2026’s First Major Flop Has Arrived

Every year seems to bring a standout bad game, and just two weeks into 2026, we might already have a contender. Code Violet is a survival horror title from TeamKill Media, the same developers behind the poorly received Quantum Error from 2023. Both games currently hold a score of 40 on review aggregate sites, and with Code Violet only having a few reviews so far, there’s still a chance for this dinosaur-shooting Resident Evil wannabe to drop even lower.

Code Violet attempts to blend the tight corridors and over-the-shoulder shooting mechanics of classics like Resident Evil 4 and Dead Space with a dinosaur-infested environment reminiscent of Dino Crisis. Unfortunately, it seems to fall short of capturing the essence of those games, with its simplistic shooting mechanics failing to instill a sense of fear from its dinosaur adversaries.

“In a direct confrontation with these scaly enemies, a well-timed retreat can really confuse the raptors, disrupting their straightforward strategy of charging at you, swinging, pausing, and repeating,” notes a reviewer. “However, the limited space means you can only backpedal so much before you become an easy target. The camera often collides with obstacles much sooner than the protagonist, Violet, does, turning any encounter that isn’t centered in the room into a chaotic mess until you can get the camera back on track.”

Many reviewers have pointed out that the combat in Code Violet feels underdeveloped, making it difficult to interpret both visually and through audio cues. One reviewer described the shooting as “limp” and the weapons as “weightless.”

“Shotguns should pack a punch, but firing one in Code Violet feels more like blowing through a McDonald’s straw after biting off the end, resulting in a disappointing thwip rather than a satisfying boom. Hitboxes seem erratic, and there’s little visual feedback. It’s often unclear if you’re actually hitting your target until the dinosaur you’re shooting at awkwardly collapses,” the reviewer explained.

Beyond the shooting mechanics, several critics have noted a strange tonal clash between the game’s survival horror atmosphere and the way it presents its protagonist, Violet. Her fanservice-heavy outfits and the game’s insistence on providing an unobstructed view quickly become tiresome and feel out of place.

“While the character model is impressively detailed, it’s presented in a sexualized way, further emphasized by the revealing costumes you can choose at save points,” one reviewer commented.

“In a key moment of the story, Violet mourns the death of a comrade, who was killed by a space dinosaur. As tears stream down her face and the voice actor delivers an emotional performance, the camera pans back to reveal Violet dressed in a sexy cowgirl outfit complete with arse-less chaps,” another reviewer noted.

Scrolling through the comments on these reviews, it’s clear that many aren’t shocked by this, especially since Quantum Error was also a major disappointment. There’s a chorus of players expressing a desire for Capcom to revive Dino Crisis, hoping for a genuine dinosaur horror experience instead of these imitations. From the looks of it, waiting for Capcom to bring the franchise back might be a better option than diving into Code Violet.