But as much as we hate to say it, there are a few titles that just didn’t click, and now have the dubious distinction of forming the lower end of the year’s releases. Let’s jump into which of this year’s games have made the list, and why.

1. Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

With fatigue having set into the franchise for a while, a lackluster campaign, and some heavy competition in the form of Battlefield 6, Ark Raiders, and Ready or Not, Blacks Ops 7 has failed to breathe new life into the franchise, and has plummeted to being the lowest-ranked Call of Duty entry in history.

Despite its emphasis on a more tactical gameplay loop this time around, Blacks Ops 7 has ultimately failed to bring any meaningful innovations that can make it stand out in a long list of titles from a franchise that could use a bit of course correction. That’s especially disappointing in a year where some excellent shooters have made their presence felt.

2. Sacred 2 Remaster

While the original game might have been considered innovative at the time of its release, this remaster’s insistence on preserving the original experience has largely backfired thanks to the passage of time. Sacred 2’s clunky mechanics and dated visuals needed more than a fresh coat of paint, and it’s a game that’s going to be played only for its nostalgia factor.

Although it did many cool things with its setting and world, it simply doesn’t measure up to scrutiny today. The world may be unique enough to give this one so replay value, but every playthrough is such a chore that it could be very tempting to drop off the game and move on quite quickly. This one should have been a remake if it were to have had any chance at succeeding among a very discerning crop of modern gamers.

3. Double Dragon Revive

Basic combat, finicky targeting, horrendous character models, and a failure to live up to the promise of a series that had been dormant for over a decade, this one was all kinds of wrong for both franchise fans and newcomers alike. Its drab environments and lack of the flair that makes a fighter special made this one a very forgettable experience that quickly gets boring.

And don’t get us started on the platforming sections. We’re all for a challenge in our games but bad design being a part of that challenge is a recipe for frustration , not engagement. While it all could have been salvaged by some awesome combat, there were only so many times we could punch the air before giving up on it all.

What’s sad about this one is that it had the potential to be all that it promised. Countering enemy Aura attacks with a Special Attack of your own was quite satisfying but the minuscule timing window on those parries made pulling them off rely more on luck than on skill. As a fighting game, this one should have been very different, and so much more than it was.

4. Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

Combining a vampire adventure with a setting that pushes you in the direction of an investigation just like a detective sounds like a great concept, doesn’t it? However Bloodlines 2 fails to capitalize on that premise. Its emphasis on sending you all around its admittedly well-crafted world does little to disguise the fact that its exploration is just unrewarding.

While the setting on offer is reasonably good, the combat is too clunky to be entertaining and this is a game that simply doesn’t click on any level. It can even get tedious from moment to moment if you don’t try and diversify what you’re doing. In a year where Ghost of Yotei gave us a more nuanced take on detective work alongside a brilliant combat system, this one is sadly relegated to the shadows.

5. Game of Thrones Kingsroad

With honestly terrible recreations of popular characters from the franchise, and a gameplay loop that doesn’t stay as entertaining as it is after the initial thrills of being let loose in Westeros in a well-crafted RPG world wear off. Bad character models, visual glitches, and a progression system that actively worked against players looking to make progress were factors that broke the spell of some solid visuals.

The combat gets repetitive too quickly, and as an RPG, having to manage menus more than your character arc was a drag. Kingsroad is an ambitious attempt to bring a popular franchise to life in the gaming world, but unlike its presence in other media, this take on Westeros fails to be one to draw the masses.

It’s disappointing to place this one among 2025’s non-preformers but Kingsroad is one that’s better avoided thanks to the journey being too uninteresting to be relevant.

6. Drag x Drive Review

A reasonably good gameplay loop and solid performance on the Switch 2 might have been factors being praised if this one had managed to be more interesting. With its innovative use of the Joy-Con 2’s mouse mode, Drag x Drive Review could have been on the frontline’s of the console’s initial push into popularity after its launch.

But its high skill ceiling and unfamiliar control schemes work alongside a lack of content to keep things interesting to wall off most players from being incentivized to keep pushing forward through its gameplay loop until they get to the meat of why it can be enjoyable in the first place.

However, if you’re looking for a fun, unique 3v3 online title to dive into with your buddies, this one might just be worth picking up on sale when the chance comes along.

7.Killing Floor 3

While the legacy this one carried might tempt you to give it a go, you’re quickly going to find out that Tripwire Interactive failed to capitalize on the valuable feedback it received during the closed beta it held for it. While it can be fun on occasion, and even shines brightly when your plans for the chaotic decimation of Zeds line up well, its lack of content makes it too forgettable to be worth it.

For a game meant ot be played with friends or as a team, its solo survival mode might just be the most entertaining thing it has to offer. There was too little synergy between its playable classes for it to sustain any sort of engagement its initial hours might have garnered, and the lack of enemy types and bosses at launch meant that it soon became a rampage without consequences once we got used to its mechanics and combat.

