15 Most Expensive Games That Flopped

The gaming industry is full of amazing success stories, from indie developers who struck it big to AAA projects that actually delivered one expectations. Not every game can be a breakout success though, even with millions of dollars invested in it. And sometimes, even with the biggest budget, there are some titles that just can’t hide their own awfulness. Let’s take a look at the top 15 most expensive games that flopped in gaming history. Not every title crossed $100 million with their budget but in terms of financial returns, every one of them fared badly.

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Grim Fandango – $3 million

Some say the decline of adventure gaming started with the poor sales of Lucas Arts’ Grim Fandango. Creator Tim Schafer claims the game turned a profit despite shipping 95,000 copies at launch (and the man had a royalty check to prove it). Actual numbers down the line varied between 100,000 to 500,000 units but there’s no denying that Grim Fandango was a cult classic more than a mainstream success at its time. It may not have had the largest budget at $3 million but its misfortune was still no joke.