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.

Diving into the game, I was met with a no-nonsense opening bunch of menus that allowed me to choose between driving profiles that reflected my proficiency at racing titles. I tried them all out, and if you’re a casual racing player, I’d recommend picking all of the assists and an easier difficulty setting. You’re still going to be hard-pressed at keeping your wheels on the road even then.

"Even a single error could cost you positions, with the game being as unforgiving to its drivers just like the real thing."

That’s because Rennsport has made its selection of cars feel as close as they can be to the real thing. Getting behind the wheel of an Audi R8 and putting the pedal to the floor gave me a satisfying burst of speed as I thundered down Hockenheimring. But at the first corner, I soon found that the game is about coaxing as much performance as you can out of your vehicle with precise turns and well-timed braking.

Turning on the racing line assist is a great option for casual players, allowing them to gauge distance better and hit those challenging turns and corners at a speed that let them retain control of their vehicle as they work hard to get an edge. Even a single error could cost you positions, with the game being as unforgiving to its drivers just like the real thing.

I found myself constantly being warned about cancelled laps when I attempted to get away with a badly judged turn, and incident points get slapped on to you in the event of a collision with another driver. The AI drivers are quite good at staying ahead and keeping you on your toes, but they can be unrealistically aggressive at times.

Each season is structured like the real thing, with separate sessions for Practice, Qualifying, and the main race. The game doesn’t hesitate to throw the rule book at you either, with flags, penalties, and track limits enforced quite strictly, as they should be in a racing sim that’s aiming for accuracy and immersion.

"Every car on offer behaves differently on the track, and learning how to get the best out of each one is part of Rennsport’s fun."

Online, you could jump into a race quite quickly with the matchmaking working well to find me and a couple of fellow racers. I’d expect it to be much better once the game gets a bit of traction. There are also scheduled events that you can join provided you have the right car unlocked. Overall, the selection of modes to play is among Rennsport’s strengths. You’re never far from your next race, with clean and crystal clear menus making navigating the game’s UI a breeze.

Once you’re in a race, the next few minutes are going to have you absolutely tuned in, with very immersive visuals and audio. Every car looks detailed and stands out with striking decals, which you can change once you start unlocking them.

Every car on offer behaves differently on the track, and learning how to get the best out of each one is part of Rennsport’s fun. With the option to do solo time trials on tracks of your choice, you could master each one in the car of your liking before testing your mettle against your fellow racers either online or through the time trial leaderboards. And with the game being as punishing as it is towards mistakes on the track, you’d do well to take the time to practice before you get to racing.

Standard across cars is a physics system that lends each one its own weight, momentum, and grip limits. That means that each one reacts differently to braking too late or attempting turns outside of a reasonable speed, and your cars either oversteer or understeer wildly and send you crashing into the fence while you’re penalized (and rightfully so) for driving off the track.

"Perhaps I’m nitpicking but I do think that there could have been more variety in the haptic feedback I was getting from different surfaces."

Damage simulation adds a welcome layer of realism to the experience, but it’s not as consistent as it should be. I had moments where a particularly hard crash ripped the spoiler clean off my car and left the boot open for the rest of the race, yet similar impacts on other cars resulted in little to no visible damage.

That inconsistency aside, damaging your car on easier settings generally doesn’t affect its racing performance all that much, though I did have one incident in a BMW hybrid that left me stranded on the track and forced to restart the event. While the lower difficulties tend to shield you from these variables, the damage model ramps up noticeably at higher settings.

That essentially translates to hours spent running laps around tracks in the car you’re about to race, becoming one with the machine while committing every turn and corner to muscle memory so you have a chance at getting ahead in an actual race. This makes Rennsport a racing sim geared towards pro players, its esports ambitions being well-known at this point.

However, given that this is a simulator, it could have used a bit more life at every track, and the lack of crowds and race-day atmosphere feels like a distinct omission. Another area where I believe the game was lacking is in the way different track surfaces felt in terms of the response I was getting from my controller. Perhaps I’m nitpicking but I do think that there could have been more variety in the haptic feedback I was getting from different surfaces.

"Among the cars, I found that the Mercedes AMG GT3 2020 and the Praga R1 were perfect for my tastes."

For casual racers, there’s still a lot to like if you’re looking to get a racing sim that does its job and does it well. Of course, it’s best enjoyed with friends as you veer off the tracks in glorious displays of reckless driving, the game’s physics engine wondering what to do with a driver that attempts to take corners at their car’s top speed.

With compatibility for a variety of controller setups and easily accessible options for driving-focused peripherals, Rennsport could be a decent addition to your library if you like your racing games to feel as close as possible to real-world cars. That said, the single-player career mode is a bit of a letdown, it’s more of a simple ladder where you start as a rookie and work your way up to Pro, and it never quite feels as fleshed-out as it should.

