Role-playing games are often praised for giving players choices and room to explore. But some releases have been remembered for the opposite: unfinished content, technical problems, confusing systems, or worlds that are no longer accessible. In its ranking of 10 particularly difficult RPGs to enjoy, the source uses “unplayable” broadly, covering both games that cannot be played today and titles whose design makes them a frustrating experience.
Cyberpunk 2077 is now celebrated as an action RPG, but its launch was troubled, particularly on PlayStation 4. The game was initially expected on newer consoles, but a PS4 version was also released amid difficulties supplying PS5 systems in 2020. The article says the launch version had extensive problems, which CD Projekt Red later worked to address. It argues that the PS4 edition remains limited compared with the PS5 version.
Might and Magic IX arrived in 2002 while developer New World Computing was facing bankruptcy. The resulting rushed development left the game feeling unfinished, with a lack of a satisfying ending and bugs that could prevent players from reaching it. The article describes the drop in quality from earlier entries as a major disappointment for fans.
The Matrix Online is unplayable for a more straightforward reason: the MMORPG’s servers were shut down in July 2009, four years after its March 2005 launch. Even while it was online, players criticized its slow, partially turn-based combat, repetitive quests, and glitches.
The original SaGa Frontier, released in 1997, is presented as an especially confusing take on the RPG genre. Its world scales with the player, so grinding can make the game more difficult rather than easier. It also gives limited direction, often relying on cryptic messages and puzzles to guide players.
Mass Effect: Andromeda drew criticism for falling short of its predecessors. The article points to a weak-feeling story, clunky dialogue, and large worlds that make exploration feel repetitive. It also notes that the game was affected by numerous glitches and that some fans blamed it for the series’ subsequent absence of another release.
Two Worlds was marketed in 2007 as a potential rival to The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, but failed to meet those expectations. Players also encountered frame-rate drops and lag, while its online co-op was described as severely problematic. The sequel, Two Worlds II, did not make a lasting impact, though the source says it was less frustrating than the original.
Quest 64, released for Nintendo 64 in 1998, follows apprentice mage Brian as he searches for his missing father. Its large environments are described as empty and repetitive, while familiar RPG features such as currency, shops, and meaningful equipment are absent. The game’s stat-building systems and uneven difficulty add to the frustration.
The first version of Final Fantasy XIV, released in 2010, was widely criticized for feeling unfinished. Its servers closed in 2012, and the game was substantially reworked and relaunched in August 2013. The article treats the original and the relaunch as separate releases, and describes the later version’s comeback as a major turnaround.
The Legend of Alon D’Ar, a 2001 PS2 action RPG, is criticized for slow, laggy combat that can fail to respond as intended. Other cited problems include dated graphics, heavy early grinding, unbalanced difficulty, and a story that progresses at a sluggish pace.
Call for Heroes: Pompolic Wars rounds out the list. The 2007 action RPG offers no dialogue or cutscenes, and its confusing maps can leave players unsure where to go. Death is especially punishing: players restart at the beginning of a level with just 10 health points, while lengthy missions lack checkpoints. The article characterizes the combination as frustrating without much reward.
Sources: Comic Book Resources.