In the ever-evolving world of video games, there are titles that push the boundaries of creativity, storytelling, and gameplay—and others that miss the mark. With so many games being released every year, it’s important to know which ones are worth your time and which ones fall flat. Here’s a look at some of the best and worst games that have made headlines, offering insights into what makes a game truly great or disappointing.
Top 5 Best Games: Must-Play Titles
1. The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
Nintendo’s Tears of the Kingdom, the highly anticipated sequel to Breath of the Wild, delivers a masterclass in open-world design, exploration, and adventure. With its breathtaking visuals, immersive storylines, and the freedom to solve puzzles in creative ways, this game builds on the foundations of its predecessor while introducing new mechanics like sky exploration and crafting. It’s a must-play for fans of the Zelda series and anyone who loves epic, open-world experiences.
Why It’s a Hit:
- Stunning, expansive world with intricate puzzles
- Open-ended gameplay that rewards creativity
- Engaging storylines and character development
2. Elden Ring
FromSoftware’s Elden Ring blends the challenging gameplay of the Dark Souls series with an expansive, open-world setting, co-created by fantasy author George R.R. Martin. The game is lauded for its deep lore, challenging combat, and stunning landscapes. It gives players a high degree of freedom in exploration, with plenty of secrets to discover and bosses to defeat, creating an experience that’s both rewarding and punishing.
Why It’s a Hit:
- Challenging yet fair combat mechanics
- Immersive open-world exploration
- Deep, mysterious lore co-written by George R.R. Martin
3. God of War Ragnarök
God of War Ragnarök builds on the success of 2018’s God of War, delivering a deeply emotional and action-packed journey through Norse mythology. The game features stunning graphics, fluid combat mechanics, and a complex narrative that explores fatherhood, fate, and survival. With its larger-than-life boss battles, upgraded abilities for Kratos, and captivating world, Ragnarök has quickly become one of the best action-adventure games of its generation.
Why It’s a Hit:
- Emotionally driven narrative with memorable characters
- Refined combat mechanics and epic boss battles
- Gorgeous visuals and a richly detailed world
4. Hades
Hades, developed by Supergiant Games, is a rogue-like dungeon crawler that has captivated gamers with its addictive gameplay and engaging story. Players take on the role of Zagreus, the son of Hades, as he tries to escape the Underworld. What sets Hades apart is its unique storytelling, where each run through the game reveals more about the characters and world. Its fast-paced combat, excellent voice acting, and stunning art style have made it a standout indie game.
Why It’s a Hit:
- Addictive, fast-paced combat
- Rich, evolving narrative with engaging characters
- Beautiful hand-drawn art and music
5. Resident Evil Village
Resident Evil Village combines elements of horror, action, and puzzle-solving to create an unforgettable experience. Following the success of Resident Evil 7, Village amps up the tension and delivers a variety of atmospheric locations, including the now-iconic Lady Dimitrescu’s castle. The game’s mix of survival horror and action-packed moments, combined with a gripping story, has earned it critical acclaim and a strong fan following.
Why It’s a Hit:
- Atmospheric horror with a mix of action and puzzles
- Memorable villains, especially Lady Dimitrescu
- Immersive environments and terrifying encounters
Top 5 Worst Games: Misses That Could Have Been Hits
1. Cyberpunk 2077 (at Launch)
While Cyberpunk 2077 has since been patched and improved, its initial release was one of the most infamous disasters in gaming history. Despite years of hype and anticipation, the game launched with a slew of technical issues, bugs, and performance problems—especially on older consoles. Many players were left disappointed by the unfinished state of the game, and CD Projekt Red’s reputation took a hit. Although the game’s world and storytelling were praised, the launch was riddled with controversy.
Why It Disappointed:
- Numerous bugs and crashes, particularly on last-gen consoles
- Promised features were missing or underwhelming
- Rushed release that felt incomplete
2. Anthem
Developed by BioWare, Anthem was expected to be a groundbreaking online multiplayer game with rich storytelling and engaging combat. Unfortunately, it failed to live up to its potential. The game suffered from repetitive gameplay, lack of meaningful content, and technical issues. Despite its promising flight mechanics and beautiful visuals, Anthem felt incomplete and quickly lost its player base after launch.
Why It Disappointed:
- Repetitive missions and lack of endgame content
- Frequent technical problems and loading screens
- Unfulfilled promises of deeper narrative and world-building
3. Fallout 76
Fallout 76 was Bethesda’s attempt to bring the beloved Fallout series into the multiplayer space, but the result was a critical failure. The game launched with numerous bugs, lack of NPCs (which was a core feature of previous Fallout games), and a general sense of emptiness. Its online mechanics were poorly implemented, and players were frustrated by the game’s numerous technical issues. Despite improvements through updates, Fallout 76 remains one of Bethesda’s most disappointing releases.
Why It Disappointed:
- Lack of NPCs and world interaction
- Numerous bugs and performance issues at launch
- Unengaging multiplayer experience with a lack of meaningful content
4. No Man’s Sky (at Launch)
When No Man’s Sky was first released, it faced massive backlash for not delivering on its ambitious promises. Players expected an expansive, multiplayer exploration game with endless planets to explore, but the game felt empty and repetitive, with little to do. However, to the developers’ credit, No Man’s Sky has since been updated extensively, adding much of the promised content and becoming a highly regarded game. Still, its launch remains a cautionary tale in overpromising and underdelivering.
Why It Disappointed:
- Limited gameplay mechanics and repetitive exploration
- Promised features like multiplayer were missing at launch
- Vast, empty worlds that felt lifeless
5. Marvel’s Avengers
Marvel’s Avengers had the potential to be a massive hit, especially with the popularity of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, the game struggled due to repetitive gameplay, lackluster story, and technical issues. The live-service model failed to deliver meaningful updates, and the grind-heavy nature of the game quickly frustrated players. While the combat and character abilities were praised, the game never reached the heights expected from such a beloved franchise.
Why It Disappointed:
- Repetitive mission structure and lack of engaging content
- Technical glitches and bugs at launch
- Underwhelming live-service updates that failed to retain players
Final Thoughts
The gaming landscape is full of highs and lows. Games like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and Elden Ring showcase the best of what the industry has to offer, delivering unforgettable experiences and innovative gameplay. On the other hand, titles like Cyberpunk 2077 (at launch) and Anthem serve as reminders that even highly anticipated releases can fall short of expectations. Whether you’re searching for your next must-play game or trying to avoid a flop, these assessments provide a clear picture of gaming’s best and worst offerings.