But we couldn’t help but feel that some games this year could have been so much more in terms of the value they brought to their players but ultimately let us down. It’s time to dive into 2025’s most disappointing games – and why they made us feel that way.

Let’s get started. 

Deliver At All Costs

Developed by Far Out Games and published by Konami, Deliver At All Costs had all the makings of a fun experience made engaging via a very unique premise. Winston Green’s determination to be the ultimate courier, letting nothing get between his cargo and his destination ultimately fell flat thanks to an uninspired gameplay loop.

While the isometric graphics and unique mechanics could entertain you for a brief time once you get started, the game quickly gets repetitive, with little to no narrative context other than a few fetch and carry requests.

Limited upgrades to the We Deliver pickup truck and a lack of actual consequences for your destructive actions other than some bland police pursuits make this an unfortunately forgettable experience that is sure to lie forgotten in many of its players’ libraries once the initial thrills wear off. 

Monster Energy Supercross 25 – The Official Video Game

Despite an excellent visual makeover courtesy of Unreal Engine 5, a wide selection of tracks, and the legendary Ricky Carmichael taking up the in-game commentator’s mic, Monster Energy Supercross 25 wasted away its advantages with a learning curve that a significant portion of players would find daunting.

Its tutorials are ineffective at getting you into the ebb and flow of a race, a lapse that is sure to throw you face-first into the dirt in front of a crowded stadium. Milestone S.r.l. probably assumed that anybody picking up the game was already a fan of dirt-bike racing and tailored the experience accordingly.

We’re sure that fans of the sport will swear by this one but for the rest of us, this is a title that is a very ironic uphill climb.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master

This indie title from the stables (or garages?) of Warsaw-based developer Gaming Factory seemed like it would be a great drifting simulator for racing fans who like a bit of style when they turn a corner. While its in-game physics and story-based open world are certainly highlights, the overall experience was ultimately marred by several inconsistencies in the Guntama Prefecture’s streets and winding mountain roads.

Obstacles that a fast-moving car could plow through quite easily in the real world could bring you to a complete stop while irregular lighting ruins the dynamic day and night cycle, sending you tearing right into unsuspecting NPCs who just want to get home and unwind after a long day.

Its delivery missions are nothing to write home about either while errors in the kind of vehicle you will need for its many events are a constant annoyance, requiring you to reload at the last garage you were in and drive a new car all the way back to the starting point.

We recommend rewatching Tokyo Drift a couple of times while you wait for a sale on this one.

STAR WARS: Episode I: Jedi Power Battles Remastered

We’ll be the first to admit that getting to revisit the origin story of Anakin Skywalker (or Darth Vader as you know him) had us pretty excited for this remake of the 2000 title from LucasArts. Getting all of its original content in one place while Aspyr’s additions like the ability to play as a bunch of enemies you beat down in your first playthrough during New Game+ was quite the attractive package.

However, an excellent visual makeover aside, all of the problems that players had with the original continue to plague the remaster, and are annoying enough to drive you towards the Dark Side of the force. It’s a baffling lack of polish that is sure to ruin what could have been a very entertaining return to Star Wars’ glory days.

Perhaps Qui Gon would be happy to let Darth Maul stab him to death if he were to try this one out.

TRON Catalyst

Bithell Games had the opportunity to bring the magic and complex political discourse of the original TRON films to a new generation of gamers in its take on the sci-fi franchise. However, Exo’s adventures and the subsequent conflict between the Automata and Core ultimately failed to impress thanks to a lackluster story and a distinct lack of utility to its many inventive mechanics.

From the Glitch system that lets you reset your state on a server to an earlier, safer time, or the lore that fails to flesh out the various factions you encounter in any satisfactory way, this is a game that could have, and should have been a whole lot better than it ultimately was – and that’s a real shame considering that it does so many things right.

Tails of Iron 2: Whiskers of Winter

Although Arlo’s quest for revenge and his adventures as the Warden of the West are quite well-written and given a lot of gravitas and weight thanks to Doug Cockle’s narration, this attempt to create a side-scrolling Soulslike was ultimately let down by its tonal inconsistencies.

