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.

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!

“We’ve been blown away by all of the positive comments we’ve received and all of the useful bug reports and feedback that you have sent our way,” posted the studio. “We wanted to assure you that, even though we may not respond to every single review or report, we are looking at all of them and incorporating them into our future strategy.”

The studio has described five of the big issues that its programming team is hard at work on fixing: general bug fixes, quality-of-life improvements, crime rate balancing, AI behaviour, and escort unit fixes. Plans to fix these core issues have been described as its short-term goal. In the mid-to-long-term, however, Fallen Tree Games is asking players for feedback about what new features and content can be developed for the game.

For general bug fixes, the studio has said that it is focusing on the major bugs that players have discovered and have been providing feedback about. It also notes that there will likely be quite a few edge cases and unique bugs that are difficult to track and fix owing to the scope of the open-world game. The developers are also taking player feedback into account as it incorporates more quality-of-life features going forward.

As for rebalancing the game’s crime rate, the studio has described the in-game city’s crime rate being too severe. “Crime in Averno City may be bad, but we want to keep it at least somewhat realistic,” it posted. To that end, work is currently being done to reduce the number of overlapping incidents that can happen. AI behaviour as well as escort units will also get some tweaks.

“This is what we’re focusing on in the short-term, but in the mid- to long-term we’re also compiling suggestions from your feedback to decide what extra features and content we can add to The Precinct in the future,” wrote Fallen Tree Games. “We are committed to adding more content to the game, but we haven’t decided yet exactly what that will be.”

The Precinct was released on PC, PS5 and Xbox Series X/S earlier this week. There is also a physical edition available which comes with a Steelbook, a digital copy of the game’s original soundtrack, as well a physical map of Averno City that players can make use of as they navigate through its crime-ridden streets. The game is priced at $29.99 on all platforms.

For more details about The Precinct, check out our review, where we gave it a score of six out of 10. We praised its stylish visuals, presentation, and nuanced take on police work, while also criticising its performance issues, cheesy dialogue, and clunky combat.

Intriguing mechanics and a decent aesthetic aside, the writing can be hit or miss. The police work becomes predictable and sometimes repetitive, and the gunplay could use more polish. Nevertheless, it is a unique gameplay loop.

"It’s one thing to take inspiration from the banter of old cop movies and another to translate that enjoyably. When it’s not trying to be comedic, many of the exchanges are passable enough, even if Cordell Jr. doesn’t get much say outside of the dialogue choices you select."

It’s 1983 in Averno City, which is described as rotten to the core. Gangs are noted to rule the streets, even though you barely encounter any, and when you do, they’re extremely good at adhering to the speed limit. You play as Nick Cordell Jr., a rookie cop who just joined the force even as the murder of your father, a legend in the force, looms large over the police department and the city as a whole.

After initially foiling a bank robbery, you’re quickly involved in larger cases, whether tracking down the August Gang’s leader or going undercover to take down a street racing ring. All this is in service of eventually finding out how your father died and meting out justice the ACPD way. It’s fairly straightforward and more than a little cliched, with the overall vibe and music taking inspiration from old-school cop movies. However, the developer does a decent job of immersing you in the experience.

The same goes for introducing its cast of misfits, from Kowalski, who doles out shift assignments, to Chandler, who bears a suspicious resemblance to Kowalski, the jokester Christie and the nonchalant Kelly, who’s close to retirement. Of course, other characters are introduced as you progress, like Eugene, the evidence guy, and detectives Li and Ferrera, who you know are detectives because one has suspenders and the other has a long coat. I wish their characteristics were more defining.

As such, the lines range from overtly cheesy to outright unnatural. It’s one thing to take inspiration from the banter of old cop movies and another to translate that enjoyably. When it’s not trying to be comedic, many of the exchanges are passable enough, even if Cordell Jr. doesn’t get much say outside of the dialogue choices you select.

