1. Genshin Impact
MiHoYo built a gorgeous world, then populated it with predatory gacha mechanics. It’s a daily chore disguised as exploration, constantly dangling new characters and weapons just out of reach unless you open your wallet or dedicate your life to farming. The 'free' experience quickly becomes an exercise in self-restraint or capitulation to the grind. You're constantly reminded of what you *could* have, pushing your investment.
2. Diablo: Immortal
Remember the "do you guys not have phones?" debacle? Well, here’s the game they were pushing. Diablo Immortal isn't just a mobile game; it's a masterclass in pay-to-win, designed to extract every last cent from players desperate for that classic Diablo high. It’s a soulless, spreadsheet-optimized grind that disrespects its legacy and its players' time, turning dark fantasy into a casino.
3. Star Citizen
Star Citizen is less a game and more a never-ending crowdfunding experiment. Years and hundreds of millions later, it's still stuck in a glorious, buggy, unoptimized alpha state. The vision is immense, sure, but the reality is a constant cycle of hype, new pledges, and deferred gratification. You're not playing a game; you're funding a dream that feels increasingly out of reach, a digital Ponzi scheme.
4. Fallout 76
Fallout 76 launched as a monument to how *not* to release a live service game. Bethesda tried to turn a beloved single-player RPG into a persistent online world, and the result was a janky, empty mess. While it's improved, the core loop often feels like busywork, a checklist of daily chores and events. It demands your time and patience, but rarely rewards it with true Fallout magic.
5. Destiny 2
Destiny 2 perfected the art of the treadmill. Every new season resets your progress, introduces new currencies, and demands hours of repetitive bounties and activities just to stay relevant. Content gets vaulted, meaning your past efforts vanish. It’s a beautiful shooter, absolutely, but one that constantly pushes you to log in, grind, and purchase the next battle pass, lest you fall behind.
6. Apex Legends
Apex Legends is a fantastic battle royale, no doubt. But beneath the fluid movement and satisfying gunplay lies a relentless monetization strategy. New legends, cosmetics, and battle passes are constantly dangled. The progression feels slow without significant investment, and the skill-based matchmaking can make casual play feel like a job interview. It's exhilarating, yet exhausting, pushing you to keep up.
7. Grand Theft Auto Online
GTA Online is the ultimate virtual rat race. You spend hours grinding repetitive missions, selling illicit goods, and evading griefers just to afford that one cool car or property. Or, you just buy Shark Cards and skip the whole exhausting process. It’s a game that thrives on making you feel poor and constantly pushing you to spend, turning hedonistic chaos into a capitalist chore.