It was quite jarring to see a boss brutally murder innocent NPCs only for a character to make a very droll quip a few moments later. While the combat on display is certainly top notch, the healing mechanic proved to me more annoying than innovative, especially towards the story’s final sections and boss fights.

Hardcore Soulslike fans might find a lot to like in this game but for the most part, it does feel like it could be more fleshed-out both narratively and from a technical standpoint. Its world-building does deserve credit, though.

La Quimera

What could go wrong with an FPS title that puts you in the heart of a conflict between warring states in a world gone mad? A lot, apparently. Reburn’s take on a co-op experience that lets you team up with your buddies to take on a world of threats with an AI companion in tow failed to impress on any level.

It didn’t help that the game was delayed on the day of its release, a misstep that is sure to be a sore spot for the studio and anyone who was excited for the game alike. But its distinct lack of a clear and engaging narrative coupled with its lackluster combat is sure to make this one a game that the gaming world would be happy to leave behind.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny Remaster

We’ve certainly been seeing a lot of Oda Nobunaga and his exploits in recent times. But younger games might have not known that the Japanese warlord was the main antagonist of a very popular action franchise from Capcom back in the day.

The studio’s remaster of 2002’s Onimusha 2 does include everything that made the original title so memorable, but fails to bring anything new to the table other than a new weapon swapping quality-of-life improvement and a couple of difficulty modes to accompany its visual upgrade.

Jubei Yagyu certainly deserved better despite his stoic and occasionally sassy demeanour making him less popular than Dante or Leon.

The Precinct

Fallen Tree’s police-sim brought a very promising start to Mick Cordell Jr’s first day at the Avernus City PD’s headquarters. However, his career soon took a very boring turn, devolving into mindless prowling along the city’s streets with only a hint of the promise he brought to table ever showing up during its runtime.

Terrible driving controls aside, The Precinct was a pretty interesting title that failed to deliver on the action-packed chases and gunfights it seemed to offer, instead focusing on the boring and dreary parts of police work. While it does shine on occasion and its main story could be interesting to some, this is a game we quickly moved on from thanks to its sloppy writing and average gameplay loop.

Splitgate 2

Its controversial marketing aside, Splitgate 2 never really reached the heights that its predecessor did thanks to being held back by a limited selection of playable classes and a gameplay loop that many players found derivative despite its intention to innovate.

Although credit must be given to its wide selection of weapons, maps, and modes, they were ultimately let down by its gameplay, which was hamstrung by the presence of only three playable classes with fixed functionalities. That’s especially saddening when one considers how many people worked on it as opposed to the original game.

Atomfall: Wicked Isle DLC

Although Wicked Isle did bring meaningful additions to Atomfall’s main story, they weren’t enough to make up for its lack of new enemy types and glaring omissions that made its runtime more tedious than it should have been.

That’s especially egregious considering how the main game always found a way to keep us on our toes, and the DLC’s new weapons, skills, and characters could not justify its lack of enough content to justify its price tag. Wicked Isle is another presence on this list that could have been so much more but ultimately failed to live up to the expectations it generated.

Still Wakes the Deep: Siren’s Rest

While getting to dive back into the main game’s story and learning more about the tragic events that brought about the Beira D’s destruction was certainly exciting, Mhairi’s search for its data logger was a disappointment thanks to its shorter runtime and technical issues that actively made it far less appealing than the main game.

Although it did bring a fairly interesting narrative to the table, it was not enough to deserve the same praise that the main game earned, mostly in part due to The Chinese Room’s attempts to address the linear nature of the main game only to get caught up in pathing and other technical issues that were obstacles to obtaining the full experience on offer in the DLC.

That’s a paradox many studios would rather avoid. 

Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves

After 26 years of silence, Fatal Fury fans were all “REV”ved up to receive a new title in the popular  SNK franchise. Bringing innovative new mechanics and excellent visuals to the table, it’s quite surprising that KOF Studios failed to do more with a franchise that had many gamers very excited about returning to the 2D fighting experience it offered.

