10 Most DISAPPOINTING Mobile Games Of 2024

There have been several mobile games that have left us feeling disappointed. While some of these games are popular and enjoyable, they fall short in certain areas that ruin the overall experience for many gamers—especially when significant hype surrounded their release.

Let’s dive in, starting with the first game on this list: Warzone Mobile. When this game debuted on PC, it nearly overtook titles like CS:GO in active users. Its popularity even led to the release of Warzone 2. Known for its chaotic, fast-paced battle royale gameplay, the game was a standout experience on PC. However, the mobile port has left much to be desired. The optimization seems to cater only to select devices, resulting in frequent frame drops—even on high-end phones like iPhones.

Adding to the frustration, the game’s size rivals that of RPGs, yet its graphics are subpar by comparison. This mismatch is baffling, especially when larger games like Genshin Impact run smoothly on a wider range of devices. While these issues might be tolerable to some extent, the lack of cross-platform play is a major letdown. For context, Fortnite Mobile introduced cross-play back in 2018, yet Warzone Mobile has failed to implement this feature even in 2024. If Activision intends to build on the existing COD Mobile concept, it should at least deliver a comparable experience. Hopefully, these issues will be addressed in future updates.

Next, let’s talk about a game from Supercell, the creators of Clash of Clans and Clash Royale. This year, they launched a new title called Squadbusters. Recently, Clash Royale faced backlash over its pay-to-win mechanics, particularly with the introduction of Evolutions. While these can be purchased, free-to-play players may need up to six months to unlock an Evolution—despite how overpowered they are.

Similarly, Squadbusters includes a controversial feature centered around consumables. While players can grind and max out their squad for free, the game often matches opponents with similar lineups. However, the winner is typically the one with more consumables, which can be used to open in-match chests and gain an early-game advantage. This mechanic has left many users struggling against opponents who have heavily invested in the game, making it difficult to climb ranks.

To make matters worse, even after losing a match, players can maintain their win streaks to earn better rewards—further skewing the balance in favor of pay-to-win users. These features have left many players frustrated, questioning the game’s fairness and long-term appeal.

The next game on the list is an MMORPG called Legacy of Divinity. Surprisingly, this game is played vertically. Yes, you heard that right—an MMORPG designed for vertical gameplay. This design choice was disappointing to hear about, but we decided to give it a try regardless. Unfortunately, the vertical movement and one-handed camera control felt awkward and uncomfortable. To make matters worse, the gameplay was frequently interrupted by cutscenes and prompts—a hallmark of many low-effort games originating from China.

It seems the aim of this game is to cater to casual, time-pass players who prefer one-handed gameplay. However, the execution feels cheap and poorly thought out. The game’s smaller file size compared to other RPGs hints at a limited storyline and lower-quality graphics. Overall, Legacy of Divinity fails to meet the standards expected in 2024 and lands firmly in the category of disappointments.

Next on the list is a game developed by Capcom: DMC: Peak of Combat. Although the beta version has been available since 2021—and many, including myself, have been playing it—it was initially restricted to Chinese servers. This year, the game finally received a global release in January. However, given that the game is essentially two years old, its mechanics and RPG experience feel dated compared to modern mobile RPGs.

Adding to the frustration, the game is riddled with microtransactions, making the gameplay frustrating and irritating. As a fan of the Devil May Cry series, I truly wanted to enjoy this game, but the experience fell short. Ultimately, it’s hard to justify playing this over other RPGs that offer better optimization, refined graphics, and fewer monetization hurdles.

Now, let’s talk about the next game on the list: Indus Battle Royale. Developed by Super Gaming, this title came with big promises for the Indian gaming industry and the battle royale genre. However, from the beta phase to early access and the full launch, the game has been plagued with issues, leaving players thoroughly disappointed.

Despite extensive feedback from both developers and players, the game has failed to deliver on its promises. The lofty expectations set by the developers turned out to be hollow, and the game received widespread criticism from gamers, reviewers, and even the media. To make matters worse, the developers’ PR response has been a disaster. Copyright strikes and FIRs have further tarnished the game’s reputation. Even after persistent complaints about the game’s poor optimization and performance, the developers have remained silent, offering no apology or acknowledgment of the issues.

This lack of accountability is especially stark when compared to a company like CD Projekt Red, which publicly apologized for the problems that plagued Cyberpunk 2077 at launch. The absence of such accountability from Super Gaming makes the disappointment with Indus Battle Royale even harder to accept.

