ET. Superman 64. Gollum. There are numerous contenders for the title of “worst game ever,” yet none can compare to Big Rigs: Over the Road Racing, a notorious racing title that debuted with a Metacritic score of just 8 out of 100 back in 2003. Today, it has made its way back to Steam, where a fresh crop of ironic fans seems eager to embrace this highpoint of poor gaming.
The official announcement regarding the Steam release of Big Rigs came a few weeks ago, eliciting skepticism from many, particularly since the publisher, Margarite Entertainment, had appeared out of nowhere to revive this truly dreadful piece of software, with no apparent ties to the original publisher, GameMill. In a post on Steam’s forums, Margarite explained they had “obtained the rights to several classic games (including Big Rigs Over the Road Racing) globally,” and mysteriously, no one intervened to stop this from happening.
Big Rigs made its Steam debut today, priced at $4.79, or $5.92 if you opt for the soundtrack bundle. It’s exactly what you’d expect from Big Rigs, featuring glitches such as buildings you can drive through, mountains you can bypass completely, a reverse gear that allows you to achieve virtually infinite speeds, and races that essentially guarantee a “you’re winner” trophy upon finishing. This release is the 1.0 patched edition, which at least ensures that rival racers actually move compared to the original retail version, though they still come to a halt before crossing the finish line.
Numerous YouTube videos delve into the various ways Big Rigs falls short, but I recommend checking out GameSpot’s old video review, which stands as a classic in its own right.
To be clear, purchasing Big Rigs is not advisable if you are seeking a game that is even remotely enjoyable or functioning. However, if you’re in the mood for some laughs with friends during a Discord stream over something truly atrocious, this version is certainly easier to access than the various “abandonware” iterations that have circulated online for years.
Big Rigs launched with a peak concurrent player count of 71, which exceeds what it merits, and fans of modern trash games have posted dozens of positive reviews, contributing to an 83% score on Steam. The few negative reviews mainly criticize the “sketchiness” of this paid re-release, but honestly, nothing more accurately reflects the surreal legacy of Big Rigs.
Try to wash the memory of Big Rigs away with some of the best PC games available right now.