First impressions usually mean a lot, especially in the ever-shifting modern gaming environment, where the next big thing arrives just days after the last. In this intense landscape, the cost of a single mistake is often too high, as players can always find another popular alternative to spend time and money on. This leads to situations where a newly released game gets only a brief moment of attention before the consensus quickly settles on it being either “a masterpiece and GOTY” or the complete opposite. Turning that tide is hard for creators, yet in some cases, it’s not impossible.
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Today, we’re looking at exactly those examples — games whose launch reception and scores now feel like a faded memory. At release, the titles below all scored quite low for various reasons, generally landing in the “bad” or “mediocre” category and being heavily criticized by players and critics alike. Over time, however, their reputation has changed dramatically, whether through years of dedicated developer support that fixed issues and brought the games closer to their intended vision, more reasonable pricing or the removal of controversial monetization, or simply because players looking back have come to better appreciate their unique strengths.
Fallout 76
Average Score At Launch: 53/100
- As of Now: 76% positive Steam
We all remember the disastrous launch of Fallout 76. Even by Bethesda’s own RPG standards, the game launched in an almost offensive technical state, with countless glitches and a notable lack of content (there weren’t even NPCs!). Even setting aside other controversies like the pre-order bonuses, Fallout 76’s launch was met poorly by everyone, as it was almost impossible to defend the game back then.
Unlike many other problematic launches, to the creators’ credit, they never intended to abandon it. A constant stream of patches, updates, and DLC has followed over the last seven years, with each new addition improving the technical state and scope, and implementing fan feedback to shift the direction closer to what players wanted from the start. Even if Fallout 76 never reached the heights of some of the best games in the series, years later, it stands as a quality action-RPG experience with robust crafting and building mechanics, as well as optional social elements, taking its place as one of the most generous and expansive Fallout worlds to date.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
Average Score At Launch: 57/100
- As of Now: 72% positive Steam
From the get-go, Ghost Recon Breakpoint felt rushed, coming just two years after Ghost Recon Wildlands, which had been received favorably. Positioned as a direct sequel that picked up the story threads from Wildlands, Ghost Recon Breakpoint not only launched in a poor technical state, but also included numerous controversial decisions, like adding a looter-shooter layer akin to The Division, as well as flirting with then-trending NFTs. Very few liked what was on offer, and Breakpoint was widely cited as one of the poorest launches in Ubisoft’s modern history.
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However, just like with Fallout 76, the post-launch support for Ghost Recon Breakpoint has been spectacular. NFTs were eventually dropped, a more classic way to experience the game was added via Immersive Mode, and any technical issues were resolved, with more tactical and stealth options added as well. Once the dust settled, Ghost Recon Breakpoint emerged as a massive and almost unmatched tactical shooter, providing flexibility and tons of enjoyment to fans of the genre, especially given the lack of decent alternatives like Splinter Cell.
Need For Speed Payback
Average Score At Launch: 60/100
- As of Now: 85% positive Steam
The long-awaited Need for Speed (2015) street-racing reboot also failed to live up to its hype, but Need for Speed Payback’s launch was an all-time low for the series. The reasons were plentiful: lackluster technical execution, the same weak driving physics (especially for off-road events), and the most controversial decision of all: a car upgrade system heavily drawn from gambling, complete with random lootboxes. EA was really into that back in the era, as was also seen with Star Wars Battlefront 2 (which we’ll talk about down below).
The reception to this return of the iconic racing series was so poor that even EA decided to swiftly pivot from including aggressive monetization in a premium full-priced title. Once the lootboxes were largely reined in and progression streamlined, along with technical hiccups resolved, NFS Payback quickly took its place as one of the fan favorites among the series’ modern installments. It turned out that the exciting, action-heavy campaign infused with a Fast and Furious vibe, coupled with solid visuals and sound design, plus an original upgrade system that actually helped the game distance itself from others in the genre, was enough to win racing fans over.
The Order: 1886
Average Score At Launch: 62/100
- As of Now: Average Rating of 4.3/5 on PSN
The Order: 1886 is a rare example of a game that, without any substantial changes since its launch, has managed to turn the tide of its legacy entirely. Launching among the first PS4 exclusives, The Order: 1886 was truly unmatched in its visuals, boasting an intriguing and fresh setting for players to immerse themselves in. However, the incredibly short main story, serving almost like a teaser before the non-existent main course, coupled with a premium price tag, became a hot topic for months, resulting in rather poor reception across the board.
As years went by and the price dropped significantly, more and more players experienced The Order: 1886 and were blown away. Even a decade later, the game still impresses with its technical execution, while its bold new direction for a promising IP stuns with its potential. Today, The Order: 1886 is fondly remembered by players who just keep imagining how impressive its sequel might have been.