One of the most famous game series, Age of Empires, released its mobile edition this year. However, fans of the franchise have been left deeply disappointed and frustrated. The game was developed by Teemee, a subsidiary of Tencent Games. From its trailer to the official launch, the developers promised that the game would retain the unique essence of Age of Empires and deliver a similar experience to mobile users.

However, years ago, a game called Return to Empire was released in China. Its mechanics, UI, and gameplay are strikingly similar to this new mobile edition. Coincidentally, Return to Empire was also developed by Teemee, and its servers were shut down before the release of this new title. Essentially, this appears to be a repackaged version of the same Chinese game, wrapped in the branding of Age of Empires and re-released globally. Furthermore, like its predecessor, this game is heavily monetized, which has angered fans and tarnished the reputation of the franchise.

Next on the list is an Indian FPS shooter called Rage Effect Mobile. Despite being in early access for over a year, the game has seen no significant improvements, bug fixes, or updates addressing lobby issues and graphical rendering. Its latest update, released around Diwali, failed to show any noticeable changes. The game claims to be a AAA title, yet matches often end abruptly as soon as players enter the lobby. Once a match begins, the screen frequently goes dark, movements lack fluidity, and the overall experience is poor.

The Indian gaming industry often faces criticism, and games like this are a major reason why. They make grand promises, generate immense hype, but fail to deliver on expectations. While a completely new game can be developed within a year, Rage Effect Mobile remains stuck in early access for over a year with no substantial progress. As a creator, my intention isn’t to insult anyone but to convey the audience’s disappointment to developers. Please, do not build so much anticipation if the final product cannot meet the expectations set by players.

Another game that deserves a mention on this list is Asphalt Legends Unite. Originally launched in 2018 as Asphalt 9, the game was rebranded in March this year as Asphalt Legends Unite. The concept behind this change was to introduce cross-platform functionality, aiming to “unite” players across various platforms. While the motive was admirable, the execution left much to be desired.

One of the most controversial features is the touch-drive mode, which allows players to win competitive multiplayer races using just one hand. While this feature might suit casual players in the game’s campaign, it has no place in multiplayer. In my opinion, multiplayer races should rely solely on manual driving to ensure fairness and competitiveness. Allowing touch-drive in competitive modes undermines the skill required to succeed and detracts from the experience for serious players.

Racing games are thrilling because of their realistic driving mechanics, so it’s disappointing that Asphalt Legends Unite is considered one of the best in the genre despite its flaws. I worry that future racing games might take inspiration from this flawed concept, potentially compromising the authenticity and competitiveness that make racing games so enjoyable.

This list also includes a sports mobile game: FC Mobile 25. Although the FC series has a history of being at least satisfactory, users have dubbed this latest installment the worst version ever. The gameplay is riddled with bugs—players often report incidents where, after passing the ball to key players, those players simply stare at the ball and move on, among other frustrating issues.

The game’s pricing model also frustrates users. For example, packs sold as “Flash Sale” items are often more expensive than their actual discounted price in the shop. Additionally, the referee mechanics are highly inconsistent, frequently awarding free kicks and penalties to the AI for minor fouls while ignoring fouls committed by the AI.

In short, the game fails to deliver an enjoyable experience due to its buggy gameplay, inconsistent events, exploitative pricing, and unfair referee decisions. It feels as though the developers are more focused on monetization than on improving the user experience. Hopefully, they will address these issues in future updates.

Finally, let’s talk about a rising fan favorite: Solo Leveling Arise. This gacha RPG, based on this year’s popular anime Solo Leveling, has recently been the subject of rumors and criticism regarding pay-to-win mechanics. To investigate these claims, we decided to try the game ourselves.

At first glance, the game doesn’t seem overtly pay-to-win. Its difficulty level will appeal to hardcore RPG players, and the grind feels satisfying. However, the problem arises with the high cost of basic resources and items. For instance, if you want to unlock your favorite character, the game makes it relatively easy to acquire them in a few pulls—if you pay. But once unlocked, leveling up and maxing out that character requires significant additional spending.

Many creators have tested this theory by creating two accounts—one free-to-play and the other pay-to-win. Almost unanimously, they found that spending money made it much easier to progress and level up.

One user pointed out that the game remains free-to-play friendly unless you aspire to reach the top ranks. While opinions may differ, these pay-to-win mechanics undeniably affect the experience for many players, making it worth mentioning here.

These were the most disappointing games of the year. While everyone is entitled to their opinions, these flaws deeply impacted our enjoyment of these titles. Highlighting these issues is important, both for developers to take note and for players to set realistic expectations.