10 Most Disappointing Triple-A Games Of 2023
2. Starfield
Starfield is confirmation beyond all doubt that a game can still be pretty good and yet fall massively short of expectations.
Bethesda's hugely hyped sci-fi RPG had the weight of the gaming world on its shoulders when it launched back in September, that it'd throw the gauntlet down to the year's other big Game of the Year contenders and show them the what-for.
Yet despite most critics generally praising Starfield, there was a consistent pang of being quite underwhelmed among them, that it ultimately just fell far short of being the generation-defining masterpiece many predicted it would be.
From the game's shockingly flat opening few hours to its relatively mediocre exploration potential, forgettable story, and generic missions, Starfield is held up largely by its charming characters, solid gunplay, and overall vibes.
In a year chock with so many outstanding games, Bethesda turning in arguably their worst AAA release to date was inevitably going to leave many feeling crestfallen.
The tide of discourse may turn somewhat once modders have their fun with it, but for a game positioned to be Microsoft's marquee title for the foreseeable future, it's shocking how quickly it's become a distant memory to many.