All in all, there was a lot to like but too little of it to make Killing Floor 3 a game that holds its own against the year’s heavyweights, or enough to ensure it stayed off this particular list. Tough luck, though.

8. Dollhouse: Behind the Broken Mirror

In a genre where the world you craft is as much a part of the experience as your story and gameplay, Behind the Broken Mirror’s poor level design and a fairly predictable and uninspired story made it rank low among the year’s best horror experiences.

Frustrating puzzles peppered a progression path that was often blocked thanks to a lack of clarity on potential solutions stemming from poorly designed levels. It often felt like the game was working against us to be as frustrating as it could be, instead of with us to be entertaining instead.

The story is similarly all over the place, and you’re better off not joining Eliza on her journey to regain her lost memories.

9. MindsEye

In the end, MindsEye’s gorgeously crafted world was ultimately where its ambitions went to die. As if its lackluster story, subpar combat, and uninspired game design weren’t enough, the game’s AI was simply not up to the standard of a 2025 release. Policemen would walk idly by while you slaughtered an enemy in front of them, while the lack of life along the streets you go along made the entire experience feel like a massive letdown.

It’s a world that feels empty despite how its vibrant colors and futuristic buildings immediately stand out as soon as you see them. But MindsEye sadly doesn’t populate that world with enough life to make it matter to its players.

Making things worse was the lack of effective damage control from Build a Rocket Boy, and the eventual promise of a roadmap of fixes has ultimately failed to grab any attention. It’s a pity, but MindsEye is among the biggest failures of 2025 as far as gaming is concerned.

10. La Quimera

It’s a solid premise for a shooter. Its absolutely dystopian premise and environmental storytelling might have been the stuff of a legendary game. But Reburn’s Early Access version of a solid idea does nothing to make this game worth your time.

Its story fails to raise the stakes enough to make you care, which is quite surprising considering the setting it takes place in. Its combat is similarly vanilla, giving you farily powerful weapons and linear levels in which taking down enemies quickly became routine instead of a fight for survival in which either side could end up losing.

And in what’s going to be our top pick for most annoying mechanic of the year, your mercenary’s pockets only let you carry a limited amount of money. That’s counterproductive to the nature of your work, isn’t it? La Quimera makes too many of these blunders to be close to the experience it could be as it stands today.

11. Solo Levelling: Arise Overdrive

While its visuals and excellent audio design might have you believing that this one is worthy of the anime that inspired it, you’re going to want to temper your expectations with Solo Levelling: Arise Overdrive if you’re a fan or someone with a passing interest in what it has to offer.

It’s a story wastes the potential set up by the level designs, while bosses waste its combat system’s potential by having massive health bars whose only effect is that they make each one outstay their welcome. Despite a lot of depth, this one simply fails to make use of its strengths enough for it to be worth a shot.

And that’s a wrap on the year’s titles that might have been more than what they are if things had turned out different. We’re hoping that the talented teams behind these titles lift their chins up and come back stronger than ever with new projects in the years to come.

Granted, support is still ongoing for many of these titles, and they could improve significantly in the coming months and/or years. As of now, however, they’re still underwhelming. Without further ado, here are our picks for the 15 most disappointing games of the year.

Bounty Star

A combination of bounty hunting with mechs and farming on the side in a lawless frontier, where redemption is only really the start? Sign me up, but in the case of Bounty Star, its reach severely exceeds its grasp. Repetitive combat and objectives, surface-level base-building, iffy storytelling – it just didn’t come together as I’d hoped. Which is a shame because, for all her faults, Clementine deserved better.

Battlefield: RedSec

Between desync issues and the lack of solo play, EA’s free-to-play Battlefield royale didn’t launch in the best circumstances. The fact that it arrived alongside the core monetization for Battlefield 6 and required playing to complete Battle Pass challenges rubbed people the wrong way (as did the fact that it included naval combat, which is missing in the base game). RedSec still has room to grow and offer a fun experience, but for now, it’s got a long way to go.

Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion

I had my doubts about Titanic Scion when it was revealed that the Arsenals were now power armor instead of mechs, which could now ride on horses and whatnot. That was the least of the game’s problems, however, as the open world approach gave way to some truly bland-looking improvements. As nice as the customization and weapon variety could be, the amount of frustration from actual combat just undercut everything else.

Destiny 2: The Edge of Fate

How do you follow up the climactic finale to a ten-year-long Light and Darkness saga? In Bungie’s case, you start a brand new story, one focused on another intriguing subject in The Nine. Unfortunately, it also sought to anger players by ripping out whole systems, increasing the grind tenfold, recycling old content and introducing gameplay mechanics that no one wanted, like Matterspark. Destiny 2 has since experienced the lowest player numbers since the Curse of Osiris days, and as much as I like lightsabers, it doesn’t look like Renegades will completely right the ship.

