resident Evil 4.Resident Evil 4 went through much before it launched. The first game featured a man with cool supernatural powers. The studio struggled making this work in Raccoon City and the Umbrella Corporation, so they made this idea its own game.The first Resident Evil 4 version featured a man with cool supernatural powers.The result was a 2001 Devil May Cry.Devil May Cry.Devil May Cry has become a major Capcom franchise.

    In 2002, the "fog version" of Resident Evil 4 was revealed.the "fog version" of Resident Evil 4.Resident Evil 4The game showed Leon gaining unique powers from the Progenitor Virus. The "Hook Man version," which wasThe "Hook Man version" shifted Leon against hallucinations from a virus infection.at E3 2003, changed to pit Leon against hallucinations from a virus infection. Inside a haunted mansion, he fought animated dolls, suits of armor, and Hook Man, inspired by the 2000 filmLeon faced animated dolls, suits of armor, and Hook Man inspired by the 2000 film Lost Souls.

    Shinji Mikami took over as game director after the Hook Man version.Shinji Mikami took over as game director.Shinji Mikami took over as game director for Resident Evil 4.Resident Evil 4.. Mikami directed a completely different story and gameplay. After releasing on January 11, 2005, Resident Evil 4 became one of the greatest horror video games of all time after its January 11, 2005 release.Resident Evil 4.

  • 3
    L.A. Noire

    Brendan McNamara left Team Soho in 2003.Brendan McNamara formed Team Bondi.Team Bondi developed L.A. Noire.L.A. Noire., funded by Sony Computer Entertainment Australia. Sony planned a spring 2006 release on the PlayStation 3 in 2005.

    The game could not meet its expected release date. After the delay, Rockstar Games planned to take over from Sony and release the title.Rockstar Games announced plans to take over from Sony and publish L.A. Noire.Rockstar aimed for a 2008 release but faced more delays. These delays came from tough working conditions, causing many people to leave Team Bondi. An unnamed former employee toldThese delays came from harsh working conditions, causing many people to leave Team Bondi.One unnamed ex-employee told IGN:

    If you left at 7.30 pm, you'd get evil eyes. The crunch kept shifting; an ominous crunch that kept moving.

    L.A. Noire missed expected releases in 2009 and 2010.L.A. Noire finally hit store shelves on May 17, 2011.the game finally hit stores on May 17, 2011.

  • 4
    Doom

    Doom 4 was announced in 2008.Doom 4.Doom 4 had a rough start because Id Software also worked on Rage.Rage.Higher-ups ignored Doom.Doom 4Its team worked hard to make another FPS success. Management disliked what they saw and started development again in 2011. In a statement to Kotaku,KotakuBethesda's vice president of marketing and public relations Pete Hines said:

    An earlier version ofDoom 4It lacked the quality and excitement Id and Bethesda wanted to give and what Doom fans expect. Id refocused its efforts on a new version ofDoom 4This version promises the high expectations everyone has for this game and franchise. We will talk about theDoom 4Id is making it; we will tell people.

    The game, renamed simplyDoomIt hit a major snag after writer Graham Joyce passed away in 2014. Adam Gascoine, who worked onpassingGraham Joyce wrote it in 2014. Adam Gascoine worked on it.Call of Duty 3Adam Gascoine took over as the replacement.At E3 2015IGN released 15 minutes of gameplay footage. Gamers waited for the game's release on May 13, 2016.DoomDoom

  • 5
    Gran Turismo 5

    The fifth installment of the popularGran TurismoThe Gran Turismo series announced at E3 2005. The game was meant to update a previous version.Gran Turismo 4It came for the PlayStation 3. It cost aroundaround$60 million to build,Gran Turismo 5Gran Turismo 5 arrived on November 24, 2010.

    The firstGran TurismoThe Gran Turismo game took five years to build. Development teams faced the PlayStation 3 cell processor, making work very hard.IGNIGNGran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi said:Gran Turismo creator Kazunori Yamauchi said:

    The PlayStation 3 hardware proved very hard to develop for, causing the team much stress. So [GT5GT6 was a nightmare for us.

