The Universal Translator is a plot device. Meaning it works when writers want it to and fails when they don't want it to. They are unfortunately inconsistent in their depictions of such events.
As a point of reference, video games, particularly ones which feature the Star Trek Universe, are almost never considered canon. Differences in video game timelines may run counter to established norms for the televised shows, often showing more elaborate technology trees or overlooking established canon for gameplay.
As far as the Universal Translator goes, Roddenberry, in his draft of Star Trek described it as:
We establish a "telecommunicator" device early in the series, little more complicated than a small transistor radio carried in a pocket. A simple "two-way scrambler", it appears to be converting all spoken language into English. (Roddenberry 11)
Memory Alpha enhances that answer with:
The universal translator is one of many Star Trek technologies that exist primarily as conventions to aid storytelling. The UT enables the vast majority of dialog between characters to be written (and delivered) in English, to the convenience of viewers and writers alike. Writers do not have to devise a new language for each new alien of the week that speaks on-screen, and viewers do not have to watch for subtitles.
What this means is Star Trek is notoriously inconsistent with the use of the Universal Translator even within its own universe, supporting it on one episode and making it useless in the next.
I think when you see it failing, it is generally to enhance or demonstrate a particular characters capabilities as was so often done with Lt. Uhura or Lt. Sato (Enterprise).
Its failure was most apparent when translating the metaphoric language of the Tamarians.
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