TRON: Catalyst

Bithell Games’ titles can be hit or miss, but at least there’s this style, this panache that sticks out. Not TRON: Catalyst, though. The lackluster visuals make exploration dull, and the story, which attempted a time-travelling spin, often fell flat when it didn’t feel mundane. Then again, we did get TRON: Ares this year, so things can indeed be worse for the franchise.

Rennsport

Who says Teyon of RoboCop: Rogue City fame can’t make a racing game? Most people who bought Rennsport on Steam, apparently. While it had several problems throughout early access, you would think these would be addressed when it was time for 1.0, but you’d be wrong. Underwhelming physics, optimization issues, livery microtransactions and terrible multiplayer are just some of its shortcomings. All in all, a lackluster outcome.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

A canon entry in the Hyrule Warriors series – we did it. It’s just a shame then that the story as a whole feels completely perfunctory. Even if you can look past that, Age of Imprisonment doesn’t really do all that much interesting with its missions. The combat and performance are the series’s best yet, which is no small praise, but it really could have been so much more.

Mortal Kombat: Legacy Kollection

Packing every single classic Mortal Kombat title into one retro package, complete with interviews from the development team, sounds great for long-time fans (and whoever enjoyed Mythologies and Special Forces). The problem, as always, is the execution. Input, sound issues, lack of lobbies and more at launch – not to mention the price – put a real damper on the celebrations.

Yooka-Replaylee

It’s Yooka-Laylee, but with better graphics, improved controls, all moves unlocked from the outset, etc. So what’s the problem? Well, it’s still Yooka-Laylee at its core, which means the levels don’t always flow in the best ways or offer the most enjoyable challenges. Dr Quack’s quizzes are gone, which is great, but for those expecting any further overhauls beyond this should temper their expectations.

FBC: Firebreak

Why is Remedy, a developer known for its story-focused single-player titles, delving into the co-op shooter genre? Good question, but it did so anyway, and the results were mixed to say the least. While the developer included numerous improvements and even completely overhauled core systems, it wasn’t enough to proclaim Firebreak as anything less than a disappointment with an uncertain long-term future.

The Precinct

If you can get around the cheesy writing and characters, The Precinct may scratch that itch for old-school GTA with its overhead perspective. Its design choices fumble more often than not, though, whether it’s in the chases, how terrible the allied AI can be or the lackluster aiming. In other words, it may have been a neat spin on GTA, but with cops instead of gangsters, but not this one.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Remember when I said that most of the entries in this list are titles that fell short in various ways and may not be outright bad? Black Ops 7 is the exception to the latter. Its campaign is simply awful in almost every way, and while multiplayer is an improvement over last year, it has more than its share of issues. But it’s the sheer soullessness of this year’s entry that gets to me, even more so than 2023’s Modern Warfare 3.

Synduality: Echo of Ada

Amid all the hype for ARC Raiders and even Escape from Tarkov, it’s worth looking back on Bandai Namco’s failed attempt at an extraction shooter – Synduality: Echo of Ada. Support is still ongoing, for what it’s worth, but with forced PvP (that too with a lackluster player base), a laughable grind for blueprints and more, it’s no wonder that player counts continue to decline on Steam.

NASCAR 25

Remember when new NASCAR titles were a big deal, alongside the likes of Need for Speed and F1? NASCAR 25, unfortunately, doesn’t return to those days of thunder. Between Career Mode looking lackluster and multiplayer’s flailing, it’s easy to ignore the mostly fun handling. Not the worst package for the brand, but certainly nowhere close to capturing its brilliance either.

Killing Floor 3

Good news – after the Rearmament update, all Specialists can now equip any perk they desire. Bad news – Killing Floor 3 is still very lackluster. Server issues, iffy movement, no mod support, no text chat, no server browser – the list goes on, and that’s before even getting to how the futuristic premise falls flat. Tripwire continues to update and improve it, but for now, it’s little more than dead weight on the Killing Floor name.

Playable on PS5, the LEGO-fied adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn offers overhead beat ’em up co-op action and a much more laid-back approach to the original’s post-apocalyptic setting. The other major addition is, unsurprisingly, Killing Floor 3, which launched to negative reviews.

It’s since improved courtesy, especially following the Rearmament update, but it wouldn’t be surprising if sales didn’t meet expectations. Speaking of the same (and needing new players), there’s Synduality Echo of Ada, Bandai Namco’s underwhelming extraction shooter and the third PS5 exclusive.

For those seeking a more survival horror-focused multiplayer experience, The Outlast Trials on PS4 and PS5 should fill that void in disturbingly gruesome fashion. Speedrunners can check out Neon White on the same platforms for its clever mix of first-person shooting, cards and anime-esque storytelling.

Of course, there’s even more to look forward to in December when Skate Story launches on day one for subscribers. Head here for the latest details.