"Shooting civilians is also out of the question – it’s an automatic game over, though surprisingly, running over multiple civilians, who dodge-roll Dark Souls-style, isn’t. "

Characters aside, The Precinct is focused on implementing the nitty gritty – or recreating it as much as possible – that constitutes real police work. You have a shift that runs for a certain number of hours and can focus on specific crimes like vandalism, which often involves dealing with those spraying graffiti, giving out speeding tickets (and engaging in hot pursuits against those who don’t play nice, and on-foot patrols.

Depending on the assignment, there’s enough leeway to pursue a little of everything. You could be driving around a specific district and suddenly get a call about a street fight or burglary in progress. It’s also possible to randomly check license plates and speeds of different cars to determine if they should be investigated. As you resolve various crimes, you’ll earn progress towards unlocking the next location and level up to unlock upgrade tokens for new skills.

As for the actual police work, you can’t just go around smacking everyone in the head with a baton. Shooting civilians is also out of the question – it’s an automatic game over, though surprisingly, running over multiple civilians, who dodge-roll Dark Souls-style, isn’t. When confronting a perpetrator, you must go through several steps, like checking their ID, searching them for any potentially illegal contraband or weapons, giving them a breathalyzer test if they’re intoxicated, etc.

Depending on the circumstances, you can tack on different offenses. If you encounter a burglar attempting to flee or even trying to fight, you can throw in evading arrest or assault for bonus XP. Other acts like reading them their rights or covering up bodies also provide XP.

"The same can’t be said of the cover-based shooting. It’s a little haphazard on controller, especially when trying to line up the height of a shot. Enemies perfectly landing their shots when you barely peak out of cover doesn’t help. The mouse and keyboard feel better when aiming, but it’s still clunky at times."

Learning the due process can take some time, but there is some enjoyment in figuring out the different offenses to tack on since selecting the wrong ones results in a slight XP penalty. However, while there is a variety of crimes to tackle that can feel vastly different – the relatively peaceful ticketing of parking infractions versus a high-speed chase where the crook escapes their vehicle and takes a hostage – many devolve into the same booking process more often than not. It adds the tedium of a shift, especially as you’re trying to obtain evidence to advance your investigation into the city’s gangs.

At least you can eventually customize a shift, from the duration and location to the type. As for the actual story missions, they’re fairly rote and don’t offer much beyond more extensive shootouts or chases. They could have been more memorable if the dialogue was up to snuff, but alas. There are other activities to discover on the map, like hitting jumps and partaking in challenges that your fellow officers have set up for the best times. I’m not sure how either is explained away as part of the job, but they break up the monotony, at least.

Additional tools are unlocked as you level up, including better weapons like shotguns and beefier vehicles like 4x4s. You also get new support options to call in when required, and while it’s funny to T-bone a perp’s car with a fellow cruiser, oftentimes they feel superfluous and unhelpful. I’m not sure what helicopter support is supposed to really offer in the early going but at least flying around isn’t too shabby.

The same can’t be said of the cover-based shooting. It’s a little haphazard on controller, especially when trying to line up the height of a shot. Enemies perfectly landing their shots when you barely peak out of cover doesn’t help. The mouse and keyboard feel better when aiming, but it’s still clunky at times. The actual movement itself is acceptable, even if it’s odd that criminals never lose stamina while you, a fresh out-of-the-academy recruit, are continuously sucking wind. It is somewhat odd that Cordell ragdolls when tackling an escaping perp. Funny, but still odd.

"While The Precinct is a throwback to the old days of Grand Theft Auto and offers its own unique twists due to the police perspective, it’s hard to recommend. Even if bugs are ironed out, and the performance is improved, the story and characters just aren’t compelling enough to get you invested."

The Precinct’s presentation is passable – Averno City is lit well enough with decent details, even if the depth of the sandbox, like dynamic interactions between NPCs, is limited. You’ll spot the same ID portrait more than once for some as well, which isn’t a big deal but does sully the immersion.

Outside of bugs, like a perp’s neck turning more than 90 degrees to look at you before fixing itself, the biggest annoyance is the performance. Even while being well beyond the system requirements, the slowdown was enough to warrant dialling down the settings, and even then, there were issues.

