13 Games that won't sell this Christmas: 2011 Edition

HEY! This is 2011's edition of this feature! Click here to read 2012's version!

It's getting to Christmas time now, and there are a lot of great games coming out! Too many in fact. And with many people not being able to spend that much on games, there are a few that are destined to fail. These are the 13 that I believe will miss out on those all important sales. These aren't bad games, but just games that I don't think are mainstream enough to sell well - but I've been wrong before...

Dark Souls

This one I might be wrong about, but still has a big chance of failure. Why? The gameplay. It's too punishing! There are times when the going is good, but not often enough to make this a big seller.
People want fun from their games, not punishment! And this game hands it out in bucketloads.
That, and that only, is the reason I think Dark Souls will miss out - people aren't hardcore enough.



Spiderman: Edge of Time

Let's face it, there's only one superhero people have got their eye on this winter, and it sure ain't old Spidey. While I think EoT looks like it could be fun, it's never going to take the spotlight away from Arkham City. And that is the main reason I think it will fail, but at the end of the day the last few spidey games, (Shattered Dimensions, Friend or Foe etc.), haven't exactly been big sellers either....

X-Men Destiny

X-Men shares Edge of Time's problems really, except X-Men has it worse. Why? Because where Spidey's game may be a bit of fun, X-Men Destiny looks like a repetitive, old-fashioned game that nobody has been too interested in since it was announced. That was harsh I know, but if you ask me - this one will be dead on arrival.



Ace Combat: Assault Horizon

While this is a promising new direction for the Ace Combat series, I'm not sure if it'll be enough to divert the customers' attention away from the two big war games this year, Modern Warfare 3 and Battlefield 3. I'm sure this one will still sell to the plane fanatics out there, but how many plane fanatics are there nowadays?

Dead Rising 2: Off the Record


Cash cow were the first words that came to mind when I heard about this one. After the success of the first two DR games, and the downloadable ones that came out recently - what's the next step? Dead Rising 3 maybe? Nah, let's just release the second one again! Laziness surrounds this game, and so only the hardcore zombie fans are going to bother.


Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure

This game, while having an interesting concept, is bound to fail. Why? Because it's going to have to .have some great marketing for the kids to get excited, plus it's going to have to be pulled off well for the idea to work. And Spyro is a series that hasn't had a truly great game in a while.

Goldeneye 007: Reloaded


Well, well, well - the cash cow strikes back. Not only is this just an HD remake of a remake of a game that was released in the nineties, but also - when it comes to shooters - Battlefield 3 and Modern Warfare 3 are the ones people are interested in. I predict this one to fly in under the radar and be ignored.


Need for Speed: The Run

Need for Speed really upped its game recently with Hot Pursuit and the Shift series each being great games. Unfortunately, I don't think people will bother with this one. The problem is, you have to be a big car fan to choose this over some of the other games coming out this winter. And no doubt a lot of car fans are going to be looking to Forza 4. So, I think this one will get lost in the crowds.

Ultimate Marvel vs Capcom 3 


Again, we have a game that is basically just a re-release. While UMVC3 does have a bit of a new look, with a bunch of other new features I'm not sure if it'll be enough. Although, I was a big fan of the first MVC3, so I'm interested, but whether others will be is a different story...


Kinectimals: Now with Bears

This one is going to go one of two ways - success or failure, there won't be an in-between. Either all .the kids will have to have it and parents will rush out on launch night, or everyone is going to realise what a lazy excuse for a game this is. And what a stupid title "Now with Bears." They might as well have called it, Kinectimals: The Lazy Sequel.

Rayman: Origins

As the first proper Rayman game in a while, and one that looks beautiful - I really hope that this sells. Whether it will is a different story. Rayman isn't as big a name as Mario and Sonic - especially to the new generation. So, this one's definitely in the danger zone.


Kirby: Mass Attack/Kirby's Return to Dreamland

Maybe not both of these will fail - but one of them definitely will. Why? Not many youngsters know who Kirby is, and the one's that do think he's some weird sewing thing. Also, with most of the portable gamers looking at the 3DS, which has games like Mariokart and Mario 3D Land out this Christmas, Kirby: Mass Attack will probably get lost. As for Kirby Wii - that could go either way, but Epic Yarn wasn't a huge seller last year, so it'll be interesting....


Those are my picks - but what about you? Comment your thoughts!

Posted in: Game Features, Games