It’s crazy to think that 2022 is merely weeks away from concluding. It’s that time of the year when we look back at what we’ve gained, and what we’ve lost, and it’s safe to say this year was full of gains and chock full of losses. This year started with an absolute bang with Elden Ring, Horizon Forbidden West, and Destiny 2: The Witch Queen burning holes in your wallet, making your bank statement cry, and battling for the game of the year. Not to mention Kratos is back with his greatest entry to date, we played as a cat in a sad city, and there were plenty of rats on my screen to make me want to cry.
However, we also have suffered through many titles that have not come close to the potential they shined upon their reveal. This list will focus on said titles, ten to be exact, and keep in mind that this list is subjective. If you found enjoyment in these titles, continue to do so. However, this grouping of titles did not live up to the expectations that were set, whether it be brand-new ideas or a fresh take on established ideas. Here are ten of the biggest video game disappointments of 2022.
Saints Row
10 Biggest Video Game Disappointments of 2022
After the announcement that Saints Row would be making a grand return, excitement levels were pretty high. While Grand Theft Auto was the more popular open-world sandbox experience, Saints Row gave gamers a nutty take on the open-world sandbox genre, one that created many memories and many outlandish tales before the series was iced. The idea of the Saints running on modern tech was an exciting prospect, meaning more zany stories to tell and more out-of-this-world action.
What we got was anything but exciting. Whether it be the undercooked story or bugs aplenty rendering the game borderline unplayable, this return of the Saints was criminal in every single way. To be fair, the previous Saints Row games weren’t exactly top-of-the-line spectacles. However, this entry borderline copied what made the old games great and made it worse by removing the story and bringing every single negative aspect over. Safe to say, the series’ return was not good, and this game could mean we won’t see a proper return of the Saints for quite some time.
Babylon’s Fall
10 Biggest Video Game Disappointments of 2022
Believe it or not, this joint project between Square Enix and PlatinumGames was released in March 2023. Would you believe months after it launched, it was announced Bablyon’s Fall would be closing down on Feb. 2023?
With PlatinumGames at the helm of this title, it almost seemed destined to do something great. However, Babylon’s Fall suffered immensely due to being a live-service title, frustrating progression, and microtransactions that come with the live-service model. To say this was a mega disappointment is an understatement, and this serves as an insight into the dark side of the gaming industry that needs to change immediately.
Rainbow Six Extraction
10 Biggest Video Game Disappointments of 2022
Rainbow Six Siege Extraction spent seven years in development hell, as Ubisoft looked to find an entry point for new players to experience the mega-hit that has been Rainbow Six Siege. What better way to do it than by using Rainbow Six Siege gameplay and throwing in aliens?
Extraction isn’t inherently a bad game, as it heavily relies on the mechanics you’d experience in Siege, which are very good. Expect to play many of the same characters from the FPS title, and expect to use many of the same mechanics, such as barricading walls and operator abilities. However, that’s what’s wrong with this game.
It doesn’t expand on anything at all, as the core gameplay is the same, with hardly anything new. On a side note, the story is held back by not diving into the psyches of the unique roster. It doesn’t introduce any new formula to give Siege life; it just takes the established core and painfully slows it down, which is the opposite of what Ubisoft seemingly intended when making this title.
The worst part of this game is this was a limited-time mode in Siege years ago. You will be charged for this game unless you have Xbox Game Pass or are subscribed to Ubisoft’s services. The team fully charged for a mode that was free years ago and did absolutely nothing to make it unique.