While The Precinct is a throwback to the old days of Grand Theft Auto and offers its own unique twists due to the police perspective, it’s hard to recommend. Even if bugs are ironed out, and the performance is improved, the story and characters just aren’t compelling enough to get you invested. The actual gameplay can feel novel, though it can also wear out its welcome over longer periods. It’s worth checking if you’re looking for a different take on the cops and robbers dynamic and feeling generous. Otherwise, there are plenty of other indie sandbox titles that are more worth your time.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Along with the digital release, The Precinct is also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in physical form as part of a collaboration between Kwalee, Fallen Tree Games and Microids. The physical edition of The Precinct comes with a Steelbook, a digital copy of the game’s original soundtrack, and a physical map of the game’s main setting – Averno City.

The Precinct was originally announced all the way back in June 2023 with a trailer. The title puts players in the shoes of rookie officer Nick Cordell Jr. Set in the crime-ridden streets of 1980s America, The Precinct has players doing their part in bringing peace to Averno City by taking on the various gangs, as well as uncovering corruption that might end up going all the way to the top. Check out the launch trailer that shows off the general vibes of the game, while also giving us a look at some of its gameplay, below.

Back in May 2024, the game got another trailer narrated by art director Lewis Boadle that gave us a look at some of the minute-to-minute action that players can expect in their role as a beat cop. Along with patrolling the streets, players will have to also take an active role in stopping and preventing crime, ranging from petting infarctions like jaywalking or littering, all the way up to more intricate crimes in progress like massive heists and even government corruption.

Fallen Tree Games also revealed some more details about The Precinct back in October 2023, letting us know how different aspects of the game would work. One of the title’s key features, procedurally-generated crime, was described as being a way to offer players endless gameplay possibilities.

“The game has a day and night cycle, and when you start your shift you’ll be presented with a list of shift options,” explained the studio. “These will include vehicle and foot patrols, helicopter support, and issuing parking tickets. During these shifts, almost anything can and will happen, ranging from muggings to gang wars, graffiti incidents to store holdups. You’ll have callouts come through on the radio, and you will also have the ability to identify incidents on your own. Although accepting these callouts is not mandatory, failing to meet your quotas will affect your progress.”

The studio also revealed that, despite superficial similarities between The Precinct and its previous title, American Fugitive, players in the latest title will have to take a more deliberate approach to situations. “While The Precinct shares many similarities with American Fugitive in terms of its camera system, physics, and vehicle mechanics, you will need to take a more deliberative approach when taking the role of the pursuer rather than the pursued. You can’t ram into the bad guys or recklessly plough through civilians,” it said.

For more details, check out our full interview with the studio.

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.

Previously scheduled to release on August 15, Fallen Tree Games has announced that The Precinct has been delayed to fall of this year, with the studio saying it intends to use the additional development time to continue finetuning the gameplay, apply further polish, and continue fixing bugs.

“Our aim has always been to create the best version of The Precinct possible,” Fallen Tree Games’ delay announcement reads. “We want to deliver an immersive and engaging gameplay experience of the highest quality possible with our resources.

“After much consideration by both us and the team at our publisher Kwalee, we all decided that this would not be possible by August 15th based on the time we have left, which is why we have reluctantly delayed the release of The Precinct to Fall 2024.

“This additional time will allow us to fine-tune the gameplay, fix any remaining bugs, and provide the seamless gameplay experience that we set out to create when we first started working on The Precinct.”

Fallen Tree Games and Kwalee have also released a new trailer announcing the game’s delay and showcasing new gameplay footage. Check it out below.

Whenever it releases, The Precinct will be available on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. For more details on the game, make sure to check out our interview with Fallen Tree Games through here.

Narrated by art director Lewis Boadle, the new trailer gives us a look at some of the things expected of a beat cop who is out doing their job in Averno City. The trailer showcases some of the game’s police-centric gameplay mechanics, such as how patrols work.