Rennsport definitely benefits from its performance, which was excellent on the PS5 as I tore down a straight, the road immediately picking up marks from my tires as I frantically braked to ensure I was, quite literally, staying on track. It’s very immersive and I did find myself staring at the scenery instead of keeping my eyes on the road. On the base PS5, the Dualsense’s haptics rumbled along as I pushed my tires to their limits, or anytime I shifted gears.

Among the cars, I found that the Mercedes AMG GT3 2020 and the Praga R1 were perfect for my tastes. The Pragda, in particular, was the one that appealed the most to me, accelerating out of corners like a missile while its braking and handling at sharper turns allowed me to take risks I wouldn’t have even thought about with another car.

"The standard version only includes 17 cars and 13 tracks, and it’s unclear how additional content will be delivered in the future."

You’re likely to find a different pair of favorites if you decide to pick up Rennsport considering how each car felt distinctly different on the track. Speaking of tracks, there’s 13 tracks and 15 layouts with some very big names to be found among them.

Coupled with the game’s solid performance, this made the entire racing experience very good and this one’s easy to recommend to racing fans who take a professional approach to their time behind the wheel. With a plethora of options to customize your experience and the manner in which your car responds to your commands, Rennsport takes its racing as seriously as it can for a title from a brand new studio.

But if your interest in racing is to just floor it and hope for the best, this isn’t the game for you. Its learning curve is quite steep, requiring hours of focus and practice before you get some momentum. Like with learning music, you don’t just practice till you get it right in Rennsport. You practice till you can’t get it wrong. If that sounds tedious to you, give this one a pass.

"Rennsport has no illusions about what kind of game it is. It’s aimed squarely at pro racers and does everything it can to earn their respect."

All of it sounds really good, until the game makes two big blunders. There’s an in-game store where you can buy cosmetic liveries, which some players might be fine with, but then you discover that certain content is locked behind the Deluxe Edition, like Nordschleife x Porsche 911 GT3 R. That’s pretty disappointing, because paywalling playable content behind special editions always leaves a bad taste. The second blunder is the lack of content: the standard version only includes 17 cars and 13 tracks, and it’s unclear how additional content will be delivered in the future.

Rennsport has no illusions about what kind of game it is. It’s aimed squarely at pro racers and does everything it can to earn their respect. However, it stumbles in enough areas that it can’t quite stand alongside the likes of Gran Turismo just yet. Whether those issues will be addressed remains to be seen, but for now, Rennsport is a decent racer with some notable caveats.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 5.

Of Ash and Steel

An open-world third-person action RPG developed on Unreal Engine 4, that too from a relatively unknown studio? That’s Of Ash and Steel, set in the Kingdom of the Seven, and promising an old-school approach to exploration. Essentially, you need to find your own footing in the world with no markers or quest guidance, and there are plenty of secrets to discover alongside enemies to smack around. Of Ash and Steel is available on November 24th, exclusively for PC.

Lumines Arise

Lumines but somehow even trippier, from the team that brought you surrealist and trippy Tetris. Launching on November 11th for PS5 and PC (with VR support for both), Lumines Arise offers its own Journey Mode, complete with a gorgeous soundscape and visuals, before shuffling you into the real game: Survival. And that’s before creating playlists of stages, completing challenges and playing online, all while ascending to a brand new plane.

Possessor(s)

After the underwhelming Hyper Light Breaker, Heart Machine returns to its 2D roots with Possessor(s), a side-scroller with fighting game-like combos. Players venture through the remains of Sanzu City as Luca, possessed by the mysterious Rhem, using anything and everything to fight off monstrosities. With non-linear exploration, other tragic characters to unravel, and a gorgeous art style, it’s one to keep an eye on ahead of its November 11th release on PS5 and PC.

Where Winds Meet

Everstone Studios’ stunning open-world action RPG has made some seriously strong impressions in China. Its global release is slated for November 14th on PS5 and PC, and thus far, the Wuxia fantasy and depiction of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms still looks as stunning as the combat and traversal. With more than 150 hours of gameplay and co-op-exclusive activities, we can’t wait to unpack it all.

Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road

Announced in 2016, renamed several times, and delayed several times more, Inazuma Eleven is seemingly set to launch, at last, on November 13th for Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. Level-5 Games boasts more than 5,400 characters in a brand new story with, of all things, time-travelling, and anime cutscenes by none other than MAPPA. Whether it lives up to expectations or not, the sheer scope and spectacle are intriguing enough.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 7

Something something Raul Menendez is alive, and only David Mason and his team can stop the spread of fear, something. The story of Black Ops 7 doesn’t inspire much hope, but the prospect of four-player campaign co-op is intriguing, especially the 32-player end-game. But except for new maps and modes in multiplayer, a new Wall-Bounce mechanic, and a fresh Zombies experience, this is about as Call of Duty as you’d expect in this day and age. It’s out on November 14th for Xbox and PlayStation consoles alongside PC.