Issues with voice-over IP chat resulting from changes to privacy settings or players joining late have also been resolved. Gameplay-wise, late-joiners should now spawn in with the correct chosen weapon instead of a custom starter, and additional feedback has been added when crafting weapon mods.

Shadows should also no longer incorrectly appear around Zed limbs and chunks. Tripwire has confirmed another patch for next week, which will address performance spikes, matchmaking issues, incorrect ammo consumption, and much more.

Killing Floor 3 is available for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Its first major content update, Rearmament, will arrive sometime this year and offers numerous quality-of-life changes, including decoupling Specialists from Perks. Head here for more details.

Version 1.0.0.5 Patch Notes

Bug Fixes

Stability Issues

• Improved stability for both dedicated servers and clients in a variety of scenarios.

VOIP:

• Resolved voice chat problems in multiplayer, particularly those stemming from in-game privacy setting changes and late joins.

Gameplay & UI:

• Removed a brief delay between triggering command wheel actions and specialist dialog lines.
• Addressed problems with late-joining players spawning with their custom starter weapon, irrespective of their chosen weapon or operational budget.
• Resolved inconsistencies between tool stock value and active available charges at the trader.
• Corrected an issue where changes to tools in the Ready Up lobby were not applied for late-joining players entering the game.
• Fixed the Message of the Day Banner not being visible on the Start Menu.
• Added additional UI feedback at the end of weapon mod crafting.

Visuals:

• Improved visual issues where shadows incorrectly appeared around Zed limbs and gore pieces.

Some will say that they’ve seen this coming for a while, especially after the closed beta earlier this year. The delay did help in some regards, which I’ll discuss, but even if the Payday 3 comparisons didn’t feel as appropriate, especially since Killing Floor 3 is playable offline from the start, it’s ultimately dreary compared to its more storied predecessor in almost every way. It all begins with the campaign. But actually, it doesn’t.

The setting is 2091, and Horzine is producing Zeds for some nefarious purpose. As part of Nightfall, it’s your job to halt the infestation, even if, as revealed in a codex, the Zeds are manufactured at an alarming rate. Maybe those numbers represent the overall hopelessness of our mission? Perhaps they were written for the doubtless millions of players who would have hopped on by now. Regardless, there are many Zeds, and you have to kill them.

"The presence of inactive turrets, environmental traps and armor caches also provides plenty of incentive to cycle through spots in a level. You’ll probably still end up facing the bosses in the most unobtrusive areas, if only to have more room for dodging. However, the overall atmosphere feels soulless."

However, the overall plot driving all of this is so threadbare and uninteresting that I don’t even know why the team bothered. You have various main mission objectives or Assignments, which involve visiting specific maps, collecting samples, flipping switches, backtracking and performing virus analysis, awaiting further communication, and then either surviving or winning a match. Then it all ends. I never met the voice on the radio, Cordelia, and other than walking up to things and pressing E, I don’t know what the point of it all was. If it sounds like I’m not putting enough effort into describing the “narrative,” it’s because there’s really nothing there.

It feels Tripwire wanted something to accommodate its seasonal format without interfering with the player’s freedom in playing matches, however they want. Honestly, cinematics, even slightly animated cutscenes, and “Complete X number of matches” would have done the job, and eliminated all this needless busy work.

Killing Floor 3 offers eight maps spread across various locales. You have the sewers, the city streets overlooked by massive skyscrapers, the rooftop of said skyscraper, a military base, a radar station, and so on. Few of these feel notable, though Tripwire has ensured that they look less clean than their original iterations. Case in point, night has now fallen on the city streets and there’s much more gore adorning the environment, highlighting the violent struggle that its victims no doubt faced at the hands, claws and chainsaws of the Zeds. Layout-wise, they’re not too shabby either. Some decently balanced long corridors where you can train Zeds into a shooting gallery, with more open spaces where your team could make a stand.

The presence of inactive turrets, environmental traps and armor caches also provides plenty of incentive to cycle through spots in a level. You’ll probably still end up facing the bosses in the most unobtrusive areas, if only to have more room for dodging. However, the overall atmosphere feels soulless. Maybe it’s the narrative, the art direction of these environments, or the Zeds themselves, but it’s more akin to an arcade shooter rather than a desperate fight for survival.

Not that there’s anything wrong with that – or even that Killing Floor 3 doesn’t provide incentives to make you fight for your life. However, problems emerge even before you hop onto a map. The Stronghold feels completely superfluous. Why not assign its various aspects, like mod crafting, skill unlocking, etc, to simple menus? A firing range is neat, except it’s useless for testing the effect of damage types on different Zeds, or even trying melee weapons. Maybe it’s supposed to be a hub for you and your friends to hang out in, which would be fine if there was anything of note, like mini-games or secrets. If that wasn’t enough, I hate, hate, changing a Specialist and being teleported back to the start of the Stronghold.

