The Man Who Bought 2,000 Copies of One of Xbox 360’s Worst Games—And Why It Matters
In the vast, ever-expanding universe of video games, few titles have achieved the infamy of Ride to Hell: Retribution. Once dubbed “one of the worst games ever made,” this 2013 Xbox 360 title became a punchline in gaming circles for its glitchy gameplay, bizarre animations, and a reputation so toxic that it earned a Metacritic score of 19/100—one of the lowest in the site’s history. Yet, for one collector, its sheer awfulness was precisely the draw. Over the past decade, a man identified only as “Derek” amassed a staggering 2,000 physical copies of the game, turning what was meant to be a commercial flop into a bizarre cultural artifact—and a testament to how lousy games can become cult classics in their own right.
The story, first reported by Spanish outlet Diario AS, has since captivated gamers and collectors worldwide. Derek’s motivation? “Fue por las risas”—”It was for the laughs.” His collection, now one of the largest known assemblages of a single “bad” game, raises fascinating questions about fandom, nostalgia, and the strange economics of gaming’s most notorious failures. But how did Ride to Hell: Retribution become such a disaster in the first place? And why would anyone spend years—and potentially thousands of dollars—hoarding copies of a game that critics and players alike reviled?
The Rise and Fall of Ride to Hell: Retribution
Developed by German studio Eutechnyx and published by Deep Silver, Ride to Hell: Retribution was initially conceived as an open-world biker game set in the 1960s. The premise sounded promising: players would cruise across a sprawling map, engaging in shootouts, biker gang wars, and even romantic subplots. But from the moment it was announced, the game was plagued by delays, mismanagement, and a development cycle so troubled that it became a cautionary tale in the industry.
When it finally launched in June 2013, the result was a disaster. Reviews were scathing. IGN called it “a broken, unfinished mess” with “some of the worst animation ever seen in a game.” GameSpot described its combat as “clunky and unresponsive,” while Eurogamer simply declared it “unplayable.” The game’s infamous “sex scenes”—marketed as a selling point—were so poorly animated that they became a meme, with one scene in particular (involving a character named “Jake”) going viral for its unintentionally hilarious execution.
The backlash was swift. Within weeks, Ride to Hell: Retribution was pulled from digital storefronts, and Deep Silver issued a rare public apology, acknowledging that the game “did not meet the quality standards expected by our fans.” Retailers slashed its price to as low as $1 in some regions, and unsold copies were reportedly destroyed en masse to prevent further embarrassment. By 2014, the game had all but vanished from public consciousness—except, that is, for a little but dedicated group of collectors who saw value in its sheer terribleness.
The Collector: Derek’s 2,000-Disc Obsession
Derek, whose full identity has not been publicly confirmed, is a self-described “bad game enthusiast.” In interviews with gaming forums and collectors’ communities, he has described his mission as preserving the “history of gaming’s biggest flops.” His collection of Ride to Hell: Retribution discs—estimated to be worth between $5,000 and $10,000 at current market rates—is not just a personal quirk but a statement on how failure can become a form of art.
“I started buying copies when I saw how cheap they were,” Derek told Diario AS. “At first, it was just a joke. But then I realized how rare some of these discs were becoming. Stores were throwing them out, and I thought, ‘Someone should save these.’” His collection includes not just standard retail copies but also promotional discs, international versions, and even unopened “new old stock” that had never been sold.
Derek’s hoard is extreme, but he’s not alone in his fascination with bad games. The internet has long celebrated gaming’s most infamous failures through channels like Angry Video Game Nerd, AVGN spin-offs, and YouTube compilations of glitches. Ride to Hell: Retribution, with its surreal cutscenes and broken physics, has become a favorite among these communities. Clips of the game’s infamous “Jake” sex scene, for example, have been viewed millions of times on platforms like YouTube, where it’s been remixed into memes and even musical parodies.
Why Bad Games Matter: The Economics of Infamy
Derek’s collection is more than just a curiosity—it’s a case study in how failure can create value in unexpected ways. In the gaming industry, a game’s reputation often dictates its resale market. Titles like E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial for the Atari 2600, once buried in a New Mexico landfill, now sell for hundreds of dollars to collectors. Similarly, Ride to Hell: Retribution has seen its price skyrocket in recent years, not because it’s a good game, but because it’s a historically bad one.
According to PriceCharting, a site that tracks video game values, sealed copies of Ride to Hell: Retribution now sell for between $50 and $150, depending on condition. Loose discs (without their original cases) can still be found for as little as $5, but Derek’s bulk purchases suggest he acquired most of his copies during the game’s fire-sale period, when retailers were practically giving them away.