The Precinct seeks to meld gameplay based on police procedurals with an open world. The game will feature procedurally-generated crime, which can range quite a bit in terms of severity. One of the early examples revealed during the game’s announcements featured parking violations, as well as more intense crimes like shootouts and gang wars.

The game has been described by the studio as a love letter to classic cop movies, and is based in a 1980s noir setting.

Originally announced last year, The Precinct is coming to PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, and is set for release some time in 2024.

As it happens, there’s a ton of games that pluck bits of GTA’s aesthetic and mould it into their own experience. The games on this rundown aren’t just crime orientated; many adapt an immersive, life sim experience into a vibrant open world. Check out these 15 upcoming GTA-like games, as there’ll certainly be a time when you’ll want another open world to dive into.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like a Dragon’s likeable underdog Ichiban Kasuga unites with Yakuza mainstay Kazuma Kiryu in another spawling RPG epic set along the shorelines of tropical Hawaii alongside the more familiar districts of Japan. Set to be the longest game in the Yakuza oeuvre at 45-50 hours, our two larger-than-life heroes have been brought together by the hands of fate, joining forces to fight sinister foes. Jobs, skills, and outlandish scenarios return as well as turn-based combat. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth releases January 26^th, 2024, to PlayStation, Xbox, and PC.

InZOI

The goal of hyper-realistic life sim InZOI is to keep its denizens suitably fed, watered, and happy. There are jobs to apply for, chores to fulfil, instruments to play, and ovens to set on fire. With an extensive character customisation and in-depth build mode, InZOI promises hours of life affirming gameplay. Playable platforms aren’t confirmed at this stage, and we’re expecting to wait another year before we can dive in; InZOI is targeting a late 2024 release window.

VIGILANCER 2099

In this open-world RPG, you’ll play as a bounty hunter tasked with rising through a criminal empire whilst earning money on bounties to spend on weapons and upgrades. Of course, this being a Cyberpunk 2077 adjacent game, neon-lit rain-soaked city streets imbued in shades of pink and purple characterise the experience. In truth, VIGILANCER 2099’s puddle-strewn streets look incredible. Let’s hope the gameplay, touting flying vehicles and multiple traversal options – including a fun looking parkour mechanic – match up to the visual splendour. This one’s been in the works for a while; there’s no official release window, and up to now it seems to be PC only.

Everywhere

Rockstar alumni Leslie Benzies’ new studio Build a Rocket Boy’s first outing is a community-driven open world extravaganza, one whereby imagination runs riot, where players can build, play, and connect in newfound ways. What does this entail in terms of gameplay? Well, you and your mates can explore vast biomes, take down entire armies, race cars across crystal laser worlds, or simply hang out. Everywhere promises everything. A closed alpha began on December 5^th.

Nivalis 

Another life sim on this rundown, this time blending real-life visuals with a pixel art aesthetic, in Nivalis players can grow businesses and manage restaurants. Apartments can be bought and fish can be caught. The sky’s the limit in this city stretching from the shore to the clouds. Nivalis has a speculative 2024 release date, with PC looking like the only platform announced thus far.

Mumbai Gullies

Rise to high society in one of India’s most vibrant cities in Mumbai Gullies, a third-person open world adventure featuring more activities than you can shake a stick at. Invest in the stock exchange, go shopping, go out for lunch, explore the tourist traps all whilst reaching the top of a criminal empire. Mumbai seems an exceptional setting for an exciting experience. Coming to PC, with a release window yet to be announced, be sure to wishlist this one on Steam to keep in the loop.

171

Playable right now in early access is this Brazilian inspired Grand Theft Auto. 171 is an open world action adventure, one that’ll be immediately familiar to residents of Brazil. Here, every action has a reaction, aggression draws attention, wielding weaponry brings the full force of the law and a slew of bandits at your door. 171 is a living, breathing experience, densely populated with innocent civilians and interactive elements. Coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and PC when the game’s alpha period is over.

