Open world games are meant to be immersive and full of possibilities, but some haven’t lived up to that promise. The games listed below had troubled launches or simply never became enjoyable, due to issues like technical bugs, weak gameplay, or poor business choices. We’ll cover when each game came out, what platforms it was on, and exactly what went wrong, showing you why these games didn’t succeed. While some of these games got better with updates, others were ultimately abandoned.
Fallout 76
Bethesda released this online version of the game in 2018 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. It had many problems when it first came out, including numerous bugs and a lack of characters to interact with, which limited the quests available. Some players criticized the game’s system for buying upgrades and cosmetic items. A major update called Wastelanders added characters and new stories in 2020, but the game’s difficult launch continued to shape how people saw it for a long time.
No Man’s Sky
No Man’s Sky, released in 2016 for PlayStation 4 and PC (and later Xbox), had a rocky start. The game was initially advertised with features it didn’t actually have, leading to disappointed players requesting refunds and even investigations by advertising watchdogs. However, the developers at Hello Games continued to improve the game with numerous free updates, eventually adding features like building bases, playing with others, and managing fleets of ships. While the original release became a well-known example of over-promising, the game today is much more complete and fulfilling.
Anthem
BioWare launched its online action game, Anthem, for PC and consoles in 2019. Players used customizable exosuits called Javelins in a shared world. However, the game suffered from technical glitches, issues with the loot players received, and repetitive missions, which caused players to stop playing over time. BioWare initially planned a significant overhaul called Anthem Next, but ultimately canceled it in 2021. While the game servers stayed active for a while, no new content or updates were ever released.
Forspoken
The action RPG, released in 2023 by Square Enix and Luminous Productions for PlayStation 5 and PC, received mixed reviews. Critics pointed to performance issues even on powerful computers and gameplay that felt empty despite its attempts at exploration. Soon after launch, Square Enix absorbed Luminous Productions. While updates fixed some technical problems, the game struggled to gain traction.
Saints Row
The 2022 reboot of the game launched on computers and consoles with a lot of technical issues. Players experienced crashes, glitches, and problems that prevented them from completing missions. While the developers, Volition, released updates and added new content throughout 2023, the studio was unexpectedly closed later that year as part of a larger company change. Because the game received mixed reviews, it’s currently unclear what the future holds for the series.
Redfall
Redfall, a cooperative vampire shooter released in 2023 by Arkane Austin for Xbox Series X/S and PC, had a rocky start. While updates addressed initial performance issues – it originally ran at 30 frames per second on consoles – and added the option to play solo offline, the game never fully resonated with players. Sadly, the studio behind it was closed in 2024, meaning no further development will occur.
Crackdown 3
This Xbox One and PC game launched in 2019, but its impressive cloud-based destruction was only available in a separate multiplayer mode. The main story mode felt repetitive, with similar tasks and a limited number of enemy types. The game also suffered from inconsistent performance and, while new content was added, it didn’t address fundamental issues, causing player interest to decline rapidly.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Ubisoft released this game in 2019 for computers and consoles, featuring survival elements, a gear score system, and many in-game purchases. Players who enjoyed previous games disliked the repetitive grind for better loot and the need to stay constantly connected online. After the game launched, updates addressed these complaints by removing or changing unpopular features and adding a completely free, story-focused mode. However, the initial design choices had already eroded player confidence.
Mafia III
Hangar 13’s 2016 game transported players to a detailed 1968 New Bordeaux, originally launching on both PC and consoles. The initial PC release was limited to 30 frames per second, and the game’s open world felt repetitive due to its focus on retaking the same areas. Later updates removed the frame rate cap and added other improvements. While story-driven downloadable content fleshed out the characters, the core gameplay loop stayed the same.
Two Worlds
Reality Pump’s 2007 action RPG was initially released on PC and Xbox 360, offering players vast environments and plenty of loot. However, the game was plagued with technical issues, including bugs, awkward animations, and inconsistent quest design. Some items also allowed players to bypass intended progression, creating balance problems. While later versions included updates and expansions, the core game still felt unpolished.