The phenomenon isn’t limited to Ride to Hell. Other notoriously bad games, such as Large Rigs: Over the Road Racing (2003) and Postal III (2011), have also developed cult followings. In some cases, their infamy has even led to re-releases. Big Rigs, for example, was re-released on Steam in 2020 as part of a “Worst Games of All Time” bundle, proving that there’s a market for mediocrity—if it’s entertaining enough.
The Psychology of Bad Game Collecting
So why do people collect bad games? For Derek, it’s about the humor and the history. “There’s something fascinating about seeing how a game this bad got made,” he said. “It’s like a time capsule of what not to do in game development.”
Psychologists and gaming experts suggest that the appeal of bad games lies in their ability to evoke a sense of schadenfreude—the pleasure derived from someone else’s misfortune. In this case, the “misfortune” is the game’s developers, whose hubris and mismanagement led to a product so flawed that it became legendary. Watching or playing a bad game can also create a sense of superiority in players, who feel smarter or more skilled than the developers who created it.
Dr. Jamie Madigan, a psychologist who studies video game behavior, notes that bad games often foster a unique form of community. “People bond over shared experiences of frustration and laughter,” he told World Today Journal. “When a game is so bad that it’s funny, it becomes a social experience. You’re not just playing it—you’re reacting to it with others.”
What Happens Next for Ride to Hell: Retribution?
For now, Derek’s collection remains a private obsession, though he has hinted at plans to display it publicly someday. “I’d love to do an exhibit or a documentary,” he said. “This game deserves to be remembered, even if it’s for all the wrong reasons.”
As for the game itself, its legacy is secure. Ride to Hell: Retribution has been immortalized in gaming’s hall of shame, alongside titles like Superman 64 and Bubsy 3D. It’s been referenced in academic papers on game design, cited in industry talks about quality control, and even taught in game development courses as an example of what happens when a project spirals out of control.
In an era where video games are increasingly polished and focus-tested, Ride to Hell: Retribution stands as a relic of a time when a game could fail spectacularly—and in doing so, become something far more interesting than its creators ever intended. For Derek and collectors like him, that’s the real value of a bad game: not in how it plays, but in how it makes us laugh, cringe, and remember.
Key Takeaways
- Ride to Hell: Retribution is one of the worst-reviewed games in history, with a Metacritic score of 19/100 and widespread criticism for its glitches, animations, and gameplay.
- A collector known as “Derek” has amassed over 2,000 physical copies of the game, turning it into one of the largest known collections of a single “bad” title.
- Bad games can become cult classics, with their infamy driving up resale values and fostering online communities dedicated to their flaws.
- The appeal of bad games lies in humor, nostalgia, and schadenfreude, as players bond over shared experiences of frustration and laughter.
- The game’s legacy persists in gaming culture, serving as a cautionary tale in game development and a subject of academic study.
FAQ
Q: Why is Ride to Hell: Retribution considered so bad?
A: The game was plagued by glitches, broken physics, and bizarre animations, including infamous “sex scenes” that became memes. Critics and players alike panned it for being nearly unplayable, earning it one of the lowest Metacritic scores ever.
Q: How much is Ride to Hell: Retribution worth today?
A: Sealed copies can sell for $50–$150, while loose discs are often found for $5–$20. The value has increased over time due to its cult status and rarity.
Q: Are there other “bad” games that have become collectible?
A: Yes. Titles like E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (Atari 2600), Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing, and Postal III have all developed cult followings and seen their resale values rise over time.
Q: What happened to the developers of Ride to Hell: Retribution?
A: Eutechnyx, the studio behind the game, has not released a major title since Ride to Hell. Deep Silver, the publisher, issued a public apology and pulled the game from digital storefronts shortly after its release.
Q: Could Ride to Hell: Retribution ever be re-released?
A: It’s unlikely. The game’s rights are still held by Deep Silver, but given its reputation, a re-release would likely be a niche or ironic project, similar to the “Worst Games of All Time” bundle that included Big Rigs.
As gaming continues to evolve, stories like Derek’s remind us that failure can be just as compelling as success. Whether it’s for the laughs, the history, or the sheer absurdity, bad games have carved out their own unique place in the industry—and for collectors like Derek, that’s a legacy worth preserving.
Have you played Ride to Hell: Retribution or another “bad” game that became a cult favorite? Share your stories in the comments below, and don’t forget to follow World Today Journal’s Tech section for more deep dives into gaming’s most fascinating stories.