The Most Disappointing Games of 2025

As a gamer, this year felt incredible! We were absolutely flooded with amazing games, especially from smaller studios. I was so hyped for titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong, Hades 2, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Dispatch, and Blue Prince – they really delivered! If you’re into multiplayer, Battlefield 6 was a fantastic return to form, and ARC Raiders totally surprised me. The big AAA games like Donkey Kong: Bananza and Death Stranding 2 were everything I hoped for too. Of course, not every game could be a winner, and a few unfortunately didn’t quite hit the mark, but overall it was a stellar year for gaming!

Even though 2025 saw several disappointing game releases, not all of them were simply bad. One game, despite receiving positive reviews and being generally well-made, suffered from technical issues and a lack of support after launch, squandering its initial promise. These eight games represent the year’s biggest disappointments, whether due to lengthy waits that didn’t deliver, rocky launches that never recovered, or the inability to live up to popular previous installments. The games are listed below in alphabetical order.

FBC: Firebreak

Check Out Game Rant’s FBC: Firebreak review

When FBC: Firebreak was announced, Remedy fans were excited to see how it would add to the studio’s complex, interconnected storyline. However, the game ultimately didn’t offer much in the way of new lore. This was a significant issue because compelling narratives are a major reason people play Remedy games. A strong story could have also attracted players who weren’t typically fans of the first-person co-op shooter genre. While FBC: Firebreak was always going to be a harder sell for those who prefer Remedy’s usual third-person action and horror games, the game didn’t help itself by featuring a straightforward story about lifting the lockdown at The Oldest House.

Sparse, unimpactful storytelling
Underwhelming gameplay fundamentals
A rough launch and weak follow-up updates

The game suffers from awkward weapon handling, unrewarding combat, a shortage of things to do, and gameplay that quickly becomes repetitive, making it feel like a missed opportunity. While Remedy plans a significant update in January with new content like an endless survival mode, the initial frustrating experience has likely turned many players off. Recent updates, including those for the FBC: Firebreak content, haven’t been enough to address these issues.

Lost Soul Aside

Check Out Lost Soul Aside on OpenCritic

Before its release, Lost Soul Aside generated a lot of excitement, and for good reason. The game’s visuals were impressive, and early gameplay footage led many players to compare it to Final Fantasy 16, hoping it would be a similarly high-quality experience. Unfortunately, Lost Soul Aside didn’t quite live up to the expectations set by Final Fantasy 16.

Lackluster narrative and presentation
Shallow, repetitive gameplay
Marketing mismatch and unmet expectations

Okay, so I was really excited for Lost Soul Aside, but honestly, the story just didn’t hit the same highs as some other recent games. The dialogue felt a little weak, and the voice acting wasn’t nearly as good as someone like Ben Starr in Final Fantasy XVI. The combat looks amazing, super flashy, but it doesn’t really feel powerful, and it gets kind of repetitive before it adds any real depth. Plus, there were some audio problems and the world wasn’t that interesting to explore. Honestly, the marketing made it seem like a huge RPG with a deep story, but it turned out to be more of a straight-up action game, and a lot of us felt a bit disappointed and misled.

MindsEye

Check Out MindsEye on OpenCritic

Okay, so I had to include MindsEye on this list. It launched in July and honestly, the bugs and glitches were… memorable, in a funny way. But unlike games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Assassin’s Creed Unity, which eventually recovered and became good games, MindsEye just… wasn’t very good even with all the issues. It was a real case of hype not living up to reality. Everyone was hoping it would be like a GTA-style open-world game to tide us over while we wait for Grand Theft Auto 6, but it turned out to be super restrictive. You were basically punished for trying to do anything off the beaten path, and you couldn’t even switch between vehicles freely. It was just a frustrating experience.

Severe gameplay limitations and restrictive design
Severe mismatch between developer talks, marketing materials, and the reality of the game
Overall poor execution across the board

The open world feels empty because it lacks the character and car customization options found in comparable games. On top of that, the story, which had potential, is let down by stilted dialogue and unengaging characters. MindsEye is notorious for being one of the few games that players have successfully gotten refunds for, and it unfortunately fails to deliver on nearly all fronts.

Monster Hunter Wilds

Check Out Game Rant’s Monster Hunter Wilds Review

Switching from MindsEye to Monster Hunter Wilds is a bit jarring, as Monster Hunter Wilds is the highest-rated game here. With scores of 88 on Metacritic and 89 on OpenCritic, it’s definitely worth playing. However, despite being a good game, it’s received surprisingly low user scores and mixed reviews on Steam, even briefly falling into the “Overwhelmingly Negative” category. The story is better than previous Monster Hunter games, featuring a voiced protagonist and named characters, though some players feel it interrupts the gameplay. The game’s beautiful world and creatures may have contributed to a rocky launch, with PC players experiencing frequent crashes.