That was unfortunately the extent of its traction, as an uninspired RPG mode and a distinct lack of heavy hitters on its playable roster brought disappointment to its fans despite the presence of excellent fighting systems that would challenge newcomers and veterans alike.

FBC Firebreak

A co-op multiplayer shooter set in the world of Control had us immediately invested in what we assumed would be another banger from Remedy Entertainment. However, FBC Firebreak failed to live up to that hype with a gameplay loop that quickly became repetitive while its inspirations were largely relegated to the background with a few notable exceptions.

A limited selection of weapons and little to no variety in locations and enemy types marred a gameplay loop that was frantic and action-packed until it revealed a slew of unlockables that required way too much grinding for the average player.

All is not lost, however, as Remedy could bring changes that puts this exciting yet flawed shooter back on track.

MindsEye

Oh, MindsEye. We really wish Build a Rocket Boy could have made this game live up to the high expectations that we and the rest of the gaming world had for it. We once expected it to be the perfect title to ease our sorrow at the delay of GTA 6. On paper, MindsEye has everything a modern hit should bring to the table. An interesting narrative backed up by a gorgeous open-world that blurs the line between man, machine, and AI.

But Redrock’s empty streets and non-responsive NPCs worked in tandem with its uninspired mission design, lackluster story and buggy execution to rob us of what could have been one of this year’s finest titles. We wish we could say this was a bittersweet experience but we have to lean more towards the former than the latter.

Were there any games that you believe failed to live up to your expectations? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!

As a remaster, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is quite a modest upgrade. As you’d expect, it brings the game up to HD resolution, while you can now also play with a 16:9 aspect ratio. The developer hasn’t done a great job of calibrating the game for that aspect ratio, however, which means the camera won’t always show you what you’d think it should be showing. Thankfully, you can switch to the original 4:3 aspect ratio.

"If you were hoping for a more thorough upgrade that does a little bit more to update the experience both visually and from a gameplay perspective, this is going to come as a disappointment- not unlike 2019’s aforementioned Onimusha 1 re-release."

Onimusha 2’s remaster also adds a new modernized control scheme that lets you move regularly with the analog stick- though the original’s tank controls are still available as an option, for anyone who may wish to experience the game the old fashioned way. The remaster also adds an easy mode and, conversely, a hell mode option where you die in a single hit, as well as a gallery where you can view all the updated and enhanced assets.

Beyond that, other than some minor gameplay tweaks here and there (such as seamless weapon switching) and the odd none-too-signigificant bonus (like all minigames being unlocked right out the gate), Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is pretty much exactly the same game it was on the PS2 over two decades ago. If you were hoping for a more thorough upgrade that does a little bit more to update the experience both visually and from a gameplay perspective, this is going to come as a disappointment- not unlike 2019’s aforementioned Onimusha 1 re-release. Onimusha 2 does run really well with next to no performance issues to speak of, and it does still look quite good- though that’s more down to its solid art design and ageless pre-rendered backgrounds than any major remastering work, so the credit there goes more to the original game itself than its remastered release.

The remaster’s conservative nature also obviously means that Onimusha 2 has brought over much of itself almost exactly as it was-  which in turn means that many of the game’s strengths and weaknesses are the remaster’s strengths and weaknesses as well. Take, for instance, the frustrating camera, which feels even more frustrating and aged in 2025 than it obviously did back in the day. Though Onimusha 2 does make great use of its fixed cameras quite often, just as frequently, they can also be a source of great annoyance. You’ll suddenly start moving in a direction that you didn’t mean to because of sudden camera cuts, leaving you disoriented, or you’ll often find yourself being assailed by ranged attacks from targets that you can’t even see- in several ways, Onimusha 2’s camera often gets in the way of the action, making everything from some of the most hectic fights to even basic movement feel clunky and ungainly more often than you’d like.

"When the game isn’t getting in its own way with dated design choices or frustrating camera issues, combat remains a lot of fun."