The actual gameplay itself isn’t too shabby, even if you can’t select the number of waves (like Killing Floor 2) or swap out Specialists if you need to fit a particular role that your team lacks during certain modifier-filled waves. Increased Specialist Heat Damage? Better hope your weapon has incendiary rounds or you have enough Dosh for a heat weapon.

"Killing Floor 3 initially feels generous enough with its early game materials and level-ups, but subsequent levels require more XP, which necessitates higher difficulties. Which I would be fine with, but the Proficiency gains don’t feel nearly as substantial, and severely kills any excitement at unlocking a new skill or upgrade."

Otherwise, facing the hordes of Zeds and popping heads can prove satisfying at points, thanks in no small part to the M.E.A.T. System (appropriate given all the chunks flying around). However, the weapons themselves feel…fine at best and just odd otherwise. The Vulcan TA’s charged shots, which should hit like a nuke, feel inconsequential next to the Dragon’s Breath shotgun. And shotguns in general just lack the explosive punch of Killing Floor 2. I liked the assault rifles somewhat better, even, once again, the Knightsbridge felt less like an LMG and more like an SMG with extra weight. Don’t even get me started on the Ninja’s katanas, which feel like they’re slicing through air on all but the Scrakes and Fleshpounds (and even then, just barely).

At times, especially on the higher difficulties, Killing Floor 3 shows signs of the struggles against relentless hordes that the franchise is known for. Heavy foes breaking through walls, Sirens assaulting your senses, legless Husks crawling toward you, et cetera, but it’s ruined by the Specialists and their quips. Spoiler, everyone: The fire-focused character talks about fire a lot. Stop, drop and roll. Petroleum jelly. Running this under cold water for 10 to 15 minutes. The others aren’t as grating but still have their fair share of annoying one-liners. If you’re going to implement this many voicelines, at least make them fun or interesting and don’t fire them off at such a rapid clip.

Of course, the other black mark against the Specialists is their very nature. They have an ability with a cooldown and a special weapon that’s best suited for their skills. Earn Proficiency Points and level up to unlock more skill options and upgrade them. There are some pretty cool options available – headshots causing explosions of the fire and knockdown variety – but I can’t help but feel like it would have been better to dump all the Perks into one big pool and let players create their own builds accordingly.

Yes, I can equip dual katanas as Firebug or a flamethrower as the Medic, but what if I wanted to restore health with the former by perfect parrying? What if I wanted to reduce the damage dealt by burning enemies to provide even more utility as a Medic? I wouldn’t mind keeping the skill tiers gated behind levels or even having to choose one perk from each tier, since the overall build crafting would shoot up significantly. As it stands, the Specialist system feels like it’s to extend playtime through grinding each character and their skills separately.

And make no mistake – there is a grind to be had. Killing Floor 3 initially feels generous enough with its early game materials and level-ups, but subsequent levels require more XP, which necessitates higher difficulties. Which I would be fine with, but the Proficiency gains don’t feel nearly as substantial, and severely kills any excitement at unlocking a new skill or upgrade. Even the higher-tier materials feel a little too few and far between, especially as you get into the higher rarities of mod upgrades.

"With more polish, a more robust weapon feel, additional content, some objective variety between waves, and dozens of other improvements, it could eventually stand on its own. However, its present state ultimately feels draining when it’s not a step down from everything that made Killing Floor 2 unique."

I do like the attachments having different pros and cons, some substantially changing a weapon’s feel or providing benefits like grenade launchers and shotguns. But completely leveling up an attachment to unlock its passive bonus, especially one that doesn’t feel all that appropriate for the weapon (do I really need more bash damage on my Incinerator M7?), is a chore. You can recycle materials if you don’t like how an attachment is performing, but no refunding Proficiency Points to potentially respec your build, further crippling variety.

While I’m not the biggest fan of the art direction, Killing Floor 3’s environments offer some decent visual sights, especially with the lighting and reflective surfaces. Too bad the stuttering and performance woes drag things down. Dropping the settings down to Medium at 1440p didn’t offer much improvement, and the frame rate frequently drops below 60 FPS with six players, even between waves, never mind when all manner of craziness is happening. I’ve also had occasions where the game would just freeze completely before resuming shortly after.

Then there are the myriad bugs, and I don’t mean the ones sent out by the Queen Crawler. You may occasionally see the odd gaffe like a headless corpse walking around between waves that…keeps walking, even after you hack off its legs. Or the Impaler, one of the bosses, gets stuck in the environment as it leaps around the place. Or alt-tabbing, bringing up the ping menu and hitting Escape, effectively locking my game until I restart. Animation jank, iffy hit boxes (especially when dodging attacks), slingshotting, level intros playing after joining a match in progress and more can also occur, and overall, there’s a palpable lack of polish. Perhaps the only real highlight of the entire experience is the soundtrack, and its heavy metal beats, even if they feel wasted.

