Most Overhated Open-World Games

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The word of the year for 2025 is “rage bait,” which explains the current high levels of online negativity. This is especially noticeable in the gaming world, where games are often targeted with intense online hate or even boycotts, sometimes before they’re even released. While criticism isn’t always unfair, audiences are quick to label games as either brilliant or terrible, and once a negative opinion takes hold, it’s incredibly difficult to change it.

Look, we’ve all been there ā€“ hyped for a new open-world game, only to be seriously let down. Sometimes it’s just a buggy mess from day one, like they rushed it out the door. Other times, it feels kinda empty, or you’re not really sure what you’re supposed to be doing. And let’s not even get started on when developers make choices that justā€¦ rub people the wrong way. I’m going to take a look at some of those games ā€“ the ones that never quite shook off that bad reputation, even if they had some cool ideas going for them.

These games aren’t flawless, and even after updates addressing initial issues, they might not fully justify their original price. We focus on what these games do well, considering their current quality and the significant discounts often available to players.

Honorable mentions:

  • Mafia 3
  • Mass Effect: Andromeda
  • Star Wars Outlaws
  • Monster Hunter Wilds

MindsEye

More Like Modern-Set Mafia Than GTA

Let’s address this upfront: despite often being called one of the worst games released, that’s a pretty unfair assessment. While MindsEye certainly doesn’t compete with GTA, and its initial lack of refinement didnā€™t help, that wasnā€™t the developersā€™ intention. The comparisons to GTA stemmed from the fact that Leslie Benzies, the studio founder, previously worked as a key producer on GTA 5. The gameā€™s marketing focused on a large city, action-packed shooting, and driving, which unfortunately led people to expect something it wasnā€™t.

Instead of an open world, the game offers a focused, story-driven experience with well-made cutscenes, similar to the Mafia games, but set in a largely deserted city. If you approach MindsEye expecting that, it can be an enjoyable 12-hour playthrough. Despite a somewhat confusing plot, forgettable characters, and simple missions that mostly involve traveling between locations and engaging in combat, the gameā€™s fundamental gameplay feels good, and thatā€™s really the most important thing.

The game feels fantastic to control, both on the ground and in the air ā€“ it even surpasses some newer racing games. Flying is straightforward but thrilling, something even Cyberpunk 2077 couldn’t quite achieve, and soaring around skyscrapers is genuinely breathtaking. The game cleverly incorporates first-person drone controls into combat, making even simple shootouts more enjoyable. After several updates have smoothed out any initial problems, and now at a significantly reduced price, MindsEye is a solid and capable game that deserves a second look ā€“ itā€™s much better than many people remember.

Assassinā€™s Creed Shadows

Tasked to Single-Handedly Save the Company

Assassinā€™s Creed Shadows is a standout title, launching with impressive technical performance and generally positive reviews. However, despite its strengths, the game struggles with a pre-existing negative perception that keeps some players from fully enjoying it. Like previous installments, itā€™s been criticized for straying from the seriesā€™ original focus, and the story doesn’t quite satisfy longtime fans. Adding to the challenge, the game launched at a difficult time for Ubisoft, following a series of unsuccessful releases and a damaged reputation.

Developing Assassinā€™s Creed Shadows faced significant challenges from the start, with every detail under intense scrutiny. Beyond the issues surrounding the historical figure Yasuke, it seemed the gaming community was generally critical of Ubisoft, and even the highly anticipated setting of Feudal Japan wasnā€™t enough to generate excitement. Several other open-world games with similar themes had already come out and captured playersā€™ attention before AC Shadows was released.

Despite all the pre-release hype, Assassinā€™s Creed Shadows is a truly beautiful game ā€“ one of the best-looking of this generation. Its world is stunning, with realistic changing seasons that should set a new standard for game design. The game features two compelling characters, each offering a unique and enjoyable playstyle. Stealth mechanics are the strongest the series has seen in years, and the combat is accessible, enjoyable, and rewarding. Itā€™s surprising how different playersā€™ opinions are of Ghost of Yotei and Assassinā€™s Creed Shadows, as both games successfully deliver on their promises in distinct ways.

Need for Speed Unbound

Most Fun NFS in Years, with Disappointing Live-Service Support

Need for Speed Unbound was the first game in the series to fully commit to ongoing updates and online play, with regular new content released for its Lakeshore Online mode. It launched after a string of disappointing Need for Speed games and faced the challenge of regaining fans and attracting new players. Unfortunately, the game wasnā€™t successful, and reports suggest the series is now on hold.