Gangstar New York 

Originally set to release in 2022, perhaps owing to Gangstar New York’s lofty ambition the game has suffered numerous delays. An open alpha ended in May 2023, but a release date still isn’t forthcoming. When it does come out, expect a social sandbox experience set in a near-future New York that’s ripe for the taking by some criminal underling. Players will be free to traverse the world as they see fit, with running, driving, climbing, parkour, grapple hooks, ziplines, and jetpacks all on offer as players journey to the top of the criminal underworld. Hopefully everything is running smoothly behind the scenes, and we’ll see a release date soon.

The Precinct

Heavily indebted to old-school GTA only this time instead of becoming a criminal kingpin in a reimagined US city, players will rise through the ranks of fictional Averno City’s police force. This action sandbox features procedurally generated crimes, from petty misdemeanours like parking infractions and littering to halting illegal street races, undertaking exhilarating car chases through twisted streets and alleyways on the hunt for powerful enemies and responding to bank heists alongside Averno’s finest, with player choice on how to complete each mission front and centre. UK developer Fallen Tree Games are plotting a 2024 release, with PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S the announced platforms.

Project Balod

Another story-driven action adventure on this rundown taking place on the streets of an Indian city, Project Balod is semi-open world but features a heavily dose of shooting action, with a mysterious narrative to unspool amidst the chaotic urban backdrop. Not a lot is known about this Indian gangster game, with the developer yet to announce a release date or playable platforms.

Contraband

Contraband is an upcoming co-op heist game from Just Cause developer Avalanche Studios. Set in the fictional 1970s world of Bayan, Contraband is described as a smuggler’s paradise. Squads can plan heists from their base of operations, with a host of valuable loot on offer for well executed plans. There’s no release date confirmed for this one yet but owing to the studio’s pedigree this is sure to be a hit when it does come out.

Project Madras

Amongst the best-looking games on this rundown owing to its development in Unreal Engine 5, Project Madras takes place on the open world streets of Chennai. A vibrant, explorative affair, Project Madras will have players roaming the marinas, monuments, and side streets of this exhilarating city, a place with homely locals, and a side of spicy Chennai. A game in the early stages of development, no release window or playable platforms have been announced yet.

Star Wars Outlaws

With the slew of scoundrels dotted throughout the galaxy, it’s a marvel no studio has attempted a game like Star Wars Outlaws yet. Massive Entertainment’s open-world adventure through the retched hives of scum and villainy looks exceptional, with players’ plotting one of the biggest heists this side of the outer rim territories across the familiar deserts of Tatooine. Coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC in 2024.

Cyberpunk 2077 Orion

Cyberpunk 2077 is well and truly redeemed, and whilst CD Projekt Red have announced they’re pooling resources into The Witcher 4, eyes will certainly be looking expectedly on codename Orion, Cyberpunk 2077’s sequel. For their part, the Polish developer are stationing a new team in Boston who’ll steadily plug away in the coming years. We can only imagine the splendour of Night City given a few years’ worth of development and expertise – let’s just hope this one is playable from the off.

Mafia 4 (Rumored)

Will there ever be a Mafia 4? Well, developer Hanger 13 announced in 2022 that Mafia’s fourth iteration was in active development. Since then, information has been scant. Latest rumours are that Mafia 4 will be set in 20^th century Sicily. Whether this rumour turns out to be true is anyone’s guess. Put this one firmly in the rumoured pile.

"While The Precinct shares many similarities with American Fugitive in terms of its camera system, physics, and vehicle mechanics, you will need to take a more deliberative approach when taking the role of the pursuer rather than the pursued. You can’t ram into the bad guys or recklessly plough through civilians."

Your previous game, American Fugitive, offered a similar experience of an open world crime game that evoked classic GTA titles, but The Precinct is putting a different twist on it by having players play as law enforcement. How did the idea for that switch come about, and what changes will it bring to the core gameplay?

The concept for The Precinct took shape during the development of American Fugitive, when we would often talk about how enjoyable it would be to play as the police, and we lamented the lack of exciting cop games.

