Video games all suffer from the same inescapable affliction that has been around since the very start. That being the potential to rise to greatness and then fall into obscurity, despite having a loyal fan base and great gameplay at heart. Many of the best games out there have gone through this same cycle, drawing in huge numbers at the start, but slowly tapering off as time goes on.
This can happen for many reasons, ranging from a lack of updates to a general decline in interest from the player base. But no matter how many people are still around on the servers, the games still remain great on their own, even if the overall popularity is on a downward trend.
8
Monster Hunter Wilds
Poor Performance Hindering Long-Term Success
Monster Hunter Wilds is a huge leap forward for the franchise, with improved graphics and a whole array of new enemies to encounter. Players can take on the fights alone or in a group, and towards the later stages, things can get pretty intense, requiring a huge amount of coordination and preparation in order to succeed.
But despite being a popular and super fun game, it suffers from some serious performance issues that have yet to be addressed, resulting in a flip in review scores from positive to overwhelmingly negative in a matter of weeks. For many players, the poor optimization has been a deal breaker, turning them away from what is otherwise an exceptional action game that has so much to offer.
7
Overwatch 2
An Overhaul That Divided The Player Base More Than Ever
Overwatch 2 is the updated and revamped sequel/update to the game of the year-winning shooter that shocked the world back in 2016 with its insanely fun and addictive gameplay loop. Now shifted over to a new format with new heroes, the game feels very different from how it did on release, with new players jumping in to see what the fuss is really all about.
However, unlike other sequel updates, such as CS2, OW2 seemed to cause significant harm to its player base by transitioning to 5v5 and permanently altering the gameplay and feel. Since then, the player count has been on a slow decline, which extends to the esports scene as well, where viewership has never quite been the same.
6
Titanfall 2
The Premier Movement Shooter That Slowly Went Away
Titanfall 2 is the highly anticipated follow-up to the mech-battling hit that captivated the world all those years ago. The gameplay is just so satisfying, from the gunplay to the movement, with everything flowing together in perfect unison to deliver an unforgettable shooter experience that really has no contemporary.
Yet even great shooters can suffer from a lack of interest, and with very few updates or insight from the developers, the game has basically been left to rot, with a slow drip of players coming in and leaving whenever the game goes on sale. Only time will tell if a sequel finally gets released, or if the rumors are true that any future plans were scrapped in place of other projects.
5
BattleBit Remastered
A Strong Start, But Not Enough Content To Keep Players Around
Battlebit is an intense PvP shooter that takes everything from games like COD and Battlefield and brings them over to a blocky world full of chaos and gunfire around every corner. Players can jump into a match for some low-stakes fun, and choose between a huge number of weapon classes to take out onto the open plains in search of enemies to gun down and objectives to capture.
But with no meaningful updates and a fad that only seemed to last a few months, the player base has dwindled to the low 1000s and shows no sign of increasing any time soon. Maybe it was the lack of real progression or simplistic loop, but whatever the case, the game remains a super cool shooter that deserves a second lease on life.
4
Among Us
The Honeymoon Has Been And Gone
Among Us is the party game that defined the pandemic era, taking the concept of a social deduction formula and thrusting players onto a basic spaceship with nothing but their wits to keep them alive. Streaming is what really made the game explode in popularity, as large groups of personalities could be seen playing the game for hours on end to millions of viewers over the course of a year.
Sadly, as the world opened up, the interest fell off with it, and many content creators chose to move on to other games and newer trends that could give them more of a kick than replaying the same maps for the 100th time. It still stands as the premier deduction game for groups to enjoy and has grown into quite the diverse experience since those humble early days.
3
Halo Infinite
Taking A Beloved Series And Struggling To Make Waves
Halo Infinite was meant to be a grand return to the classics, giving players an open-world campaign with an ever-evolving multiplayer suite, positioned to revitalize one of gaming’s most iconic franchises. Its launch had strong foundations, with tight mechanics, a nostalgic feel, and a free-to-play multiplayer designed to bring in new blood, and for a while, things looked pretty bright.
But inconsistent content updates, delays to core features like Forge and co-op, and a frustrating progression system wore fans down. While the gameplay remains excellent, the player count has steadily declined, and the buzz has vanished with it.
2
FragPunk
Innovation In An Already Crowded Genre
FragPunk came out swinging with a flashy aesthetic, a unique card-based twist on hero shooters, and fast, stylish gameplay that felt like a cross between Valorant and Overwatch. Early access hype painted it as a potential breakout in the competitive FPS space.
However, poor matchmaking and a chaotic launch meta quickly pushed it into decline and the initial hype wasn’t enough to keep things going for long. Without a sizable audience or regular balance updates, its unique identity isn’t enough to sustain it, and if things don’t turn around soon, it risks becoming yet another stylish shooter that flamed out too fast.
1
Wildgate
Something New With Not A Lot Of Momentum
Wildgate promised a deeply immersive extraction shooter experience with dynamic world events and a reactive gameplay loop that rewarded good players and lifted up new ones. It attracted a niche but passionate community during its early launch, and showed promise of growth down the line thanks to the uniqueness of its gameplay loop.
Unfortunately, server instability, limited endgame content, and a general lack of real excitement have caused many players to walk away. Despite a devoted core, the larger extraction shooter crowd never fully arrived, leaving what was a game with a strong foundation to be another struggle just waiting to be shelved forever.
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