Onimusha 2 also has issues baked into its core design that were obviously not going to be addressed in a remaster- least of all one as conservative as this one. Levels, for instance, are too unimaginative and straightforward in their design, which means you’ll find yourself moving through corridors with not much going on beyond impressive art design a bit too often. Progression, too, is quite simplistic in a way that makes it feel like an afterthought, while some of the combat scenarios and fights feel artificially difficult more due to the game’s own aged eccentricities than any real challenge.

All of these issues are very much present and accounted for in this remaster, which means your patience is likely going to be tested. That, of course, means mileage will vary, because not everyone is going to want to put up with Onimusha 2’s undeniable issues to get to the good stuff. Thankfully for those who do choose to take the good with the bad, there is genuinely good stuff to be had, especially if you’re a returning fan.

The combat, for instance, continues to be a blast. When the game isn’t getting in its own way with dated design choices or frustrating camera issues, combat remains a lot of fun, thanks not only to the variety of weapons available to use and how fun each of them is to play with, but also a number of well-designed boss fights, strong enemy variety, and tight, responsive, and consistently satisfying core gameplay mechanics.

Outside of combat, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny’s light doses of exploration and puzzle solving are also quite well-implemented. Taking hints of inspiration from the classic Resident Evil school of design, Onimusha 2’s item-gated puzzles break up the combat from time to time and are usually just the right level of engaging. No, there’s nowhere close to the levels of exploration here that you would expect from something like a Resident Evil game, but what the game does have is done well enough that it leaves you wanting for more.

"For hardcore fans of the Onimusha franchise or for those who don’t necessarily mind its aged PS2 era sensibilities, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a good excuse to embrace the franchise once again."

That is ultimately what many are going to come to Onimusha 2 for – this isn’t a game that is going to floor you with its story or storytelling by any stretch of the imagination, for instance – and by and large, it does deliver enough of well-designed combat and puzzle design to warrant a look. It is not, however, without those issues. Arguably, it’s a bit too conservative as an upgrade, while on a more fundamental level, issues with dated design, a frustrating camera, and more also hold it back. Put together, all of these issues do certainly feel not-insignificant, at the very least, which means a recommendation isn’t exactly easily given here.

For hardcore fans of the Onimusha franchise or for those who don’t necessarily mind its aged PS2 era sensibilities, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is a good excuse to embrace the franchise once again. If, however, you are looking for an experience that can stand the test of time with consistently strong design, you might not necessarily find that here.

The PlayStation 4 version of this game was reviewed on PlayStation 5 via backward compatibility.

When it comes to the gameplay side of things, the biggest new additions are the Easy mode and the Hell mode. As described by the trailer, Easy mode is available right from the beginning of the game, and is meant for players that might struggle with the game’s combat and would prefer to just enjoy the story without trouble. In the trailer, the player is easily able to take down several enemies without any trouble whatsoever.

Hell mode, on the other hand, has been described by the trailer as being an extremely difficult mode. Along with enemy AI being generally smarter and resources being more scarce, Hell mode also has one-shot death for the player’s character. This means that making even a single mistake during combat will lead to several minutes worth of lost progress. Hell mode is meant for players that are already aware of the game’s various systems, and the nuances of its melee combat.

The mini-games being available right from the start also means that players won’t have to go through too much trouble to find some of their favourites. There are three mini-games available: The Man in Black, Team Oni, and Puzzle Phantom Realm. As for the gallery, the game will include more than 100 sketches made by character designer Keita Amemiya in the process of the title’s development. All 43 tracks from the game’s soundtrack will also be available to listen at any point.

The remaster of Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny is slated for release on PC, PS4 and Xbox One and Nintendo Switch on May 23. Current-gen consoles will also be able to play the title thanks to backwards compatibility. The title is also available for pre-order through digital stores, with pre-order bonuses that include more songs added to the game’s track list, as well as a host of in-game items to help players start off with slightly more of an advantage than they would otherwise have had in the early parts of the game.

The Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny remaster was announced back in February, and will include a host of quality-of-life features to make playing it on modern platforms simpler. These features include auto-save, as well as new HD graphics and more modernised control schemes. The title was announced with a trailer which you can check out here.

