Build a Rocket Boy’s MindsEye was developed by one of the lead developers of theGrand Theft Autofranchise. This was something the studio often mentioned to drum up hype, which worked in the game’s favor.
Unfortunately, that also meant expectations for the game were a lot higher than your standard new IP.
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MindsEye’s release came and went, and instead of a bang, it was met with a whimper. Even if your expectations were low, MindsEyeseems to be even worse than expected, and has turned out as the first dud of 2025.
It’s not the only game that crashed and burned at release, and we’ve rounded up some of the more recent disasters that were hyped before release but failed to deliver.
Cyberpunk 2077 (2020)
Undoubtedly the biggest name in this list, Cyberpunk 2077 was riding on the coattails of CD Projekt RED’s most recent release back then,The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt. This game garnered universal acclaim and was considered one of the best games of all-time.
Cyberpunk 2077 promised an expansive, open-world experience unlike any other. However, what we got at launch was a buggy mess that forever tarnished CD Projekt RED’s once-pristine reputation. You canread our Cyberpunk review. After countless updates, ditching the last-gen version, Cyberpunk 2077 is now a game CDPR can be proud of.
Cyberpunk 2077 might have had the perfect redemption arc, but it also tempered expectations of CD Projekt RED’s promises, and it made the studio aware of over-hyping its games.
Battlefield 2042 (2021)
DICE’s latest game was supposed to be the next great Battlefield. It promised unique gameplay with the introduction of Specialists, our first tease of 128v128 matches and more. Sadly, we were met with a buggy release, boring AI-filled matches, and worst of all, gameplay that didn’t feel like Battlefield at all.
While DICE eventually managed to turn things around with constant title updates, the damage has been done, and players have flocked to another online shooter.BF2042is a perfect example of a game trying to hard to be different that they alienated their own player base. You canread our Battlefield 2042 review
Saints Row Reboot (2022)
2022’sSaints Rowreboot should have been the foundation for the franchise to start fresh and prove it can hang with the big boys of open-world games. After a long hiatus, coupled with the Embracer Group’s funding, it seemed destined to be a hit. Instead, what we got was boring gameplay with a city that never felt truly alive.
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Not to mention, the game was plagued by numerous bugs at launch, and these issues remain unfixed to this day.Our reviewsummed it up best: “Saints Row sadly takes away some of the most iconic parts of the franchise, and instead of replacing these stripped-away elements with new and refreshing ideas, you’re left with what feels like a game that should have been released between 5 to 10 years ago.”
Following this failed reboot,Embracer closed the studioafter 30 years of game development.
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum (2023)
An action game based on the Lord of the Rings franchise seems like a sure bet, right? This one offered a new premise as it putGollumfront and center as the game’s protagonist.
What seemed like an interesting premise turned out to be a catastrophic disaster, as Gollum was released with so many bugs that even its titular character would be left scratching all over before they could even consider getting the One Ring.
Soon after, developer Daedalic Entertainment apologized for the game’s state and vowed to release patches to fix the game. After about one patch, that promise evaporated as Daedalic left the game to rot.
After the success of the Batman Arkham games, Rocksteady Studios then targeted the moon with their next release. Not only did it focus on multiplayer, but it was also a live-service title, marking the first for the studio.
To say Rocksteady’sSuicide Squadgame underachieved was an understatement. It tanked so badly thatit even dragged another franchise into cancellation. The studio also suffered multiple layoffs as a result, and we’re hoping whatever the studio has planned next doesn’t take this long to develop, and more importantly, actually resonates with players.
As the game’s live-service focus comes to an end, Rocksteady has released a patch to make it playable offline, ensuring the game will remain playable for years to come, even after support has ceased. I guess that’s a good thing, right?
These are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to games that just flat-out came out as disappointments after the initial hype.
Which ones did you regret buying? Do you think these games could have been saved with countless updates? Most importantly, will MindsEye be a Cyberpunk, or a Gollum?
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