If you just want to see some Zed heads explode in gory fashion, Killing Floor 3 can offer some mindless fun that’s extremely streamlined. And who knows, with more polish, a more robust weapon feel, additional content, some objective variety between waves, and dozens of other improvements, it could eventually stand on its own. However, its present state ultimately feels draining when it’s not a step down from everything that made Killing Floor 2 unique.

This game was reviewed on PC.

As with Killing Floor 2, however, this is only the beginning as Tripwire Interactive has laid out a roadmap for Year 1. The Rearmament Update is first, decoupling perks from Specialists and adding three new weapons – the M14 EBR Mod 0, MKR-350 Assault Rifle, and Streik Dual Defender Shotgun – alongside new mods. There will also be performance improvements and other quality-of-life updates.

Season 2 will see the addition of a new Specialist, DJ Scully, and the Prison map. You’ll also face a new Zed, earn new weapons and mods, embark on new assignments, and more. Season 3 arrives in 2026 and adds the Research Base map, more new weapons and mods, a new enemy, and new assignments. Season 4 will bring Gunslinger as a new perk alongside another new map, boss, weapons, mods, and assignments.

In the coming days and weeks, Tripwire will release hotfixes and updates to improve balance, add new difficulty settings, and implement text chat. Stay tuned in the meantime.

Several tests, including recent stress tests, have since occurred, and thus far, it looks promising (or at least, better than before). Whether it can dethrone Killing Floor 2 remains to be seen, but in the meantime, here are 15 things you should know before buying Killing Floor 3.

Futuristic Setting

Killing Floor 3’s biggest shift is that it takes place in the future. Set in 2091, 70 years after the second game, the world is pretty much in ruins thanks to the Zeds manufactured by Horzine. As the resistance group Nightfall, it’s your job to stop them, taking on missions and neutralizing Zeds across various locations.

Maps

There will be eight locations available at launch, including the Radar Station and recently revealed Sewers. In response to feedback from the first closed beta, Tripwire has performed extensive work on the visuals, overhauling the lighting and bloodying up the environments. The futuristic sheen should feel a lot less clean at launch, and the same goes for characters and weapons, which will have a grittier look.

Difficulty Levels

Of course, each mission can be tackled on multiple difficulty levels, from the relatively straightforward Normal to Hell on Earth. Higher difficulties will toss more enemies that can dish out the pain and fight much more relentlessly. You also need to account for more health on Zeds and less Dosh earned per wave. With complaints about Normal difficulty enemies feeling a bit too spongy, it should be interesting to see how Tripwire balances them in time for launch.

Enemy Types

Several familiar Zed types return in Killing Floor 3, though they’ve been given some enhancements to align with their biomechanical forms. The Scrake still has a chainsaw arm but can now grapple players from afar with the other. The Siren’s neck extends, and its head opens up when emitting sonic blasts, which means you’ll need to be quick to neutralize it. Following the closed beta, Tripwire has made several improvements to how certain enemies react. For example, the Bloat will now block headshots and even has new melee attacks if you get too close.

Bosses

When you’ve cleared out all the waves of Zeds, it’s time to face the boss. Thus far, we’ve seen three – the Queen Crawler, which spawns little Crawlers to attack you; the Impaler, a brawny creature with mechanical arms and a blade protruding from its head; and the Chimera, an amalgamation of Zeds, which mutates as you continuously damage it. Of course, there are likely other bosses to be revealed, so expect even more horrors.

Weapons

If you’ve played the previous games, then Killing Floor 3’s arsenal will look familiar with submachine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, sniper rifles, and more available to choose from. Some unique weapons are also available, including a bow, flamethrower, grenade launcher, etc. While Specialists can utilize every weapon, some are better suited for certain types than others based on their skills (more on that shortly). Following the uproar over recoil in the beta, Tripwire has gone through and redone the same for all weapons, right down to the different firing modes. It should now be more in line with previous titles.

Crafting Mods

Mods will significantly modify the behavior of weapons, from damage type to attachments like silencers, extended magazines, firing modes, etc. Originally, you would have to discover the mod schematic as a random mission drop and then craft it using different resources. Following the latest stress test, all mods can now be crafted – no schematics required, though you’ll still need materials.

Zed Time

It wouldn’t be a Killing Floor game without Zed Time. Essentially Bullet Time, with everything moving in slow motion, Zed Time also highlights Zeds. A mix of style and substance, it can often be helpful for landing shots on weak points. If you didn’t enjoy how it looked during the beta, don’t worry, as it’s being re-tuned to more closely resemble previous titles.

Specialists

Specialists are essentially different playable characters with unique skills and perks that cater to a variety of playstyles. So, if you want to set things on fire, go with The Firebug. Their weapons will often leverage their skills, and each possesses a unique personality and banter (which you can turn off in combat).

