Gaming history is littered with titles that launched in less-than-stellar condtion. Games can fail, whether crushed by hype, launch-day bugs, or simply by being misunderstood. Time, perspective, and a few gigabytes of patches can work wonders. These games improved over time and deserve a second chance.

1No Man’s Sky

No Man’s Skydeserves a second chance because itrecovered from a disastrous launch. This is an obvious entry, but it isn’t about delivering what was promised but about where the game is today. IfNo Man’s Skywas released as-is today, it would be a worthy Game of the Year contender.

It lets players build elaborate bases, run a town, oversee minions, assemble a fleet of starships, and so much more. Developers Hello Games just keep adding to the reasons that people should pick upNo Man’s Skyagain.

No Mans Sky Fighting A Huge Ship and flying over it.

The first 10 minutes is the only part that feels like a bit of a slog, and from there it’s like a game released yesterday. To put it into perspective, it was worth returning to a few years after release, and it’s so much better today. It’s easy to see why the game has such a strong fanbase.

2Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077has undergone a significant transformation since it was first released. Patches and updates have addressed many technical problems, and the game looks very different than it once did. Night City feels much more alive compared to cities in some games released today, likeStarfield. The core gameplay loop, combining first-person shooting with RPG elements and impactful player choices, works a lot better now.

Beyond the main story,Cyberpunk 2077has a lot of side quests and gigs that means there’s no shortage of things to do, making it feel far less linear. ThePhantom Libertyexpansion adds even more content, and evena VR mode players can try for free.

cyberpunk 2077 man with weapon behind head.

3Starfield

Starfieldwas another victim of hype and expectations, particularly due toits $70 price tag. However, Bethesda has done a lot to make the game better. Post-release patches have addressed many of the early technical issues.

When played without thinking about where the game “should” be, it’s actually a really fun experience. The biggest downside is a reliance on loading screens but otherwise the ship customization, base building, companions, and the storylines outside the main missions are very interesting.

Starfield player Blowing Up A Ship and flying toward it.

Also, there’s a lot of content inStarfield. The game has handcrafted quests, procedurally-generated planets, lots of locations to discover. The beginning is a real slog, but players who can make it through will find a lot to do and very little to hold them back. This is likeFallout 4in space, and it is a lot more fun than many will remember.

4Dragon’s Dogma 2

Despite all the bad, there’s a lot to like inDragon’s Dogma 2. If played in a way that mostly ignores the main story and accepts the oversights, it’s a lot better than everyone makes it out to be. The originalDragon’s Dogmais beloved despite its poor story, and the second game improves on nearly every aspect of the original. That’s the important thing to focus on: it is a lot better than players give it credit for.

Dragon’s Dogma 2is an RPG, but it is great when players focus on the randomness and the strange changes that can happen during gameplay. A lot of the performance issues and crashes have been worked out, so it will be a lot easier to get through. It’s not a great RPG in terms of story, but it’s a great one for sandbox gameplay.

Dragons Dogma Pawn Holding Up Hand with a glowing sign on it.

5Batman: Arkham Origins

While initially dismissed as a rehash ofArkham Cityriddled with bugs,Batman: Arkham Originsdeserves a second look, especially when viewed through the lens of otherlive service superhero game releases. Players craving the familiar, refinedArkhamformula will find it here, polished by patches and time.

The combat is still fluid and satisfying, and the story is solid, especially compared toSuicide Squad: Kill The Justice LeagueandGotham Knights. This was made by a team that understood what made theArkhamgames and Batman great, and it shows.

Batman Arkham Origins Fighting Deadshot, about to punch the villain in the face.

Batman: Arkham Origins' Christmas Eve setting lends a unique atmosphere, blanketing Gotham in snow and imbuing the story with a sense of festive urgency. Moreover, the story centers around a younger, less experienced Batman and offers a fresh perspective on the character’s development and relationships with familiar allies and enemies.