The game is a remaster of the 2002 PS2 classic. With the remastered release, Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny will be playable on more platforms, including PC, for the first time. Its story revolves around Jubei trying to get revenge against Oda Nobunaga. The remaster was announced alongside a new game in the franchise, titled Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

The Midnight Walk

A claymation adventure with stop-motion visuals, unfolding in a dark fantasy world where you must protect a lantern being and its flame from monsters in the dark – say what you will, but The Midnight Walk offers a solid premise. Offering five tales of tense chases, puzzle solving, stealth and simply awe-inspiring visuals, The Midnight Walk launches on May 8th for PS5, PC, PlayStation VR2 and SteamVR.

Spirit of the North 2

Following the underrated original, Spirit of the North 2 again sees players venturing through a gorgeous open world as a fox. Your goal is to cleanse the guardians and defeat Grimnir, a dark shaman, but each biome promises extensive secrets, including powerful runes and abilities. For those seeking a more laidback adventure, Spirit of the North 2 launches on May 8th for Xbox Series X/S, PC and PS5.

The Precinct

Remember American Fugitive, which offered an old-school GTA-like experience? The Precinct is from the same studio, but this time, you’re a police officer in Averno City, upholding the law. It’s an intriguing twist, as tasks range from ticketing vehicles to pursuing suspects in high-speed chases. With extensive degrees of crime, the ability to call for backup, and a living sandbox, The Precinct may live up to its inspiration when it launches on May 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

DOOM: The Dark Ages

Perhaps the month’s biggest release, DOOM: The Dark Ages is id Software’s largest campaign yet, packed with new weapons, tools, enemies (including the cosmic horror variety), and mechanics. Between the sandbox nature of some levels, oodles of secrets, heavier story focus with sleek cutscenes, more extensive difficulty options, and the incredible gameplay loop, it could end up an all-timer. The Dark Ages begin on May 15th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC alongside Game Pass.

RoadCraft

After Expeditions: A MudRunner Game, Saber Interactive is taking the franchise in a different direction with RoadCraft. As part of a disaster recovery company with heavy machinery, your job is to repair bridges and roads, remove debris, and much more to effectively save the day. There are over 40 vehicles to operate and eight maps available, but best of all, you can haplessly coordinate with up to three other players. RoadCraft arrives on May 20th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: Battle Destiny Remastered

Gundam games can be hit or miss, but you can’t deny the sheer thrill of not knowing what’s cooking next. Bandai Namco’s next release is actually a remaster of the Japan-only PS Vita title, Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Battle Destiny, with high-res visuals, difficulty adjustments, new control settings, and a revamped UI. However, the basic gameplay remains the same as players complete missions based on the anime, partaking in high-octane battles, and unlocking new suits. It’s out on May 22nd for PC and Nintendo Switch.

Blades of Fire

With Souls-like mechanics, a massive fantasy world to explore, and in-depth blacksmithing mechanics, Blades of Fire is proving more than just a spiritual successor to Severance: Blade of Darkness. Available on May 22nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, players control Aran, who ventures through the world, battling the forces of Queen Nerea to end her tyranny. This requires forging one’s own weapons, carefully tempering stats to fit your preferred play style, unlocking new recipes, and using the right tools against specific enemies.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny

After Onimusha: Warlords returned from the dead in all its HD glory, it’s now the sequel’s turn. Jubei’s journey through Feudal Japan will retain the same level of challenge when it arrives on May 23rd for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. However, you can up the difficulty further with Hell Mode, where a single hit kills. For the more quality of life-minded, you can now access various mini-games from the beginning; auto-save is supported; and you can now control when Onimusha form is activated.

Deliver At All Costs

Even without Konami publishing it, Deliver At All Costs looks like a delightfully chaotic action title with an incredible atmosphere. You play as a delivery driver, Winston Green, transporting all kinds of bizarre packages (including a bomb) by any means necessary. Pilot various vehicles or travel on foot, tear through fully destructible streets and escape angry citizens across three Acts in 1959. Deliver At All Costs is available on May 22nd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC and will also be free on the Epic Games Store for a week.