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Alongside The Order: 1886’s case, Ryse: Son of Rome deserves a mention, serving as an almost identical offering from Xbox at the launch of the Xbox One generation. The game received comparably low scores from critics, sharing the very same highs of stunning visuals that hold up even today, and the lows of a short campaign. As of today, though, Ryse: Son of Rome stands at 85% positive on Steam, reflecting how players have come to enjoy the fierce and cinematic action title at a much lower cost.
Star Wars Battlefront 2
Average Score At Launch: 67/100
- As of Now: 87% positive Steam
In the same boat as Need for Speed Payback, and even launching during the same week, Star Wars Battlefront 2 arrived with an overall lack of content, a very short and unremarkable story, and an aggressive focus on lootboxes and gambling mechanics, with unfair progression that prevented players from unlocking their favorite characters. The response was immediate: aside from poor critical scores, many players decided to boycott the game until the main issues were resolved. Given the overwhelmingly negative backlash surrounding the launch, EA had no choice but to quickly pivot from its predatory practices of that time.
Luckily, strictly as a game, Star Wars Battlefront 2 has always been simply spectacular and fun to play. Gorgeously beautiful, it captured fan-favorite film locations from different eras in a way that still holds up incredibly well today. As more content updates were released, Star Wars Battlefront 2 emerged as the ultimate multiplayer Star Wars experience, packed with settings, characters, and memorable moments that would enthrall any Star Wars fan.
Sea Of Thieves
Average Score At Launch: 68/100
- As of Now: 89% positive Steam
Sea of Thieves promised a true pirate dream, with a joyful tone and exciting adventures, but failed to deliver it right off the bat. Typical for live-service launches, plenty of technical issues, lack of engaging content, and online problems all contributed to the rather mixed-to-disappointing reception overall, seemingly placing this ship on its way to the ocean’s bottom. It wasn’t the end, though, but just the start of its journey.
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Strong foundations were always there, so it was only a matter of work, time, and dedication. With each new substantial update, Sea of Thieves steadily came alive until one day, it fully fulfilled its promise. With one of the most realistic oceans in gaming to date, robust ship mechanics and combat, exciting social interaction, and countless stories to experience, Sea of Thieves has emerged as the ultimate pirate game with a dedicated fanbase. Incredibly fun to play, it’s one of the shining examples of how post-launch support works miracles, rendering the initial critic scores irrelevant.
State Of Decay 2
Average Score At Launch: 68/100
- As of Now: 86% positive Steam (Juggernaut Edition)
Coming after its groundbreaking first entry, State of Decay 2 was positioned as the ultimate zombie sandbox experience, but it also failed to deliver on its lofty ambitions at launch. The release was disappointing, marred by glitches and other issues, unpolished mechanics, and even some gameplay shortcomings when compared to the more complex original. While the game launched in much better shape than some other titles like Breakpoint, changes still had to be made to win fans over, and this time, Undead Labs didn’t disappoint.
The game’s major DLCs, like Daybreak and Heartland, were both significant improvements that addressed past mistakes, adding plenty of content like new game modes, missions, and robust survival options, while tweaking everything fans had been complaining about. The game’s final major update, Juggernaut Edition, brought even more substantial changes to the gameplay, essentially turning State of Decay 2 into the game it was always meant to be. For years now, it’s been established as a king of complex zombie survival games and is universally beloved by players, fueling anticipation for the upcoming State of Decay 3.
No Man’s Sky
Average Score At Launch: 69/100
- As of Now: 80% positive Steam
Perhaps the biggest redemption arc in gaming history, No Man’s Sky’s turnaround deserves to be studied, with countless articles and videos dedicated to Hello Games’ tireless work on fixing and improving the game. As the first incredibly ambitious title from a small new studio, No Man’s Sky always sounded too good to be true, and the launch version unfortunately proved it, arriving broken, buggy, shallow, and with major online play problems that left many believing it would be quickly forgotten. At the time, the list of issues nearly matched the developer’s sky-high ambitions. The rest is history.
For nine years straight, Hello Games has rolled out updates of all sizes for No Man’s Sky, to the point that the game is unrecognizable today. New robust gameplay mechanics, a visual overhaul, proper online co-op — that’s not even the half of it. What’s more, all post-launch support has been free for anyone who owns the game, making No Man’s Sky one of the most consistently rewarding purchases in the gaming market. It’s no surprise that many are now excited about the studio’s upcoming title, Light No Fire, given the team’s hard-earned credibility.
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