We played a police mod for GTA and loved it, so we just started tinkering with the concept after American Fugitive was launched. We noted that the act of pursuit is great fun, and it just grew from there. We’ve had so many people say to us they’ve been desperate for an action cop game, so glad it wasn’t just us that felt that way.

While The Precinct shares many similarities with American Fugitive in terms of its camera system, physics, and vehicle mechanics, you will need to take a more deliberative approach when taking the role of the pursuer rather than the pursued. You can’t ram into the bad guys or recklessly plough through civilians.

Given your role as a law enforcement officer, the game anticipates that you exhibit restraint and sound judgement throughout your gameplay experience. You’ll need to be careful when engaging in gunfights and choose your targets carefully.

The Precinct will be making use of procedurally generated crimes for players to deal with. Can you talk about how this will function, and what level of variety players should expect from these activities?

We’ve put a lot of attention into the procedural generation of crimes, meaning that the game offers virtually endless gameplay possibilities. There is a story, but it isn’t as lengthy as it was in the American Fugitive, and you’ll spend a fair amount of time doing Shift Work.

The game has a day and night cycle, and when you start your shift you’ll be presented with a list of shift options. These will include vehicle and foot patrols, helicopter support, and issuing parking tickets. During these shifts, almost anything can and will happen, ranging from muggings to gang wars, graffiti incidents to store holdups. You’ll have callouts come through on the radio, and you will also have the ability to identify incidents on your own. Although accepting these callouts is not mandatory, failing to meet your quotas will affect your progress.

The Precinct seems to be placing plenty of emphasis on police chases, where players will also have access to a support system. How much depth will that system have, and what kinds of options will players have in the sort of support they can call in during a chase?

Our support system runs on tokens – think of them as rewards you earn for doing good or proper stuff, like staying close to a fleeing vehicle or taking down a bad guy. You can cash in these tokens to call for backup when you need it. Just remember, it’s context sensitive, so you can’t call in a helicopter for an overdue parking metre fine. Different support costs different amounts of tokens. e.g., a patrol car is cheaper than a spike strip, so there is an element of risk versus reward. Do you hold out in a chase and get a higher value item? So, expect to see a bunch of pursuit vehicles, spike strips, roadblocks, and even choppers in action.

"In contrast to the rural setting of American Fugitive, this game is set in a gritty metropolitan city, inspired by 1980s New York."

What should players expect from the design style and environmental design of The Precinct’s map, especially given its 80s noir inspirations?

In contrast to the rural setting of American Fugitive, this game is set in a gritty metropolitan city, inspired by 1980s New York, which was a pretty sketchy place back then. We’ve tried to create a condensed island city that contains lots of nooks and crannies to explore with unique landmarks and locations, and a road network that lends itself to thrilling chases and stunts. Unlike our previous game, which was entirely flat, we’ve introduced a degree of verticality for The Precinct. This can lead to clever shortcuts, exciting jumps, spectacular spins, and rooftop chases. We’re also leaning hard into the neon noir blade runner aesthetic, and the city looks stunning, especially at night.

What can you tell us about the dynamic weather system and what kind of an impact that will have on how players play the game?

The dynamic weather system has a direct impact on your gameplay experience. Your activities will be influenced by the weather conditions, which can either pose challenges or offer advantages. For instance, during rainy periods, the streets become slippery, and puddles accumulate, significantly complicating manoeuvring for both those chasing and those being pursued. If there is a storm, visibility will be seriously impaired. Your strategy and tactics will need to adapt according to the changing weather conditions.

Roughly how long will an average playthrough of The Precinct be?

Players can anticipate spending approximately 6-8 hours to successfully complete the main story line. Additionally, players have the option to confront other gangs and gather a variety of in-game items. As previously highlighted, our focus on procedural crime generation ensures that the game delivers nearly limitless gameplay possibilities.

"Players can anticipate spending approximately 6-8 hours to successfully complete the main story line."

Do you have any plans to eventually bring the game to the Switch down the line?

We are currently focused on releasing the game on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. We have no plans on bringing the game to Switch now.