From misleading marketing to unexpected gameplay shifts, these games took us by surprise! Join us as we explore video games that weren't what we expected them to be. Our list includes titles that shocked us with their genre-bending mechanics, surprising story twists, or features that differed dramatically from what was advertised. Which gaming surprise caught you off guard the most?
Category
🎮️
GamingTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're looking at video games that were completely different
00:08from what we expected them to be, for better or worse.
00:11Whether it was due to marketing, pre-release coverage, or our own preconceived notions,
00:16we'll be covering games that either played differently from our expectations, or whose
00:20stories went in unexpected directions.
00:23That means, in the case of the latter, we're issuing a spoiler warning.
00:27Just a precaution, you are now designated Raiden.
00:33Number 20 Dead Island
00:42Let's start with one of the most infamous video game trailers of all time.
00:46When the original Dead Island was announced, it was accompanied by a somber, reflective
00:51trailer that chronicled a family being overrun by zombies.
00:54The reverse slow motion to show how this situation unfolded, and the soft music underneath
00:59combined for a surprisingly moving trailer.
01:02Of course, the real game is nothing like this.
01:04It's a much more lighthearted, action-centric romp that focuses on dismembering the undead.
01:10There's absolutely nothing wrong with a game like that, but this trailer made everyone
01:14think that they'd get a more emotional experience than what they got.
01:24Number 19 The Mummy Demastered
01:39Movie tie-in games have long come with negative connotations.
01:43While we should all try to remain open-minded, The Mummy Demastered didn't instill high hopes.
01:49This was mainly because it was delayed to a few months after the release of the 2017
01:54movie, which proved to be a huge disappointment and a financial bomb.
01:58We weren't expecting greatness, but that's actually what we got.
02:02Happening at the same time as the movie, the Metroidvania's action was far more thrilling
02:06than anything we saw on the big screen.
02:09And even though the genre is overpopulated in the indie scene, it still managed to set
02:13itself apart from many others.
02:15Number 18 The Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker
02:30In 2000, as Nintendo was gearing up for the GameCube, it showed off a tech demo at the
02:35Space World Exposition.
02:37It showed an adult Link fighting Ganondorf.
02:40And many, ourselves included, thought this was a taste of what the next Zelda game would
02:44offer.
02:45When the GameCube entry was officially unveiled, everyone was shocked to see a much more whimsical,
02:50cartoon-inspired Link.
02:52A vocal part of the fanbase condemned this change, denouncing Nintendo for moving in
02:56a more kid-friendly direction.
02:58Even if you didn't hate it, it was definitely unexpected.
03:01The game released to strong reviews but lower sales, showing that those fans weren't willing
03:05to give it a chance.
03:07Number 17 Death Stranding
03:21Admittedly, it's hard to know what to expect when it comes to Hideo Kojima.
03:26But considering the franchise the creator is best known for, Metal Gear Solid, we can
03:30say with confidence that most players weren't expecting a lot of excitement.
03:35Of course, the game is a lot deeper than that, exploring the theme of human connection in
03:39a desolate world.
03:40And its mechanics can get surprisingly complex.
03:44More so than the often-mocked sub-genre usually features.
03:47Still, most of the criticism surrounding the game at launch honed in on this aspect.
03:52So much so that it dominated conversations.
03:55But there's so much more to it than that.
04:05I'll be waiting for you on the beach.
04:10Number 16 Star Fox Adventures
04:22In the early 2000s, video game coverage wasn't as widespread as it is today.
04:26So when a new Star Fox game was announced, most players assumed it was going to be another
04:31shoot-em-up with Fox McCloud adventuring through space.
04:34That's not what we got, though.
04:36Adventures mostly takes place on the singular dinosaur planet and goes the action-adventure
04:41route over its predecessors.
04:42Its announcement trailer even featured shots of Fox in his air wing, making it seem like
04:47a blend of gameplay styles.
04:49But this is something that only occurs briefly.
04:51Today, we know this was initially envisioned by developer Rare as a different game before
04:56Nintendo intervened and turned it into Star Fox.
04:59Back then, it was a big surprise.
05:04Number 15 Black Myth Wukong
05:20Leading up to the release of Black Myth Wukong, many players believed it to be another Souls-like,
05:24the incredibly tough sub-genre of action RPGs popularized by FromSoftware.
05:29We thought so too, but the game isn't so simply placed.
05:33Sure, there are elements of those games, such as intense boss fights that require a
05:37thorough understanding of mechanics to master.
05:39But even the developers have come out to say that it isn't a Souls-like.
05:43It has more focus on story and characterization, is far more cinematic, and is much more forgiving
05:49with its difficulty level.
05:50More accurately, it's somewhere in between games in FromSoftware's catalog and Sony's
05:55God of War series.
06:03Number 14 Halo 5 Guardians
06:20There are still plenty of fans who feel burned by the misleading marketing campaign of Halo
06:255.