Skills

Each Specialist has three skill trees: Passives, Throwable and Gadget. Unlocking and improving these requires Proficiency Points, and you’ll have to choose between multiple skills in the same tier (which are locked behind specific levels), though you can also upgrade a single skill up to three times. The choices can range from increased ammo and armor integrity to a chance to trigger explosions on destroying enemy heads with Ballistic damage. While you can’t select any Skill as any Specialist currently, Tripwire will implement the feature at some point post-launch.

Supply Pass

Similar to Helldivers 2’s Warbonds, the Supply Pass in Killing Floor 3 is divided into pages of rewards. There are 100 in total, all cosmetics ranging from outfits to trinkets and weapon skins. A Supply Pass costs $10 and best of all, it doesn’t expire, allowing you to earn rewards at your own pace, and a free track is also available.

PC Requirements

Those playing on PC will need only 20 GB of installation space (albeit on an SSD). The minimum requirements include Windows 10, AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel Core i7-4790, 16 GB RAM, a GeForce GTX 1060 or a Radeon RX 480. Recommended requirements include Windows 11, a Ryzen 7 7700X or Core i9700k, 16 GB RAM, and a Radeon RX 6750 XT or GeForce RTX 3060. However, it’s important to note the quality – minimum specs provide an upscaled 1080p and 30 FPS target on low settings with “traditional lighting.” Recommended specs allow for an upscaled 1440p and 60 FPS target at Medium to High settings with Lumen GI and reflections.

Console Resolutions and Frame Rates

PS5 and Xbox Series X players can look forward to a targeted 1440p resolution, upscaled via Temporal Super Resolution, and 60 frames per second with HDR support. Series S players only 1080p/60 FPS under the same conditions, while PS5 Pro players can look forward to an upscaled 1800p resolution. All of these resolutions are dynamic, though, likely to maintain the 60 FPS target.

Crossplay

Killing Floor 3 supports cross-platform play on day one, but you can also choose to turn it off. Cross-progression hasn’t been confirmed – Tripwire only noted that you can’t transfer stats between platforms – and it’s unknown whether it could arrive later. Even with co-op available, solo and offline play is still available.

Post-Launch Support

With how long Killing Floor 2 was supported, it’s unsurprising that Tripwire will opt for the same approach with Killing Floor 3. It confirmed that new Specialists, perk archetypes, weapons, maps and updates to the gameplay will be released for free post-launch. You can also expect seasons that will add new assignments (with rewards) and expand on the Nightfall’s battle against Horzine.

The co-op shooter launches at the same time worldwide on July 24th. As a sequel to Killing Floor 2, Tripwire’s latest jumps roughly 70 years ahead into the future and focuses on the conflict between Horzine and Nightfall. The former is a megacorp manufacturing Zeds for nefarious purposes, while the latter has to stop them.

Systems like M.E.A.T. for realistic damage and dismemberment, and Zed Time, where the game slows down, return. However, unlike its predecessor, Killing Floor 3 introduces Specialists, each with unique skills and special abilities. It also features a Supply Pass system for cosmetics similar to Helldivers 2’s Warbonds.

For more details on what to expect, check out our feature. You can also watch the ultraviolence of the launch trailer here.

New game engine

We’re the best part of a decade out from Killing Floor 2’s original release date – a revered game which maintains an active player base – so to answer the question of why a third entry in the series is justifiable rests on the technology now available to developers Tripwire Interactive. Tech, which wasn’t available ten-years ago, is propelling Killing Floor towards its most detailed, visceral, immersive body horror potential. To achieve their vision, Tripwire are harnessing the technological bells and whistles of Unreal Engine 5 (for reference, Killing Floor 2 was constructed with Unreal Engine 3).

M.E.A.T. 2

An abbreviation of Massive Evisceration and Trauma, through Unreal Engine 5’s potential Killing Floor 3’s M.E.A.T. system is more potent and gory than was ever possible in Killing Floor 2. Viscera splurges out of walking Zed corpses thick and meatily; persistent blood – with enemies and weapons each harbouring unique ‘splatter maps’ – inner guts flinging from ripped flesh in ways bespoke to weaponry and enemy movement, with limbs severing at their precise entry wound. Each weapon and enemy has their own custom animations which are informed via the M.E.A.T. 2 system too.

Levels offer more verticality

Traversal in Killing Floor 3 has received a mini overhaul in that any environmental object or obstacle – so long as it’s at eye level – can be vaulted. Levels themselves have been designed with this verticality in mind, giving players much more freedom to evade enemies or reach higher areas. Vantage points impossible to reach in Killing Floor 2.

Enhanced movement

In addition to the mantling just discussed, Killing Floor 3 presents more movement options to mix up frenetic battling. Quick-dodges – triggerable via a single press of the sprint button – swiftly dash you out of danger or rapidly back in for a quick melee swing. Sprints into slides, ziplines, climbing, the aforementioned vaulting and mantling; these manoeuvres present new agility options for funneling hordes into choke points, or escaping an overwhelming scenario entirely.