Dynasty Warriors 9
In 2018, Koei Tecmo revamped their long-running series with a large, open-world map for PC and consoles. However, this change resulted in a sparse and empty game world, along with noticeable performance issues in cities and during battles. Many character moves and weapons were repeated, making the characters feel less distinct. The subsequent ‘Empires’ version returned to a more traditional, scenario-based structure, suggesting the open-world experiment wasn’t a success.
Gotham Knights
Released in 2022 by Warner Bros. Games Montréal, this action game allows players to team up on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. While playing on consoles, the game aimed for 30 frames per second, which made moving around the expansive city feel sluggish. Players were encouraged to repeatedly explore the game world to collect items and craft upgrades, though these improvements were often small. A post-launch update introduced a four-player co-op mode, but the game’s overall performance and speed remained unchanged.
Watch Dogs Legion
Ubisoft’s 2020 game initially featured a unique ‘Play as Anyone’ system on both computers and consoles. While innovative, this system resulted in characters that weren’t very complex and missions that felt similar. The online features were delayed and initially had technical problems. Although later updates for newer consoles enhanced the game’s graphics and loading speeds, the core issues with its design remained.
Rage 2
This shooting game was released in 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One by Avalanche Studios and id Software. While the shooting mechanics were well-received, the open world didn’t offer much incentive to explore beyond a few isolated bases. Players who focused solely on the main story could finish the game relatively quickly. After launch, the game received only minor updates that didn’t add significant new features or depth.
Deadly Premonition 2
The 2020 sequel initially suffered from noticeable slowdowns on the Nintendo Switch, especially when exploring the open world. While an update fixed many of these performance issues and refined the controls, and a later PC release was more stable overall, the game’s structure often required a lot of back-and-forth travel, emphasizing how long loading screens took and how slow character movement felt. The core mystery remained engaging, but the city environment didn’t feel fully realized or integrated into the experience.
The Crew
The 2014 racing game from Ubisoft let players drive across the United States on computers and consoles, but it always needed an internet connection. Even playing alone required a connection to the game’s servers, and the game included a lot of optional in-game purchases. While the game was supported for many years, the servers were shut down in 2024, making it impossible to play. This closure sparked a debate about how to preserve games that rely on online connections and feature open worlds.
Pokémon Scarlet and Violet
In 2022, Game Freak released a game for Nintendo Switch featuring a large, open world and offering players three different storylines. However, the game suffered from technical problems, such as textures appearing slowly and the frame rate dropping, especially while exploring. While updates fixed some of these issues and added new features and events, the core performance remained inconsistent. Later expansions introduced new areas and quests, but didn’t fully address the underlying technical challenges.
ReCore
Originally released in 2016 for Xbox One and PC, this action-adventure game featured a central hub area and larger, open zones to explore. Players experienced lengthy loading screens and had to revisit old areas to collect essential items to continue the story. The Definitive Edition improved the game by adding a new area, fixing bugs, and including previously removed content. However, even with these updates, the game world still felt less populated and detailed than similar titles.
True Crime New York City
The 2005 sequel to Activision’s game featured a bigger version of Manhattan, playable on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube, with a PC version released later. Players on older consoles often experienced frustrating bugs, crashes, and issues with the game loading. The way vehicles handled and the combat mechanics also varied between different versions of the game. Ultimately, the series was discontinued, but a similar game eventually appeared with a new title.
X Rebirth
Egosoft’s 2013 space simulation aimed for a fresh start on PC, offering a huge open universe to explore. However, the initial release suffered from significant performance problems and a frustrating user interface that made even simple actions challenging. Over time, several large updates were released to fix these issues and improve the overall experience. While expansions added more content and depth, the rocky start turned many players away.
Share the open world misfires you think belong here and tell us why in the comments.
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2025-11-09 19:46