15 People Share the Game They Regretted Buying Immediately

Buyer’s remorse is something every gamer knows a little too well. More often than not, trailers, communities and influencers hype a game so much that you just need to own it and see what the fuzz is about. Some things are better left unchecked, it seems.

In a popular Reddit discussion, players shared the games they regretted buying almost immediately after getting home or downloading them. Some names here are the usual suspects, although some other stories might surprise you. These are the highlights from the thread we think you’d enjoy.

Battlefield 2042

Battlefield 2042 launched with widespread criticism over missing features, technical problems, and the removal of series staples like the traditional class system. Although updates improved the experience, many early buyers immediately felt disappointed.

Karate Champ (NES)

The NES version of Karate Champ famously disappointed players who expected something closer to the arcade original. Packaging that showcased arcade screenshots only made the simplified home console version feel even more underwhelming.

No Man’s Sky

At launch, No Man’s Sky fell far short of many players’ expectations, lacking several heavily anticipated features. Years of free updates transformed it into a beloved space exploration game, but early adopters remember the rough release.

Brink

Brink generated enormous excitement thanks to its stylish movement system and ambitious multiplayer design. Unfortunately, technical issues, repetitive gameplay, and a rapidly shrinking player base caused enthusiasm to disappear almost immediately after launch.

Madden NFL

For many players, yearly releases like Madden NFL often create instant buyer’s remorse. After the excitement fades, the similarities to previous editions can make the latest installment feel unnecessary.

Elden Ring

Not every regret comes from a bad game. Some players bounced off Elden Ring after being crushed by the Tree Sentinel minutes into the adventure, only to return later and discover one of gaming’s greatest experiences.

Civilization VII (Switch)

Many Nintendo Switch owners were disappointed by Civilization VII’s launch version, citing performance problems, interface issues, and technical compromises that made the strategy experience feel noticeably weaker than on more powerful platforms.

Biomutant

Biomutant impressed with its colorful world and martial arts-inspired combat, but many players quickly lost interest because of repetitive gameplay, excessive narration, and mechanics that never fully matched the game’s ambitious premise.

Spider-Man 3

Based on Sam Raimi’s film, Spider-Man 3 struggled to live up to the acclaimed Spider-Man 2 game. Clunky controls, frustrating missions, and uneven design left many fans wondering how the sequel had regressed so dramatically.

Warcraft III: Reforged

Fans expected a faithful modernization of one of Blizzard’s greatest strategy games. Instead, Warcraft III: Reforged launched missing promised features while replacing the original client, making disappointment almost immediate for longtime players.

Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl

Although marketed as faithful remakes, Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl left many longtime fans wanting more. Compared to earlier Pokémon remakes, they offered relatively few meaningful additions beyond updated visuals.

The Sims 4

When The Sims 4 launched in 2014, many players were shocked by the absence of features that had become standard in previous entries. Missing pools, toddlers, and other staples made the base game feel incomplete.

DayZ

The standalone version of DayZ attracted huge attention during the survival game boom. Early buyers, however, often encountered bugs, unfinished mechanics, and a slow development pace that made the purchase difficult to justify.

South Park: Snow Day!

Fans hoping for another RPG in the style of The Stick of Truth and The Fractured But Whole instead received a cooperative action game that many critics and players found repetitive and lacking the series’ usual charm.

Starfield

Bethesda’s long-awaited space RPG arrived after years of anticipation, but some players quickly regretted buying it. Repetitive exploration, heavy reliance on loading screens, and procedural content left them expecting far more from the ambitious project.