Let’s face it—2025 has not emerged as a sensational year for video gaming. Besides the noteworthy title Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and a handful of impressive indie releases, the gaming landscape has been starkly underwhelming.
This lack of excitement follows a series of delays, cancellations, and missteps, undermining some of the most anticipated games of the year. As a result, many gamers find themselves feeling deflated yet slightly wealthier in terms of unspent gaming budgets.
Some titles were hyped but underperformed dramatically, while others launched with such poor execution that they failed to resonate with players from day one. Below, we discuss the eight games that not only disappointed their communities but also squandered their initial excitement.
8 MindsEye
The ‘GTA Killer’ That Committed Suicide
Though it lacked substantial pre-release hype, MindsEye received significant marketing attention during Summer Games Fest, sparking curiosity about its potential as a high-budget, open-world cyberpunk experience. Unfortunately, the reality fell short; players were met with a myriad of game-breaking bugs, poor design decisions, and severely flawed AI upon release.
Matters worsened when Leslie Benzies, the studio’s founder and a former Rockstar developer, publicly blamed “mysterious saboteurs”for the game’s shortcomings, a claim lacking any supporting evidence. Ultimately, what was billed as a ‘GTA killer’ tragically devolved into an unplayable experience, plummeting to a disheartening seven players worldwide.
7 Rematch
Is It Supposed To Be Like This?
Sloclap, known for their innovative title Sifu, ambitiously set out to create an entirely new football game with Rematch. However, the execution left much to be desired, offering an experience riddled with frustrating flaws. Instead of thriving, the game fell short of expectations, particularly for fans tired of the repetitive EA/FIFA formula eager for something novel.
Players encountered disorganized matches due to unintuitive controls and a lack of cohesive teamwork incentives. Overpowered tricks became ubiquitous, diminishing variety in gameplay. While Rematch possesses potential, significant adjustments are necessary for it to compete against giants like Rocket League, EAFC, and even eFootball.
6 Splitgate 2
Bad Marketing, Bland Experience
After the moderately successful launch of the original Splitgate, expectations ran high for 1047 Games’ sequel. Yet, the launch at the 2025 Summer Games Fest turned disastrous. Co-founder Ian Proulx showcased disheartening arrogance while targeting the FPS genre and defended uninspiring marketing choices.
Compounding this was the launch trailer, which presented an uninspired visual experience laden with clichés, failing to differentiate itself from underwhelming titles like Marathon and FBC: Firebreak. To add insult to injury, players were met with an absurd $80 cosmetic “microtransaction, ”further souring community sentiment.
Briefly faced with backlash, Proulx insinuated that an ex-Call of Duty developer was to blame for the game’s downfall. The lack of player retention became apparent, with the title experiencing a staggering drop of over 80% in players within just a month post-launch.
5 The Alters
Why Didn’t They Just Apologize?
Regarded for their distinctive offerings, 11 Bit Studios had set sights on innovating with The Alters. While the concept combining settlement management, survival mechanics, and cloning proved ambitious, the delivery faltered, especially compared to titles such as The Thaumaturge and The Invincible.
Some technical issues, primarily from Unreal Engine, particularly on PC, detracted from gameplay. However, the studio faced an uphill battle in morale following controversy regarding AI-generated background text in the game. Their lengthy justification fell flat with players, leading to a tepid player base of around 1, 000 users on Steam.
4.InZOI
Welcome To Bug-Topia
After the cancellation of Paradox Interactive’s highly anticipated Life By You, expectations rested on Microsoft’s shoulders with InZOI. Regrettably, an overdependence on Unreal Engine 5, combined with a lack of depth, led to a lacklustre offering.
Though it boasts impressive graphics and intricate building mechanics, the gameplay doesn’t drastically stray from conventional life-simulation titles. Additionally, character and clothing customization suffers from intrusive AI-generated textures. Yet, the main concern is a troubling instability of the game filled with bugs and glitches.
Recognizing that InZOI remains in early access provides a glimmer of hope, yet substantial enhancements will be necessary to fulfill the ambitious vision that the title promoted.
3 Killing Floor 3
All Substance, No Style
As a devoted fan of the Killing Floor franchise, it’s disheartening to observe the trajectory of Killing Floor 3. A significant shift to a sci-fi theme and an overhaul of the beloved class and upgrade system left many fans disillusioned.
The introduction of new in-game currency and microtransaction elements didn’t bode well, leading to generally unfavourable feedback from beta testers who felt the title lacked the uniqueness of its predecessors. Although the final release showcased solid gameplay, the absence of an engaging atmosphere led many to feel that Killing Floor 3 fell notably short of its predecessors.
2 Avowed
A Sickeningly Colourful Disappointment
Anticipation for Avowed soared following its announcement in 2020, positioning it as a competitor to the Elder Scrolls series within the Pillars of Eternity universe. However, as further details emerged, the allure faded.
Despite a decent premise, substandard writing and over-the-top character designs paired with a garish color scheme diluted creativity, resulting in a dull experience. Clunky combat mechanics and mundane environments contributed to a pervasive sense of tedium, leading to a drastic drop in player engagement from nearly 20, 000 at launch to a mere 300 players daily.
1 Assassin’s Creed Shadows
Ubisoft Commits Seppuku
Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Shadows faced severe backlash, particularly for its culturally insensitive approach to its Japanese setting. The controversial casting of Yasuke as a leading character, combined with blunders in representing Japanese culture and history, further fueled the fire of discontent.
Issues arose from misuse of Chinese aesthetics, ultimately altered due to public ire. The launch edition, featuring a statue of a damaged torii gate—a poignant symbol of Hiroshima’s atomic devastation—also sparked outrage. The release on the anniversary of the Tokyo subway sarin attack compounded the controversy, drawing condemnation from the Japanese prime minister who deemed the game “absolutely unacceptable.”
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