This year, players encountered a number of games that promised to be hits but ended up being a complete disappointment. We'll tell you about three of the most overrated games of 2024 that failed to live up to the expectations of their audience and earned a bad reputation. 

Disappointment № 1. South Park: Snow Day

Players around the world were hoping for a repeat of the success of the first game, South Park: The Stick of Truth, recognised as one of the best game adaptations of the TV show of all time. 

Although South Park: Snow Day was supposed to follow in the footsteps of its predecessor, the game turned out to be a bland FPS shooter instead of a turn-based RPG. Players unanimously stated that it is the most boring and dull gameplay, which does not even reach the quality of flash games for the browser. The game is not redeemable by the presence of decent outfits with the storyline that continues the plot of the previous parts. The players' main complaint lies in the technical and conceptual lack of the game development in comparison with its predecessor. 

For example, in the second part of South Park: The Fractured But Whole we got an update of character customisation, and the gameplay became trickier due to the addition of buffs and debuffs, which increased the difficulty level of the whole game. The new game not only didn't jump this bar, but also lowered it. We just ran around the map, shot at completely faceless AIs, and fought a lot of battles that we won't remember in any way. Only the multiplayer feature saves us, because any game is more interesting when you play it together with your friends. 

The graphics are also a mess: the usual adapted cartoon figures have been replaced by low-polygonal 3D models. Even mobile games look much better now. Take Honkai: Star Rail, for example.

Disappointment № 2. Foamstars 

This game was supposed to be a revelation for all fans of the Splatoon series and act as an alternative to the octopus shooter. At least, it seemed so from the trailer… But, unfortunately, the game turned out to be a waste. 

As a result, we got absolutely zero variety of game modes and an absurd number of microtransactions that kill all the fun of the game. While Splatoon is still a unique arcade shooter with diverse characters, Foam Stars looks extremely bland. And that's with a fairly vibrant colour scheme! The characters are plain, like in Fortnite, and run around a completely empty, albeit brightly shining arena. 

Splatoon at least had a great explanation of the gameplay: you're an octopus shooting colourful ink, which is attributed to the very biology of these creatures. Foam Stars, on the other hand, doesn't really present any lore or explanation for why things happen the way they do. How do the characters release soap foam — wait a minute — with their own bodies? And why copy Splatoon's shooting mechanics instead of coming up with a new super weapon?

The gameplay is also one-to-one with Splatoon: the player can cover any surface with foam and roll around in it. If the movement is based on your own colour, it goes faster, and slower if it is based on the colour of your enemies. The only fairly noticeable difference in gameplay is that here, the player can apply multiple layers of their soapy foam, allowing them to build towers and fences. But what's truly terrible about this game is its monetisation. And it's not even a free-to-play game! Many skins from microtransactions cost even more than the game itself. 

In our opinion, the game has absolutely no enticing bonuses to stick around for longer than a few hours. Too bad!

Disappointment №3. Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League 

This is probably the most anticipated game of the year for all fans of Rocksteady games and Arkham series, which in turn is one of the most innovative and exciting Batman game universes. But this time, alas, the creators took a wrong turn somewhere too. 

The game starts off well, though. The shooter elements are very flexible and smooth, and the dialogues and acting are on top. The cherry on the cake is stunning gloomy Metropolis, where every self-respecting Batman fan dreamed to find themselves at least once. And the developers chose an interesting plot — to kill the Justice League itself! Wasn't it supposed to be a truly brutal and bloody, but unrestrainedly fun RPG-quest?

We were expecting beautifully designed fights like in previous games, and were extremely disappointed with how basic the gameplay looks. The whole game is a mediocre replay of the same actions, which are designed to stretch the game time. Yes, the developers have given us some missions, which, however, do not differ much from each other. The declared “vast” open world turned out to be cramped and unremarkable, and the story campaign is super short. 

So we don't even have anything to say about this game. This is the case when we give a bad ending to a good start. 

Underrated Games of 2024

In a world where new games are released every day, it's easy to get lost in the flood of high-profile releases and hits. So let us help you sort things out and resurface! We'll show you the games that are genuinely worth your time and that will liven up your weekend or even your holiday.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth — reboot of the acclaimed series

This game takes the Yakuza series to a whole new level. The previous game, Yakuza: Like a Dragon, is already a classic, but this second part surpasses it in every way. You'll meet Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu in a new chapter of the dark but fun adventures of the Yakuza family. 

Players will enjoy not only a detailed story, but also amusing turn-based combat, dolphin rides, dating simulator and a lot of good old Japanese fan service. The gameplay has improved a lot: the arena has been shrunk and animations have been shortened, making the fights look more natural and dynamic. Though fans of the classic Yakuza series may find the good old turn-based RPG gameplay a bit boring.

The game also has its own “pokémons”: enemies that you defeat in the process of the story or when you just walk along the streets are added to a special encyclopaedia, almost like the bestiary of Geralt from The Witcher. You can try to hire each of these baddies. And then fight with their help in a special arena against other similar ‘bad guy collectors’. 

And that's not all the new features! Lots of side quests, crafting tables and stools, tourist attraction and much, much more provide a packed user experience. It feels like you're playing several different games at once. And that's why we think this game is highly underrated! Be sure to give it a shot if you're looking for something fresh and unique. 

Hades 2 — an early access masterpiece 

Even though the game is still in the beta stage, it already looks complete both in terms of plot and gameplay. So don't be afraid to buy it right now, as it will definitely bring you as much fun as after the official launch. 

A very, very entertaining and diverse ‘hack and slash’ game. The player has access to numerous weapons from the staff to the sickle, and after passing the main story additional challenges are unlocked, which will allow you to farm the necessary items for upgrading.

The relationships between the characters develop as dynamically as in the last part. We learn much more about the world of Hades and the ancient Greek gods. Both visually and in terms of gameplay, it all looks absolutely magical and fitting.

Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth — a follow-up to the timeless classic 

We were all waiting for the continuation of Final Fantasy VII remake, and many of us were worried whether it would live up to the expectations. We are happy to say that, according to our editorial staff, the game turned out to be absolutely fantastic! 

It doesn't just revisit 1997's classic Final Fantasy VII, but expands on the lore, details, and characters even further, including continuing the story of Cloud, Tifa, and Sephiroth and everyone associated with them.

Open-world elements add even more variety to the gameplay. You can fight monsters and complete quests, or you can simply wander around the world, take in the breathtaking scenery and enjoy complete freedom. Although many players are unhappy with the new additions, we believe that they are perfectly in line with the spirit of the times and have been developed with such care, diligence, and love that they reveal the world of Final Fantasy from a new side. So this is definitely one of the best of the series for all fans of this fantasy RPG!