It’s still unclear why Need for Speed Unbound received such a negative reception. The game seemed to have all the right ingredients: enjoyable driving mechanics, solid performance, a compelling gameplay loop similar to Heat with its day-night cycle, exciting police chases (though they could be relentless), and extensive customization options for cars and characters. However, the gameā€™s distinctive anime-inspired visuals were controversial, with many players preferring the more realistic look of games like NFS Heat. The diverse soundtrack also proved divisive, though that often comes down to personal preference.

Although critics generally liked the game ā€“ giving it higher scores than recent installments ā€“ it didnā€™t seem to attract many arcade racing fans. This might have been because of its initial high price and some problems with the online multiplayer. After launch, the game didnā€™t receive much support, and new updates didnā€™t offer enough significant improvements to keep players interested. Even exciting additions, like the first-ever rideable bikes in the Need for Speed series, couldnā€™t save Unbound. Despite substantial discounts, the game never overcame its initial negative perception and failed to build a strong player base.

Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League

A Bold Story Direction That No One Asked For

The initial gameplay reveal of Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League was widely seen as disappointing. Longtime fans of Rocksteady Studios were put off by its fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay, elements that felt like the constantly-updated Marvelā€™s Avengers, and the lack of the immersive qualities that made the Batman: Arkham series so popular. The game struggled to overcome this negative first impression, and even a delay intended to address fan concerns didn’t seem to help.

The game Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League received very negative reviews from both critics and players, earning some of the lowest scores ever seen for a major game release. Beyond technical problems, the game was criticized for its weak story, particularly the decision to have its antihero characters kill popular heroes like Batman, The Flash, and Superman. Players also felt the game didn’t offer enough content for its price, a frequent problem with online games made by studios new to that model ā€“ similar to what happened with Marvelā€™s Avengers and Anthem.

Okay, so Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League had a rough start, everyone knows that. But honestly, it’s not as bad as people are making it out to be now. The combat is actually really solid ā€“ it’s super fun to zip around and blow stuff up. The story is short and sweet, but if you pick a character that clicks with you and play with friends, itā€™s a blast. Theyā€™ve even fixed a lot of the story stuff that people were upset about with recent updates, and theyā€™ve added new characters and loot. With all the patches and the fact that the game is frequently on sale now, it’s a pretty easy game to pick up and give a shot. You might even end up enjoying it for what it is, especially while itā€™s still around!

Forspoken

Overhyped and Underdelivered

Forspoken is a good example of a game that didn’t live up to the excitement surrounding it. Released as a high-profile, next-generation exclusive with a $70 price tag, it was touted as a visually stunning experience. However, the game ultimately disappointed. While the special effects, particularly during magic use, are impressive, the overall experience felt inconsistent and lacked a clear creative vision, suggesting a lack of experience from the development team.

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Forspoken struggled to justify its cost and didn’t quite stand out due to its predictable story, formulaic writing, and typical open-world structure with scattered collectibles. However, the game wasnā€™t without its strengths. The magic-based combat was visually impressive and satisfying, even if there were a lot of spells to learn. The unique parkour system made getting around the world of Athia enjoyable and easy. Ultimately, the game’s biggest weakness was that its story and world weren’t as well-developed as its core gameplay.

Despite its initial issues, Forspoken has been improved with updates, bug fixes, and downloadable content. With frequent discounts of up to 70%, itā€™s now worth considering for fans of open-world games who are looking for a new experience with interesting ways to move and fight.

Tom Clancyā€™s Ghost Recon Breakpoint

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

Since its rocky start in 2019, Ghost Recon Breakpoint has significantly improved and become a remarkable turnaround story, almost overcoming its initial bad reputation. The game launched with a lot of problems, receiving poor reviews and disappointing many players ā€“ and rightfully so. A key issue was the decision to transform the traditionally tactical Ghost Recon series into a loot-focused shooter, which alienated long-time fans. Although Ubisoft consistently supported Breakpoint after its initial failure, the road to recovery has been challenging.

Despite consistent updates, improvements, and new content showing the developersā€™ commitment and responsiveness to player feedback, Ghost Recon Breakpoint unfortunately became associated with some questionable gaming trends, notably a short-lived attempt to incorporate NFTs. Ubisoftā€™s efforts to rehabilitate the gameā€™s image often backfired, frustrating players just as they were starting to feel more positive about the ongoing improvements.

Despite a rocky start, Ghost Recon Breakpoint has significantly improved and is now realizing its potential. A popular addition is the classic mode, which removes gear leveling and rarity systems. Over time, the game has gotten closer to its original vision of being a highly customizable and expansive tactical open-world shooter, offering great options for both solo and cooperative gameplay. Frequent sales and substantial expansions have also made it a more attractive option. Today, Breakpoint offers a unique experience ā€“ a detailed and challenging open world where players can carefully plan and execute missions, tailoring the difficulty to their preference.

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2025-12-21 08:36