  • 6
    Team Fortress 2

    With the growing popularity of theQuakemodTeam FortressValve started making the sequel in 1998. The next year,Team Fortress 2Team Fortress 2 had its first showing at E3. Atthe 1999 Best of E3 Game Critics AwardsTeam Fortress 2 earned awards for Best Online Multiplayer and Best Action Game. The early version ofTeam Fortress 2was heavily based on real-world fighting.

    Valve delayed Team Fortress 2 in 2000. Critics praised Team Fortress 2, but Valve changed its engine in 2000. Valve chose toTeam Fortress 2Critics praised Team Fortress 2. Valve delayed the game in 2000 because of its engine; Valve chose to change it.the Quake engine with the Source engine. After six more years of work,Team Fortress 2 was announced as part ofTeam Fortress 2The Orange BoxThe Orange Boxcompilation in 2006. The trailer showed Team Fortress 2 swapping its military looks for a colorful, cartoon style. The Orange Box, released in 2007, became a very popular game collection. In 2011, Team Fortress 2 became free-to-play on PC.Team Fortress 2swapped its military inspirations for a colorful, cartoon style. The Orange Box, released in 2007, became a very popular game collection. In 2011, Team Fortress 2 became free-to-play on PC.The Orange Boxwould become one of the most loved game collections. In 2011, Team Fortress 2 became free-to-play on PC.Team Fortress 2Team Fortress 2 became free-to-play on PC.

  • 7
    The Last Guardian

    AfterIcoandShadow of the Colossus, fans waited to see what came next for Team Ico. In 2007, the company started work onThe Last GuardianFumito Ueda had a specific vision for 'The Last Guardian' for the PlayStation 3. The small staff struggled to make it happen. Fumito Ueda and Team Ico changed direction.Ueda left Sony in 2011.

    Ueda formed GenDesign to finish the game while under contract. Sony announced the PlayStation 4, and then Sony decided to give it.The Last GuardianThe game got a second chance on the newer hardware.At E3 2016, gamers saw a release date for The Last Guardian.Gamers globally were stunned by the release date for The Last Guardian.The Last Guardian. The game got positive reviews from fans and critics.Released December 6, 2016, The Last Guardian earned positive reviews.

  • 8
    Shenmue

    Yu Suzuki wanted to shift his focus to making RPGs after delivering arcade games for Sega in the '80s and early '90s.Suzuki focused his attention on RPGs.Suzuki started work on Sega's first RPG in 1993, titled The Old Man and the Peach Tree.The Old Man and the Peach TreeSega backed Suzuki, and he announced Virtua Fighter RPG: Akira's Story.Virtua Fighter RPG: Akira's StoryThis game built on the Peach Tree prototype.Peach TreeThe next year, development moved to the Sega Dreamcast. Suzuki dropped the Virtua Fighter title for a fresh look.Virtua FighterSuzuki renamed it Shenmue.Shenmue

    Suzuki had a huge vision for Shenmue.Shenmue, which had five hours of cutscenes. The game's huge size caused many bugs. At one time, 10,000 bugs floated in the code. At GDC 2014, SuzukiAt GDC 2014, Suzuki said, "At the time there were no project management tools... so instead we made a job order sheet that was a list of action items in Excel. Because we kept testing, the items did not decrease.""At the time there were no project management tools... so instead we made a job order sheet that was a list of action items in Excel. Because we kept testing, the items did not decrease."

    Suzuki's vision cost $70 million. Shenmue released in 1999.ShenmueShenmue became one of the Dreamcast's best-selling games.

  • 9
    Diablo III

    With the 2000s release ofDiablo IIBlizzard North started working on the third game in its hack-and-slash series that same year. The third game would take place in heaven and hell.Diablo III screenshots showed this shift in direction.Blizzard North shut down in 2005, making fans wonder if Diablo III would ever release.Diablo IIIDiablo III would ever see the light of day.