06:25Microsoft implied a traitorous turn from protagonist Master Chief going against both
06:30the UNSC and humanity as a whole.
06:33This was seen in trailers as well as an extensive audio play called Hunt the Truth.
06:38Also implied and built up was a climactic clash between him and Spartan Locke.
06:42So there was a huge amount of hype generated.
06:45Unfortunately, when the game was released, we found that Master Chief's turncoat ways
06:49were barely included in the campaign.
06:52And that legendary fight between the two playable characters was simply a cutscene.
06:56Needless to say, fans were not happy.
07:03Number 13 Bug Snacks
07:16For the most part, Bug Snacks is exactly the silly type of game it presents itself as.
07:21There's just something much darker than expected lurking underneath.
07:25The game follows you and your fellow Grumpuses investigating a mysterious island on which
07:30you find the remains of an ancient civilization and the titular half-bug, half-snack creatures.
07:36While exploring, you'll complete quests that involve catching and feeding Bug Snacks
07:40to the other Grumpuses, which transforms various body parts to represent what snack they ate.
07:45By the end, you learn the Bug Snacks are actually parasites that eventually completely take
07:50over whatever eats them.
07:52So all the little critters were likely once Grumpuses themselves, and everyone's been
07:57indulging in a bit of cannibalism.
07:59Oh, and so you know, Gromdomon is not responsible for any loss or injury suffered as a result
08:03of the use of its products.
08:05Number 12 Hyrule Warriors Age of Calamity
08:16In terms of gameplay, we knew what we were getting with Age of Calamity.
08:20Just like the first game, it blended Zelda characters with Dynasty Warriors style.
08:25However, unlike the first, there were many fans who thought this one might be canonical
08:29since it was set within the history of Breath of the Wild.
08:32Moreover, many of us thought we'd actually see the destruction of Hyrule by Ganon's
08:36forces as well as the emotional deaths of the champions.
08:40In hindsight, maybe it was silly to think Nintendo would put us through something so
08:44devastating and place a spinoff within the Zelda timeline.
08:48Time travel ends up saving the day, with each champion's descendant coming back to help
08:52them as well as the kingdom.
08:55Number 11 Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
09:19Upon learning that the only playable character in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy would
09:23be Star-Lord, a feeling of disappointment took hold of many who were looking forward
09:27to it.
09:28That and the release of the underwhelming Avengers game the previous year made expectations
09:33pretty low.
09:33But if you've played this game, you know it's pretty awesome.
09:37Not only is it nothing like Avengers, but Star-Lord being the only playable character
09:41actually makes sense and in no way hinders the experience.
09:44It ties in with both the story and gameplay, with Star-Lord's struggle to be a worthy
09:48leader while commanding his teammates during battle.
09:51It definitely took most of us by surprise.
10:11Number 10 Nier Automata
10:22Even if you went into Nier Automata knowing it would be a blend of genres like its predecessor,
10:27though to a more major extent, it's still surprising at how well it all works.
10:32But what we really didn't expect, as no one really could, was how well its story works.
10:37The game features multiple playthroughs and endings, each of which helps piece everything
10:41together.
10:42However, it also manages to juggle those with a thoughtful, introspective focus on free
10:47will.
10:48We were expecting another hack and slash masterpiece from Platinum Games.
10:51What we got was so much more.
11:03Number 9 We Happy Few
11:05We Happy Few got a lot of comparisons to Bioshock after it was revealed due to its visual style,
11:19unsettling tone, and dystopian themes.
11:21But when it was released, a lot of players were surprised it wasn't a narrative-driven
11:26action game.
11:27Instead, it focused heavily on survival mechanics and procedural generation.
11:31Many voiced their dissatisfaction, thinking a more linear approach would have fit better
11:35with the game's world and plot.
11:37Even the game's director later said that if they had focused more on the story, they
11:41would have dropped the procedurally generated elements.
11:52Number 8 Brutal Legend
11:54A heavy metal-themed action-adventure game developed by Double Fine and starring Jack
12:06Black, Brutal Legend seemed like it had a lot going for it.
12:10Except there was a huge aspect of the game completely hidden from players in pre-release
12:14trailers.
12:15Real-time strategy.
12:17That's not to say it's bad, because it's great.
12:19Still, hiding something so fundamental to the experience is naturally going to surprise
12:24a lot of players.
12:25No one was expecting it to suddenly include tactical mechanics.
12:28Some think hiding this genre blend was in an effort to generate more sales, since RTS
12:33games aren't as popular as more standard action-adventures.
12:36But the game didn't sell well anyway.
12:46Number 7 Doki Doki Literature Club
12:54If you've played this game, you shouldn't be surprised to find it here.
13:03Doki Doki Literature Club presents itself as a cute visual novel dating sim, with you
13:08controlling the newest member of an after-school book club.
