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Overrated doesn’t always mean worst content, but sometimes failing short on gamers’ expectations also makes games overrated.
Neither GTA 4 nor BioShock Infinite nor Dark Souls 3 offer worse gameplay experiences, but they are still overrated.
Developers must be cautious about deciding their marketing strategies to handle the hype.
A game release without hype doesn’t make sense. Hype often contributes to the initial sales of a game. On the contrary, hype sometimes proves to be a double-edged sword in gaming. Titles that are well-crafted, enjoyable, and technically impressive may become victims of sky-touching expectations.
The phrase ‘overrated’ does not necessarily indicate that the games are poorly made. Sometimes it highlights the gap between promise and reality, which seems too wide to players. Sometimes it highlights the gap between promise and reality, which seems too wide to players.
Multiple games had immense anticipation, glowing reviews, and a massive fanbase; still, a significant part of the gaming community thinks they didn’t meet expectations. Let’s check the list below to know some of the most overrated games or highly reviewed games that disappointed a significant number of gamers.
Released in 2013, Ghosts was promoted as the future of the Call of Duty franchise. This game introduced a new setting, a fresh cast, and the long-anticipated ‘Extinction’ mode. However, the campaign of the game failed to reach expectations.
The multiplayer maps and storyline received criticism for being bland. A game that promised to change the future of the entire franchise fell short of expectations.
Dark Souls games are technically hit games, but still, many consider Dark Souls 3 an overrated game. Despite its polished visuals, refined combat, and challenging boss design, players, especially the franchise veterans, complained that this game relied heavily on its predecessors.
For most of them, this game offered nothing new, but it was the same with a few bold risks. While the challenge was intact, innovation took a backseat, raising questions about its ‘masterpiece’ status.
At a time when survival horror is rising rapidly, the idea of one player hunting others in a tense, horror-filled arena is brilliant. This concept grasped the attention of gamers and generated massive hype.
At launch, Dead by Daylight delivered on its promise of suspense and creativity, but players soon encountered issues, including a lack of meaningful progression and repetitive match structures. Over time, frustration overshadowed the thrill for many casual players.
Also Read: Best Video Games of 2025
With the release of Dishonored 2, Arkane Studios expanded the stealth gameplay of the original in the gorgeous steampunk world.
The expectations were high, but the sequel disappointed a significant number of gamers for its excessively complex level layouts and a narrative that hardly connects to newcomers. After the initial phase passed, these factors limited its appeal.
With its stunning visuals of the city of Columbia and heady themes of politics and religion, BioShock Infinite impressed critics instantly.
However, the more players kept grinding the game, the more they discovered repetitive gunplay, limited player resources, and plot twists that suppressed the emotional angle of the game. The game is enjoyable, but it still disappointed gamers to some extent.
Mortal Kombat is one of the most popular yet most brutal franchises. Generally, these games never disappoint fans, but that doesn’t mean they are flawless.
Instead, some installments feature stiff combat animations that rely more on nostalgia than on groundbreaking mechanics. Hardcore fans often view this franchise as an overrated one that emphasizes style over substance.
Rockstar’s Grand Theft Auto franchise creates new sales and fanbase records every time a new installment comes. However, sometimes this success gets suppressed for lagged features. For example, one can consider GTA 4.
This game exchanged the chaos of San Andreas for a slow, realistic, and narrative-driven approach. The story of Niko Bellic stands out for sure, but fans missed the fun to some extent.
Released in 2012, Max Payne 3 is another Rockstar game that has disappointed gamers, despite its stunning visuals and cinematic storyline.
Initially, the game attracted attention, but over time, players realized that the heavy use of cutscenes and tightly scripted action sequences compromised the core joy that earlier entries offered.
Hideo Kojima’s games have always been praised for their brilliant themes and gameplay mechanisms. The Metal Gear Solid franchise is renowned for delivering a visual showcase, and players expect Metal Gear Solid 4 to offer something similar. The gameplay isn’t bad, but the hours of cutscenes, with some longer than TV episodes, interrupt the engagement and gameplay flow.
Mass Effect 3 is one of those games that has generated hype among gamers for being the finale of their beloved franchise. The last installment of the trilogy should have been the best. Still, despite having polished combat and emotional angles, it became one of the most infamous controversies of the gaming world.
Players felt that the choices made throughout the game were both meaningless and rushed, ultimately leading to an ambiguous ending that destroyed everything presented beforehand.
If one plays any of the above-mentioned games in 2025, without knowing what fans have been expecting from them, these games will deliver an enjoyable experience. Therefore, the one lesson that these overrated games list teaches is that sometimes expectations can be disheartening.
When marketing promises a revolution to boost the hype, and the final product delivers a lesser experience, even the smallest shortcomings are felt with heightened intensity. Several of the games, as mentioned above, provide an outstanding gameplay experience; still, they didn’t meet the expectations initially.
Therefore, the top overrated games of all time list stands as a reminder that gaming hype is also a game, and it’s impossible for titles to win every single time.
1. What are the most overrated video games of all time?
Ans: Games like GTA 4, Max Payne 3, Metal Gear Solid 4, etc., are often labeled overrated due to excessive hype, inconsistent gameplay depth, or technical flaws, despite critical and commercial success. Opinions vary widely depending on personal expectations and genre preferences.
2. Why do people consider certain video games as overrated?
Ans: Gamers may call a title overrated when its marketing, reviews, and fan praise exceed the actual gameplay quality, innovation, or replay value. Overexposure, nostalgia bias, and inflated expectations often lead to disappointment, especially when hype overshadows critical shortcomings.
3. Is GTA 4 or Dead by Daylight really overrated?
Ans: Whether a game is overrated depends on balancing its innovation, storytelling, and fun factor against its flaws. Some titles are praised for atmosphere or world-building but criticized for repetitive mechanics, technical issues, or lacking depth despite massive commercial popularity.
4. Which recent releases in 2025 are considered overrated by gamers?
Ans: In 2025, some recent big titles, including Monster Hunter Wilds, received backlash despite strong sales. Criticism focuses on recycled gameplay, rushed storytelling, excessive monetization, or unfulfilled promises. Social media amplifies both hype and disappointment, making some AAA games targets of ‘overrated’ debates quickly.
5. What factors make a video game overrated instead of just popular?
Ans: Popularity measures reach, while ‘overrated’ reflects a perception mismatch between acclaim and actual merit. Overrated games often thrive on marketing hype, nostalgia, or celebrity endorsements, but fail to deliver innovation, lasting engagement, or balanced design that meets player expectations.