6Middle-Earth: Shadow of War

Middle-earth: Shadow of Wardeserves a second chance now that its aggressive microtransaction system is a relic of the past. The core gameplay loop of dominating and manipulating orc armies is genuinely fun. Building an army of grotesque, hilarious, and surprisingly complex orc captains is a unique experience, and the Nemesis system creates dynamic rivalries and alliances that constantly evolve.

Thanks toplayer-unfriendly decisions by Warner Bros., this may be the only time we will see the Nemesis system in action for a while. This game hooks players for tens of hours just on its core gameplay. Without the pressure to spend money to accelerate progression or preserve prized followers, it’s easy to appreciate the combat and army management.

Middle-Earth Shadow of War Talion directing a charge to some gates.

7Fallout 76

Fallout 76deserves a second chance because the post-apocalyptic Appalachia it offers is now a genuinely enjoyable and expansive world to explore. Updates and expansions have transformed the experience by adding NPCs, meaningful storylines, and challenging new quests that have breathed life into what was once a barren wasteland (and not in the goodFalloutway players have come to love).

Players can now experience a more traditional Fallout narrative within the online multiplayer framework, forming communities, building elaborate settlements, and teaming up to tackle challenging events.

Fallout 76 players with Power Armor standing next to each other.

The game now performs better, the crafting system has been reworked, and there’s a greater variety of weapons and enemies. This is a game that people still think poorly of because of the launch, butFallout 76now provides a compelling reason to venture into the wilds of West Virginia.Falloutfans should not hold back, especially with the game beingincluded with Game Pass.

8Final Fantasy XIV Online

Final Fantasy XIVwas remade asA Realm Rebornand deserves immense credit for being a title that recovered from a disastrous launch to become one of the best MMOs on the market. What makes it worth a second chance today is the sheer depth and polish of the experience. The storytelling is phenomenal, and there’s a great narrative across multiple expansions that rivals single-player RPGs.

The job system offers a lot of flexibility, letting players seamlessly switch between classes and roles on a single character.Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Rebornlets players experiment, which removes the need to resort to alt characters. Even more than that, it’s one ofMMOs you can play solo. This game sheds the skin of the past because theFFXIVof today is a testament to the power of second chances.

Final Fantasy XIV Online Woman with blonde hair looking at the screen.

9Assassin’s Creed Unity

Assassin’s Creed Unity’s redemption arc didn’t happen over night, but now all the bugs and glitches are finally fixed. The parkour system, refined and fluid, makes moving through revolutionary Paris a joy. The city is detailed and dense, and it feels more alive than in later games. The story isn’t the strongest that the series has to offer, but it is arguably better than those seen in modernAssassin’s Creedtitles.

It’s one of those games where going back and seeing how much it has improved can make you wonder why it ever was considered bad in the first place. It’s only outdone byAssassin’s Creed Syndicate, and if it had been released in this state when it first launched, it wouldn’t have been the catalyst for a drastic change in the franchise.

Assassins Creed Unity multiple assassins looking at a protesting crowd.

10Mass Effect Andromeda

Mass Effect Andromedahas been significantly improved by post-release patches, that fix many of the issues that greatly hurt the game on release. The way to enjoy it is by forgetting how great the previous games were and just treating it like its own game. It’s not a greatMass Effectgame, but it’s a decent sci-fi game.

Andromeda’s vast, explorable galaxy is brimming with intriguing alien races and is a real joy to explore when given the chance. While the narrative is average at best, it’s still pretty fresh overall, and the backstory that the game touches upon is genuinely intriguing.

Mass Effect Andromeda player looking out into the landscape of an alien world.

Combat feels likeDragon Age: InquisitionandMass Effecthad a baby; it’s fluid and dynamic, even compared to today’s games. Overall, it’s a worthwhile experience, especially at the low prices it’s sold for today.

If you own one or more of these games, it might be time to dust off the disk or reinstall your digital copy and rediscover what makes them great. If you don’t, you’ll be pleased to hear that many of these can bepicked up cheap either on sale or on the second-hand market.