Elden Ring Nightreign

Few developers could pivot from an immensely successful open-world Souls-like action RPG into a spin-off with battle royale and rogue-like mechanics, but this is FromSoftware. Nightreign sees you venturing into Limveld, an alternate dimension version of Limgrave. After three days and three nights. And facing multiple bosses. And dealing with a moving ring of death. Even if it’s not an offline experience, it’s still unmistakably FromSoft and promises plenty of hardcore Souls-like action when it launches on May 30th for Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PS5, and PC.

Revenge of the Savage Planet

As a sequel to Journey to the Savage Planet, your purpose is simple: Take revenge on the greedy corporate heads. There are multiple planets to explore this time with numerous locations, flora, fauna, and more, and co-op is fully supported for another player. With new gear and extensive exploration options, Revenge of the Savage Planet looks to expand on everything that made the original so great. It’s out on May 8th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, and PC.

F1 25

It wouldn’t be a year without the usual slate of yearly EA titles, and F1 25 from Codemasters is no exception. The jury is out on how everything will feel, especially after last year’s divisive handling changes, but Braking Point returns with more player agency and drama, and My Team 2.0 promises new Owner Perks for greater specialization. F1 25 launches on May 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, so there’s plenty of time to learn more.

JDM: Japanese Drift Master

If Tokyo Xtreme Racer wasn’t enough, JDM: Japanese Drift Master may be the ticket. Launching on May 21st for PC, it depicts Japan’s street racing culture with an extensive open world to explore (dynamic weather and day/night cycles included), extensive customization of real-world brand cars, and, of course, plenty of drifting. There’s even a story depicted through manga with over 40 events.

Sonic Rumble

The good news: Sonic is getting a new game. The worrying news: It’s a party battle royale title developed with Rovio of Angry Birds fame. For now, the visuals look bright and appealing with up to 32 players partaking in modes like Co-Op Battles to fight the Death Egg Robot or Run Battles with the classic Sonic mechanics. There’s potential, but we’ll see how it pans out when it launches on May 8th for iOS, Android, and PC.

Along with announcing the release date, Capcom has also opened the title up for pre-orders, complete with a bonus copy of the Onimusha 2: Orchestra Album Selection Pack for those that do.

The trailer has also revealed that players that own a copy of the remaster of Onimusha: Warlords and have save data of the game will also get a bonus Jubei: Samanosuke outfit for use in Onimusha 2.

The Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny remaster was unveiled earlier this month during a Capcom Spotlight. While details at the time were sparse, we did get see how the remastered title of the PS2 classic would look on our modern higher-resolution displays.

The title revolves around new protagonist Jubei, who sets out to get revenge against Oda Nobunaga, who he holds responsible for the slaughter of his clan. The game was announced alongside the next main entry into the franchise – Onimusha: Way of the Sword.

Unfortunately, further details on its features have yet to be revealed, so stay tuned for updates. Hopefully, it follows up on its predecessor’s remaster, which added redubbed voice lines, widescreen support, and new movement options. Check out our review.

Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny launched in 2002 for the PlayStation 2, where it’s since remained exclusive. It saw newcomer Jubei seeking revenge against Oda Nobunaga for the death of his clan. Alongside several returning gameplay elements, it introduced features like gifts for various characters, who can assist him later.

In other news, Capcom revealed new information on Onimusha: Way of the Sword, the next mainline title in the franchise. Launching in 2026 for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, it unfolds in Kyoto during the Edo era with a new protagonist. Head here for more details.

Check out the previous part here.

Shadow Warrior 3

The one where Wang gets a grappling hook. Shadow Warrior 3 does away with its predecessor’s wide array of melee weapons and focuses on one single constant – the Dragontail katana. Being able to quickly whip it out and slice an opponent feels more intuitive, and each slash feels more responsive. Upgrades also allow for directional inputs to call down lightning, shoot fire or unleash a wave of water which is also nice.