Escape from Tarkov

Numerous years and controversies later, Battlestate Games’ Escape from Tarkov Version 1.0 is finally launching on November 15th for PC. As a hardcore extraction shooter experience, it’s received extensive praise for its survival elements (including a realistic injury and treatment system) and realistic gunplay. It’s no Escape From Duckov, but with 11 maps and a PvE mode, its official launch could either be game-changing or grounds for even more controversies.

Syberia Remastered

A full remaster of the title that started it all, Syberia Remastered offers improved visuals, transforming classic locations while retaining their atmosphere. It also offers more refined puzzles, better controls, and an updated UI to make experiencing Kate Walker’s journey through the real and fantastical that much smoother. Syberia Remastered launches on November 6th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.

Kirby Air Riders

If more than 105 minutes of footage meticulously laying out features across two Directs wasn’t enough to sell you on Kirby Air Riders before its November 20th release, then nothing will. Between a new Story Mode featuring the Fountain of Dreams and Nova, the return of Top Ride, all the classic tracks from the original, and everything in between, Kirby could once again be a dark horse among Switch 2 releases this year.

Project Motor Racing

It’s not quite Project CARS 4, but with some of the talent from Slightly Made and the backing of Giants Software, Project Motor Racing could be the next best thing. It packs more than 70 cars and 27 meticulously recreated tracks with dynamic weather, a day/night cycle, a Career Mode, multiplayer and events. All this, complete with realistic physics and sound design. What more could you want? We’ll find out when Motor Racing launches on November 25th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Terminator 2D: No Fate

Bitmap Bureau revisits the legendary action film, but through the lens of a retro-style 2D side-scrolling shooter. After several delays, Terminator 2D: No Fate is finally launching on November 26th for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PS4, PC, and Nintendo Switch, and if its visuals and action weren’t enough, you can also explore alternate scenarios based on decisions, resulting in completely different endings.

Football Manager 26

After cancelling last year’s edition, Sports Interactive is set to deliver Football Manager 26 on November 4th for Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. While numerous leagues and tons of players are a given, it’s all the other changes that have us excited, including an overhauled manager creation system, extensively reworked UI, and – for the first time – a partnership with FIFA.

Rennsport

What if RoboCop: Rogue City developer Teyon offered a racing sim? You get Rennsport, which releases out of early access on November 13th for PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S. Developed alongside Competition Company, it offers a range of different vehicle classes, iconic tracks like Daytona and Spa-Francorchamps, and multiplayer. Early access impressions aren’t the most positive, but maybe Version 1.0 will turn things around.

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl (PS5)

Exactly one year later, GSC Game World’s survival sandbox has grown a lot, not to mention improved by leaps and bounds on a technical level. On PS5, it offers even more, from DualSense support to gyroscope aiming on top of PS5 Pro support. And while it may sound gimmicky, hearing the radio through the microphone or playing the guitar with the touchpad feels right. S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl arrives on PS5 just in time to celebrate its first anniversary – November 20th.

Constance

Looking for a less strenuous side-scroller after Silksong? Constance could very well be it with a beautiful hand-drawn style and surreal mindscape created by its protagonist. Even if several of the basics look familiar, combat offers unique mechanics, from dispelling darkness to transforming into paint to climb up walls. Launching on November 24th, Constance will be available on PC, with console releases to follow in 2026.

Rennsport is envisioned as being a racing sim with an emphasis on realism. The game makes use of advanced photogrammetry to make sure that its cars look as realistic as possible.

“We’re delighted to be adding Rennsport to our console catalog,” said Nacon’s head of racing Sébastien Waxin in a press release. “This great upcoming simulation is part of our plan to develop Nacon’s racing division, and to offer a wide range of games to satisfy all types of gamers, including drivers eager to compete on some of the most exciting circuits in the world.”

The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S release of Rennsport will also feature cross-platform multiplayer, allowing PC players to join fellow sim racing enthusiasts on consoles in online races.

“Thanks to its racing expertise, both in terms of games and accessories, Nacon has established itself as a partner of choice for the publishing of Rennsport on consoles,” said CEO and co-founder of Competition Company Morris Hebecker in a statement. “Our collaboration on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox versions of the game enables us to offer an optimal racing experience to all players. This partnership supports our intention to offer players total immersion, where every detail of the simulation immerses them in the adrenaline, challenges and precision of real motor racing on PC, but now also on consoles!”

Rennsport was originally released on PC as an Early Access title. Originally coming to the Epic Games Store back in July 2024, it eventually made its way on to Steam in December 2024. Rennsport is a free-to-play title.

Forza Motorsport

Playground Games’ knocked it out of the park with Forza Horizon 5, and now the baton has been passed on to Turn10 for the next entry in the Motorsport franchise. Forza Motorsport 8 (or simply, Forza Motorsport) is set to serve as a soft reboot for the franchise – but fans can expect to get more of what they love with this upcoming title. The physics engine is going to be much more robust than before, and the visuals are already looking spectacular with immaculate attention to detail. Forza Motorsport is set to release sometime during Spring 2023 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.