    The new team scrapped everything and started over. Two years later, the game appeared at the Blizzard Worldwide Invitational.Diablo IIIDiablo III hit PCs in 2012. The game features a hidden level called Developmental Hell, which mocks its long journey.Developmental HellDevelopmental Hell pokes fun at the game's long journey.

  • 10
    Prey

    3D Realms sought to change gaming with the Prey announcement.Prey3D Realms used in-house technology in 1995 to shock its competitors. Tom Hall helped 3D Realms begin work quickly. Designer Paul Schuytema took over when Hall left.

    ThePreyPrey demos at E3 in 1997 caught attention. Schuytema left in 1998, and the game was shelved. GamesRadar+ interviewed Schuytema.GamesRadar+Schuytema said, "When I left, the game looked like a Lamborghini getting its engine rebuilt—gorgeous and amazing, but with parts everywhere!"

    3D Realms dusted off the game.PreyTake-Two Interactive helped the project in 2001. They officially announced the game in 2005, and many hoped for the best. Game director Chris Rhinehart and writer Gary Whitta joined, making it one of 2006's most anticipated games.

  • 11
    Final Fantasy XV

    Final Fantasy XVThe game began as an action RPG.Final Fantasy Versus XIII. Square Enix announced it at E3 2006., this was a proposed spin-off of the in-developmentFinal Fantasy XIII, which released in 2009. After the reveal, however, Final Fantasy Versus XIIIPeople rarely saw Final Fantasy Versus XIII at major gaming conventions. Because of its few appearances, many thought the game had failed.

    However, at E3 2013, Square Enix showed thatFinal Fantasy Versus XIII would become Final Fantasy XV. This change made the game abandon its planned PS3 release for the PS4 and Xbox One. Square Enix ran Active Time Reports livestreams to update fans. The game aimed for a September 30, 2016, release, but final delays pushed it to November 29, 2016.

  • 12
    Below

    When the game announced in 2013, BelowXbox head Phil Spencer admired Below. For Capybara Games, this project was the hardest yet. The studio, usually focused on 2D games, chose 3D graphics. In an interview withThe Verge, Capybara Games president Nathan Vella stated, "We had amazing artists who were learning 3D art while doing 3D art for the game." Because of this, development slowed to match the artists.

    In 2016, Capybara Games placedBelowon hold to balance developer work and prevent rushing the game. Belowwas set for release that summer, but the studio felt itwasn't ready. Luckily, the developer resumed development for the December 14, 2018, release on Microsoft Windows and Xbox One.

    Games
    🔥 1 up · 2 down▲ 1 above editor
  • 13
    Fortnite

    Revealed in 2011, Fortnite wasa much different gamethan it is now. The first teaser trailer showed an early look at what was first calledFortnite: Save the World, which pitted players against huge zombie hordes. The studio used the Unreal 3 engine when development started. Things changed when Epic Games switched to Unreal 4, which slowed development.

    When Tencentinvested in Epic Games in 2012, it caused shockwaves through the company; several key people left their jobs. Development onFortnitekept moving steadily with little public news. In 2015, former Epic Games vice president of publishingMike Fischer saidWe announced this game too soon. This game has been in development for a long time for good reasons.

    A beta launched in 2015. Further development happened onFortnite is listed among 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.Epic Games paused Fortnite for its MOBAParagon is one of 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.In 2017, Fortnite is one of 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.Fortnite is one of 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.Epic Games put Fortnite in early access. People enjoyed the zombie-battling part, butFortnite is one of 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.The Battle Royale mode kept people talking. Epic Games increased Fortnite's development usingParagon is one of 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.Fortnite and Paragon are listed together in the 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.Unreal Tournament is one of 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.development teams.Fortnite is listed among 13 awesome video games that were complete hell to make.Epic Games removed Fortnite from early access in June 2020.

Comments (0)

Join the conversation

Sign in to share your take and reply to others.

First take? Share what stood out to you.

More like this