Specialists replace Perks

One of Killing Floor 3’s biggest distinguishing factors over its predecessors is its absorption of Killing Floor 2’s Perks, replacing it with a Specialists System. This system won’t be unfamiliar to anyone who’s played adjacent games in the genre with Specialists functioning as archetypes akin to hero shooters which players can attune to their whim. Deep, multi-leveled customisation aims to offer some point of distinction for Killing Floor 3’s players to digest, as well as the ability for teams to include multiple of the same specialist should its players prefer. Each specialist comes loaded with special abilities and unique power moves too.

Branching skill trees

And on the note of multi-leveled customisation, Killing Floor 3 brings progression via branching skill trees rather than Killing Floor 2’s linear skill tracks. Remade from scratch, in fact, is Killing Floor 3’s multi-linear progression, with upgrade choices governing options to fine-tune combat style – from how weapons operate right through to a Specialist’s specific role within their team.

New armoury system

Expanding upon Killing Floor 2’s weapons modification systems is Killing Floor 3’s new Armoury System. Here, procedurally generated blueprints can be collected via traders dotted throughout the threequel’s maps which, when utilised with scavenged crafting materials, provide access to hundreds of accessories, including larger magazines and more powerful scopes, to mods which enhance weapon handling, such as reduced recoil.

Cosmetics expanded

Killing Floor 3 brings an expanded suite of cosmetics to affix to guns and personnel, including a wider variety of skins, costumes, trinkets, and apparel. Cosmetics will be unlocked through quarterly Supply Passes which includes a free version for all players and a paid premium version which offers extra rewards upon completion. Other in-game systems will offer cosmetics too between Supply Pass drops.

Faster levelling up

A common bugbear amongst Killing Floor 2 players was that character progression was too much of a grind. Well, whilst this isn’t a total overhaul Killing Floor 3 is set to offer levelling up at a much faster rate than its predecessor. The threequel’s story chugs along at a faster pace too.

Enemy AI

Those enhanced player movements we discussed earlier? Well, Killing Floor 3’s bioengineered Zed enemies have had their manoeuvrability tweaked too. Thanks to overhauled AI, they’re now faster and more unpredictable than they’ve ever been, with their designs appearing much more varied and terrifying than their previous guises too.

Zeds have weak points

A neat addition to Killing Floor 3’s revamped brand of bloody murder is that Zeds now have weak points which can now be exploited by players. What’s more, these weaknesses are generally in different spots depending on the enemy, so there’ll be layers of breakneck strategising in how best to wipe out hordes of powerful enemies. Note: ‘best’ here actually means most fun; or most creative, perhaps. Case in point: a Scrake’s chainsaw arm can be damaged, leading it to drop its chugging weapon whilst exposing a glowing weak point. Obliterate its glowing spot and the Scrake will be stunned. Then, maybe, it can be executed with its own chainsaw. Tripwire Interactive assure us there are numerous encounters just like this, discoverable by players skilled enough to exploit Zed weak points.

Other players can’t steal your weapons

In an effort to reduce trolling or, simply, unfair theft, when you die in Killing Floor 3 your weapon’s stash won’t be sitting waiting for another player to steal it into their own inventory. Instead, a map marker will highlight where your stash was dropped so you can head back to pick it up.

Dynamic objectives

Killing Floor 3 is ostensibly still a wave-based shooter, but the introduction of dynamic objectives offer extra satisfaction on top of all the visceral gut spilling. Beyond defending static points, teams can now divert some of their attention to hacking consoles, diverting reactor power, utilising points of control to trigger environmental traps, escort missions, and so on. These dynamic objectives emerge off the back of emergent threats such as power surges, acid leaks, or collapsing floors, ensuring each run is laced with unpredictability and, hopefully, replayability.

New team-wide Synergy Meter

Whilst Killing Floor 3 can still be played solo, co-operative play has received enhancements which reward true teamwork. Killing Floor 3 has introduced a team-wide Synergy Meter which is filled via combo takedowns and crossfire killing, with bonus wave modifiers unlocked as a result.

There is an enhanced pre-match hub

Included in Killing Floor 2 of course, Killing Floor 3 introduces an enhanced pre-match stronghold hub whereby players can tailor their loadouts much like before but with the addition of absorbing extra narrative content. Here is where players can choose to play with friends via crossplay too which, by the way, has been extended across PC and console users for the first time.

Killing Floor 3 takes place decades after its predecessor, with a megacorporation called Horzine manufacturing and controlling Zeds. Players select one of six Nightfall Specialists, who venture to different missions to impede the undead threat. There are other objectives to complete, such as collecting samples, with Tripwire promising to expand the story post-launch.

Killing Floor 3 launches on July 24th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. It faced a delay after negative feedback for its closed beta earlier this year, and several improvements have been made to the visuals, weapon recoil, etc. Unfortunately, features like allowing Specialists to equip any perk will be implemented after release. Stay tuned for more updates in the meantime.