In the realm of gaming, some titles burst forth with excitement, only to gradually diminish in allure. This phenomenon spans decades, from the early days of 3D gaming in the 1990s to contemporary releases. It’s a trend that continues to afflict many games, regardless of their era.
In this exploration, we will delve into several games that begin with a spark of potential but ultimately reveal underlying flaws as players progress. While a strong opening can captivate players, even the most engaging introductions cannot salvage a lackluster experience. Prepare for some contentious entries on this list, and grab your popcorn as we dive into these games.
Warning: This article contains significant spoilers for most of the games discussed. Reader discretion is advised.
10. The Last of Us: Part 2
A Promising Start
The Last of Us Part 2 opens with immense potential, leveraging the emotional weight left by its predecessor. The promise of new characters amidst the lingering threat of infected and human foes creates an intriguing narrative backdrop. However, after an exhilarating introduction featuring Abby, the narrative takes a sharp turn for the worse.
While many anticipated Joel’s fate, the early and brutal manner of his death struck a sour note for many players. Following this event, the game shifts focus to Abby, a character that players find difficult to empathize with, regardless of her narrative justification. Attempts to evoke sympathy for her character fall flat, as she is ultimately portrayed as morally ambiguous, contributing to a storyline that spirals into disappointment.
As the plot unfolds, the journey leads to an unsatisfactory conclusion, leaving players feeling unfulfilled and frustrated.
9. Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla
Eivor’s Promise
At first glance, Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla appears to be headed for greatness. The engaging combat mechanics, combined with a captivating Viking narrative, set high expectations. However, as players delve deeper, they are met with a barrage of monotonous side quests that dilute the initial thrill. Each quest to appease local lords feels increasingly repetitive, leading to a tedious gameplay experience.
The skill tree, while promising, becomes uninspiring due to a lack of meaningful upgrades, leaving players longing for depth. The main storyline drags on for 40 hours without a substantial payoff, marred by tedious siege mechanics and recycled quests that do little to inspire excitement.
8. Tales of Arise
A Strong Start Fades
Tales of Arise arrived as a much-needed revival for the JRPG genre, drawing admiration as a potential standout in a lackluster gaming year. However, after roughly 30 hours into the experience, the game begins to unravel as it succumbs to common genre pitfalls.
What starts as an engaging narrative quickly devolves into confusion, with plotlines that lose coherence and repetitive enemy designs that stifle any excitement in combat. Moreover, the game’s characters stagnate due to a lack of new abilities, rendering battles increasingly monotonous and frustrating. By the time players reach the latter stages, they are faced with boss fights that feel tedious and drawn out, detracting from the positive feedback loop established in the game’s early hours.
7. Dragon Age: The Veilguard
When Hype Turns Sour
The anticipation surrounding Dragon Age: The Veilguard was monumental, given the franchise’s beloved status. The game initially captures players with its engaging opening hours, suggesting a thrilling adventure ahead. However, as the narrative unfolds, the lighthearted tone feels misaligned with the franchise’s established depth, leaning more toward a whimsical approach reminiscent of Disney films.
Critical character dialogues become clichéd, diminishing the opportunity for meaningful interactions. While the combat appears fun initially, it loses its luster with the introduction of tough enemies lacking innovation, and unlockable skills that seem to come far too late in the game. The repetition of enemy types becomes glaringly evident, leading players to realize they have seen much of what the game has to offer in the early hours.
Despite its initial charm, the game fails to meet expectations and eventually suffers from significant underperformance.
6. Cyberpunk 2077
A Front-Loaded Experience
Cyberpunk 2077’s journey has been one of redemption, especially following the release of the acclaimed Phantom Liberty DLC and the transformative 2.0 update. Nonetheless, the game’s main storyline struggles to maintain the quality established in its early quests. Initial gameplay offers a captivating narrative and memorable characters, creating the illusion of an exceptional game.
However, the turning point comes with Jackie’s dramatic fate, which marks a decline in the storytelling experience. While the game may not plummet to negative territory, it undeniably shifts from its initial high standards. Quests diminish in creativity, and the vibrancy that characterized the opening hours dissipates, ultimately leaving players wishing for a more cohesive experience.
5. Final Fantasy 16
An Engaging Start
Final Fantasy 16 begins with an explosive narrative, presenting players with a compelling revenge story and layered mysteries. It appears poised to become one of the most memorable entries in the franchise. However, this momentum halts abruptly after approximately 10 hours, as key characters, including the captivating Benedicta and Cid, are unceremoniously removed from the narrative.
While the game maintains some highs post-introduction, it never quite reaches the same level of excitement as before. The absence of strong antagonists and the lack of Cid’s engaging presence leave the story feeling hollow. Ultimately, the decision to eliminate pivotal characters too soon deprives the story of vital dynamics that could have continued to elevate the experience.
4. Avowed
An Impressive Beginning
With immense anticipation leading up to its release, Avowed was seen as a potential Game of the Year contender. Early gameplay showcases stunning graphics and a rich, immersive world filled with secrets and engaging side quests. Notably, the Dawntreader side quest stands out as a remarkable highlight, deeply intertwined with the main storyline.
However, once players navigate through the initial area, they soon find that much of the game’s promise falters. While different environments surface, enemy designs grow stale and repetitive, leading to a lack of fresh encounters. Side quests diminish in quality, and the main narrative fails to offer compelling new threads, culminating in a final act that feels disappointingly mundane.
3. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
An Enigmatic Experience
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain stands as a paradox in gaming, often hailed as a near-perfect title but regrettably faltering in its latter sections. The early gameplay captivates with strong narrative threads and cinematic storytelling, but as players venture further, they encounter a gradual unraveling of that initial intrigue.
As missions become repetitive and the narrative veers into confusion, players may find themselves questioning the purpose of numerous tasks. The game offers a montage hinting at an exciting second half, yet ultimately fails to deliver on that promise. Indeed, it feels like an unfinished product, transitioning from a promising 10/10 to an underwhelming 6/10 by its conclusion.
2. Hogwarts Legacy
A Disappointing Exploration
Hogwarts Legacy marked a significant success for Avalanche Software, setting the stage for an expansive world within the Wizarding World. The game’s introduction successfully immerses players in character creation and narrative intrigue, with the enchanting Hogwarts castle awaiting exploration.
However, as players venture beyond the castle’s confines, the open world quickly reveals its shortcomings. Despite the excitement of flying on a broomstick, the novelty wears off as the exploration becomes dull and uninspired. The world feels limited, lacking in interesting discoveries, and as mission designs grow repetitive, the experience diminishes sharply from its promising beginning.
1. Ghost of Tsushima
Trapped in Repetition
Ghost of Tsushima is widely acclaimed, yet suffers from a degree of repetitiveness that can detract from the overall enjoyment. The initial phases of the game excel in building a riveting resistance against the Mongol invasion, with players joyfully learning various combat stances. However, with only four stances available throughout the game, players quickly find themselves facing an overabundance of Mongol enemies.
The relentless repetition of combat encounters ultimately leads to frustration, as the encounters become predictable and dull by the game’s latter stages. While early hours offer a captivating experience, the lack of variety in enemies results in a gameplay loop that feels excessively familiar, diminishing the overall satisfaction of the journey.