13:11For the first half, that's exactly how it plays.
13:13But around the midpoint, things take a distinct turn into psychological horror.
13:18It isn't just that the story or characters get more disturbing, though they certainly
13:22do.
13:22It's that the game begins interacting with you through some of the most unsettling fourth
13:27wall breaks in gaming.
13:28From the outside, anyone unfamiliar would take it at face value.
13:32But it's far more creative.
13:45Number 6 Anthem
13:53You think you're the next General Tarsus?
13:55I had no idea the Dominion was that delusional.
13:57The E3 2017 trailer for Anthem made it look promising.
14:01But sadly, it was all just for show.
14:04Bioware was going through immense turmoil during the game's development due to its
14:07severe lack of leadership and pressure from publisher EA.
14:11Instead of being allowed the necessary time, the team was forced to hobble up together
14:15a gameplay trailer.
14:16Which ended up being mostly fake, since Anthem was still in pre-production.
14:21They then tried to match the game to what was shown, but again, didn't have enough
14:25time to do so.
14:26And so, Anthem launched in a state significantly lacking what the trailer promised, much to
14:31the dissatisfaction of players.
14:42Number 5 Spec Ops The Line
14:51Shut up, jackass.
14:54A semi-reboot to a series that hadn't received a new game in 10 years, most weren't expecting
14:59anything that deep with Spec Ops The Line.
15:02That, and the fact that it was yet another military shooter made us think we'd get
15:06something generic at best.
15:07Man, were we wrong.
15:09Gameplay was solid, with strong, thrilling set pieces.
15:12But what really set this game apart was its story, as it focused on the horrors of war
15:17and the impact it has on a soldier's state of mind.
15:20There were several twists and turns that kept us glued to our controllers in suspense,
15:24craving answers and instilling a need to keep digging.
15:41Number 4 No Man's Sky
15:50This one is pretty straightforward.
15:53We, along with everyone else, expected we were getting something different with No Man's
15:57Sky because that's what we were told.
16:00Leading up to its launch, developer Hello Games made some enticing promises about what
16:04the game was capable of and what features to expect.
16:07Then the game was released, and most were disappointed about how bare-bones it was.
16:12Many of those features, such as multiplayer, were missing, and with that disappointment
16:16came severe backlash.
16:18The studio learned its lesson though, backing down, staying out of the spotlight, and releasing
16:22multiple free updates throughout the years.
16:25No Man's Sky has long since redeemed itself, but it undeniably had a rough start.
16:39Number 3 Metal Gear Solid 2 Sons of Liberty
16:48For Metal Gear, that is housed here.
16:50The first Metal Gear Solid was a huge stepping stone for video games, not just in terms of
16:55gameplay, but in storytelling as well.
16:57Naturally, when its sequel was released, most players assumed that they'd be taking on
17:02the role of Solid Snake once again.
17:04Not only because he was the main character in the first game, but because pre-release
17:08footage and the game's demo alluded to it.
17:11However, after the opening, we found out we'd actually be playing as a new character, Raiden.
17:17At the time, some players were annoyed by the bait-and-switch, but Sons of Liberty would
17:21go on to become one of the most cherished entries in the franchise.
17:34Number 2 The Last of Us Part II
17:37How would you rate our kiss from last night?
17:45We expected the sequel to The Last of Us to have tense gameplay and vicious enemies just
17:50like the original.
17:51What most didn't expect, unless they saw the uncomfortable leaks beforehand, was the
17:55direction the story would go in.
17:57In its opening hours, the game kills off the protagonist of the first game, Joel, with
18:02Ellie then going on a quest for vengeance against those responsible.
18:05It isn't just that it was unexpected, it's that trailers directly misled players.
18:10One in particular made it seem like Ellie's new flame, Dina, would be the victim, while
18:15Joel would accompany Ellie on her journey.
18:17It opened up a debate whether it was okay to lie in game trailers when trying to conceal
18:22important story details.
18:36Number 1 Final Fantasy VII Remake
19:00When a game is remade, you generally know what to expect.
19:04Enhanced visuals, mechanics, and controls, maybe some new voice acting, or in some rare
19:09cases, reworked story elements.
19:11However, even in those cases, the plot will still hit the same important beats as the
19:16original.
19:16The exception to this is Final Fantasy VII Remake.
19:20Announced in 2015, we were all under the impression that it would be a retelling with revamped
19:25gameplay and graphics.
19:26Not only were the aforementioned enhancements made, but entire sections and characters were
19:31vastly expanded on and given more depth.
19:34The story also went in different directions, and as plans for the trilogy unraveled with
19:392024's follow-up Rebirth, that only became more true.
19:42What's a game that was different from what you expected it to be?
20:03Share your biggest disappointments or most pleasant surprises in the comments.
20:12Thanks for watching.