Worst RPG of the Year Second Place Third Place

Sometimes a great concept and superb localization just can't save a terrible game, and Hyperdimension Neptunia is a prime example of this. Despite the best efforts of NIS America, the game's zany setting and gaming inside-jokes can't hide the fact that, at its core, it's simply a terrible game through and through. From its primitive, regularly recycled visuals to its busted combat system, there isn't a single element that manages to escape the wrath of Gamindustri's true villain: bad design.

The problems plaguing Hyperdimension Neptunia can be found everywhere. Healing in combat is controlled by a ridiculous, automated system that doesn't even work right. The "complex" combo system serves no function since every character has a single, best combo that they can always use. Worst of all, the supposed allegory to the game industry that Hyperdimension Neptunia wants to represent is so shallow that it's barely even present. Instead, the story follows typical JRPG conventions in a very bland and generic way. For these reasons and more, Hyperdimension Neptunia is RPGamer's choice for Worst RPG of 2011.

More fun than Hyperdimension Neptunia in the same way that having your sweet roll stolen is more fun than an arrow in the knee, Wizardry: Labyrinth of Lost Souls elicited more yawns than lols from the staff members unfortunate enough to play it. Even without the minor localization glitches and in-game god-voice asking for PSN money to unlock the second half of one of the game's two small dungeons, Labyrinth of Lost Souls emphasizes the difficulty spikes, grinding for ultra rare items, and all-around boredom added to Wizardry by Japanese developers without including much of what makes first person dungeon crawlers fun. Dungeon Hunter: Alliance is an extremely dull game to play single player and offers little variety even in multiplayer mode. The game takes the hack-and-slash formula and strips out everything that makes it fun, leaving only a humdrum experience in its place. Not recommended.

by Glenn Wilson and Adriaan den Ouden