Poor optimization and technical support
Weak post-launch support
A dramatic drop in challenge and depth

While performance issues and a somewhat heavy-handed story aren’t enough to call Monster Hunter Wilds a failure, the game does have two significant problems. First, the lack of consistent post-launch content – with long waits between new monster releases – doesn’t give players much reason to keep playing. More importantly, many longtime fans find the game too easy and lacking in complexity. Monster Hunter Wilds simplifies many aspects of the game – you won’t need to spend as much time collecting gear or tracking monsters, for example. This means players will likely defeat most enemies without much difficulty, which is a big change from the challenging experience offered in games like Monster Hunter World.

Splitgate 2

Check Out Splitgate 2 on OpenCritic

The main complaint about Splitgate 2 is that it doesn’t really improve upon the first game. While the original Splitgate was known for its unique portal system, the sequel doesn’t use it in particularly creative ways, and the new maps don’t fully utilize the portals. Some players felt adding things like customizable loadouts made the game too complicated, and the addition of a battle royale mode was seen as an unnecessary attempt to follow popular trends.

The sequel doesn’t feel like a proper sequel
Design choices that clash with what made Splitgate great
Monetization and launch mistakes aplenty

As a long-time fan, I’m honestly pretty disappointed with Splitgate 2. They’ve added a bunch of things that feel like they’re pushing you to spend money, and there aren’t really any free rewards to keep you motivated. It just doesn’t feel like a worthy sequel to the original game. After a rough launch and a lot of criticism, they put it back into beta in July, and it’s finally coming back on December 4th. I really hope they can fix things and make it live up to the potential of the first Splitgate, but I’m not sure if it’s enough.

Tales of the Shire

Check Out Game Rant’s Tales of the Shire Review

Tales of the Shire seemed promising on the surface. The charming setting and peaceful Hobbits fit the cozy game genre well, and the rich world of Middle-earth offered lots of possibilities for customization and characters. However, the game ultimately falls short. While the cooking system is decent, it’s not enough to save it. Many players have criticized the game’s outdated and unattractive graphics, and these issues are compounded by poor performance on both computers and consoles.

Uninspired presentation and poor performance
Monotonous, charm-lacking gameplay
A squandered setting with little depth

Even if the game had some technical problems, it could have been enjoyable if the gameplay felt right. Sadly, it quickly becomes repetitive and lacks the delightful feeling you’d hope for. Getting around the game world isn’t fun either; following butterflies to guide you isn’t as helpful or magical as the guiding wind in Ghost of Tsushima, and it ends up being frustrating. After looking forward to Tales of the Shire for so long, it’s disappointing that it’s ultimately a forgettable experience.

Tamagotchi Plaza

Check Out Tamagotchi Plaza on OpenCritic

With popular games like Animal Crossing on hold and The Sims taking a long time to release its new multiplayer game, Project Rene Sims, Tamagotchi Plaza had a chance to become a popular, relaxing game. Unfortunately, it doesn’t live up to expectations. Fans and critics generally see it as a step down from earlier Tamagotchi games. It offers much less customization, and even the customization options are easily accessible through online codes, rather than being earned through gameplay and shop upgrades.

Shallow, uneven gameplay
Divisive art direction undermined by severe limits
Lacking content paired with poor value

Beyond the core issues, players have also reported missing Tamagotchi, the absence of the Violetchi character, and a feeling that the mini-games become too repetitive. The game also lacks helpful tutorials. While some might enjoy its simple, casual gameplay, the cost feels high for what is primarily a collection of mini-games. The new 3D graphics are a departure from the series’ traditional 2D style and may not appeal to all fans, ultimately making this a less substantial console release than many were expecting.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

Check Out Game Rant’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Review

This game’s release was similar to waiting for Tales of the Shire – it faced numerous delays and a long development period. However, as a sequel to a beloved classic, its shortcomings are even more frustrating. A change in developers led to a difficult production, and unlike many troubled games that eventually succeed, Bloodlines 2 didn’t live up to expectations. Fans of the original, which was a role-playing game, hoped the sequel would continue that tradition, but it shifted focus and became more of an action-oriented title.

A disappointing genre shift paired with a misleading title
Limited player agency and content
Development Hell clearly took its toll

Fans were disappointed with this sequel because it didn’t offer strong clan options, had a predictable storyline, and lacked engaging side quests – a key strength of the original game. While there are some good aspects, like the character Fabian, it doesn’t live up to the legacy of Bloodlines. The game drastically changed genres, but kept the Bloodlines 2 title, which misled expectations. A different name might have led to a more positive reception, as it doesn’t feel like a true successor to the first game.

2025-12-01 18:40