Key Takeaways
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- Persona 5: The Phantom X was the most abandoned game of 2025, with many players quitting before completion. This trend was also observed in other free-to-play Chinese games like Delta Force and Where Winds Meet, suggesting that the accessibility of free games may not guarantee long-term engagement.
- Several games debuted on Game Pass, such as Eternal Strands, Blue Prince, Avowed, and Atomfall, were among the most abandoned titles. This could indicate that initial curiosity does not always translate into sustained dedication.
- Mindseyes Build a Rocket Boy, despite a substantial budget and AAA production values, was considered one of the biggest disappointments of 2025. It received low Metacritic scores and still drew fewer concurrent players on Steam than South of Midnight.
- The list highlights challenges in maintaining interest in the increasingly crowded gaming market, emphasizing the importance of delivering quality experiences to keep players engaged.
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Most Abandoned Games of 2025 Include Game Pass Debuts and Free-to-Play Titles
How Long to Beat, the popular game data website, recently shared its year-end lists for 2025, highlighting the year’s most popular games and platforms. Alongside these coveted rankings, the site also publishes a list that no developer wants to see their game on: the most abandoned titles. According to How Long to Beat’s community data, Persona 5: The Phantom X, available on PC and mobile, tops the list of most abandoned games of 2025. Developed in China in collaboration with Atlus, The Phantom X saw players quit the game before completing it. Notably, Persona 5: The Phantom X is followed by two other free-to-play Chinese games, Delta Force and Where Winds Meet. This pattern supports the idea that the accessibility of free games can attract players initially but may not guarantee long-term engagement, as the lack of monetary investment can encourage experimentation over commitment. The list also includes several games that debuted on Game Pass, such as Eternal Strands, Blue Prince, Avowed, and Atomfall, all titles backed by Microsoft Gaming with day-one releases on the service. This may indicate that initial curiosity does not always translate into sustained dedication.
Top Ten Most Disappointing Games of 2025 Revealed
While the main Persona 5 series is absent from the list, Mindseye’s Build a Rocket Boy, the first release from Leslie Benzies (lead producer of the Grand Theft Auto series from GTA III to GTA V), may be considered the biggest disappointment of 2025. Despite a substantial budget and AAA production values, the game failed to meet expectations, receiving Metacritic scores between 28 and 37. Yet, it still drew twice as many concurrent players on Steam as South of Midnight. Here is the complete list of the top ten most abandoned games of 2025, according to How Long to Beat: 1. Persona 5: The Phantom X 2. Delta Force 3. Where Winds Meet 4. Hello Kitty Island Adventure 5. inZOI 6. Eternal Strands 7. Blue Prince 8. Avowed 9. Atomfall 10. The Precinct These rankings offer insight into player engagement and highlight the challenges of maintaining interest in an increasingly crowded gaming market.
In Case You Missed It
Intrigued by Hideo Kojima’s latest revelation? Ahmed Hassan, in his recent article “OD Knock: Hideo Kojima Fears His Horror Game to Bomb Violently”, published December 9th, delves into the creator’s ambitious new project, OD. This upcoming horror game promises to shake up the genre by ditching traditional mechanics for an entirely new service model. Hassan explores Kojima’s inspirations from Metal Gear and Death Stranding, while emphasizing the originality of OD’s gameplay. Don’t miss out on this exciting insight into what promises to be a groundbreaking title – check it out here OD Knock: Hideo Kojima Fears His Horror Game to Bomb Violently. In our quest to keep you informed on the ever-evolving world of gaming, we’d like to draw your attention to Sophie Laurent’s latest piece for Players For Life. Published just yesterday, “Xbox Aims for Satisfied Players While Managing a Business”, delves into Xbox Studios’ pricing strategy and how it balances player satisfaction with business realities. Join the conversation on this fascinating topic by checking out Sophie’s insightful article today Xbox Aims for Satisfied Players While Managing a Business. Speaking of Microsoft’s gaming strategies, have you heard about Carlos Mendoza’s latest piece on PlayersForLife? Published just yesterday, ‘Xbox Cancels Xbox Wrapped This Year Due to Budget Concerns’ delves into the surprising decision behind this year’s skipped annual gameplay recap. If you’re curious why Xbox is shifting focus towards bigger celebrations next year and how fans can still create their own reviews, don’t miss out on checking it out here Xbox Cancels Xbox Wrapped This Year Due to Budget Concerns.
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Links to external sources for further reading
- Poll: What Were The Best Xbox Game Pass Additions In 2025?(news/2025/12/poll-what-were-the-best-xbox-game-pass-additions-in-2025)Poll: What Were The Best Xbox Game Pass Additions In 2025?(news/2025/12/poll-what-were-the-best-xbox-game-pass-additions-in-2025)purexbox.com
- MindseyeMindseyecomicbook.com
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