As 2025 draws to a close, it’s time to shine a spotlight on the PC games that failed to deliver smooth performance, despite the powerful hardware gamers have at their disposal. But here’s the twist: unlike many other reviews, we’ve tested the latest versions of these games, not just their launch builds. Why? Because some developers have actually stepped up to fix their initially flawed releases. So, before we dive into the offenders, let’s give credit where it’s due.
First up, the games that narrowly escaped this list:
MindsEye (https://www.dsogaming.com/tag/mindseye/) has been a punching bag for critics and influencers, often bashed for easy clicks. But here’s the part most people miss: Build A Rocket Boy has made significant performance improvements. In some cases, the game now runs nearly twice as fast on the same hardware. Sure, you might not like the game itself, but it’s no longer fair to call it an ‘unoptimized mess’ on PC.
Echoes of the End (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/echoes-of-the-end-pc-performance-analysis/) launched with crippling stutters, but the developers have since addressed these issues. While it’s not perfect, it now runs better than many other Unreal Engine 5 titles. Again, disliking the game is one thing, but its performance has improved enough to keep it off this list.
Now, let’s get to the real culprits—the worst-optimized PC games of 2025:
7) Rise of the Ronin (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/rise-of-the-ronin-benchmarks-pc-performance-analysis/)
Kicking off our list is Rise of the Ronin, a game I genuinely enjoyed—but its PC version is a mixed bag. Many players complained about its performance, especially when running it on Ultra Settings. Ironically, these settings are so poorly optimized that even high-end PCs struggle. Lowering the settings helps, but the game’s visuals don’t justify its demanding GPU requirements. And let’s be honest, Team Ninja’s track record with optimization isn’t exactly stellar.
6) Double Fine’s Keeper (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/double-fines-keeper-can-only-run-with-60fps-at-native-4k-with-medium-settings-on-an-nvidia-rtx-5090/)
Double Fine’s Keeper lands at number six, and it’s a disappointment. While its art style is stunning, its performance is abysmal. To achieve 60FPS at Native 4K on an NVIDIA RTX 5090, you’ll need to drop to Medium Settings. For a game that doesn’t push graphical boundaries like The Matrix Demo or UE5 PS5 Tech Demo, these requirements are simply unjustifiable.
5) The Outer Worlds 2 (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/the-outer-worlds-2-benchmarks-pc-performance-analysis/)
With Ray Tracing enabled, The Outer Worlds 2 is nearly unplayable on most PCs. Even disabling it only helps those with high-end CPUs, leaving mid-range users in the dust. The game’s reliance on just 3–4 CPU cores causes severe bottlenecks in open-world areas, and frequent stutters don’t help. For a game with underwhelming graphics, its performance demands feel excessive.
4) Borderlands 4 (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/borderlands-4-pc-performance-analysis-terrible-optimization-and-technical-issues/)
Borderlands 4 would’ve topped this list if not for a recent performance update that improved things, especially for GPUs with 8GB VRAM. However, even on Max Settings, the game still feels too demanding. Lingering stutters and unresolved issues mean Gearbox has more work to do, but at least they’re trying.
3) Monster Hunter Wilds (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/monster-hunter-wilds-benchmarks-pc-performance-analysis/)
Monster Hunter Wilds is the second RE Engine open-world game to suffer from major performance issues this year (following Dragon’s Dogma 2). Capcom has released one update and promised two more, but the game still runs poorly across all platforms. It’s encouraging to see effort, but the results aren’t there yet.
2) Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-2-pc-performance-analysis/)
The stutters in Bloodlines 2 are so severe they can render the game unplayable. What’s worse? The developers have only released minor hotfixes, not a proper patch. Given its low sales, it’s unlikely we’ll see meaningful improvements, making this a frustrating entry on our list.
1) Oblivion Remastered (https://www.dsogaming.com/pc-performance-analyses/oblivion-remastered-benchmarks-pc-performance-analysis/)
And the worst offender of 2025 is Oblivion Remastered. Virtuos released this game and seemingly abandoned it, with no updates since April. The result? Shader-compilation stutters, traversal stutters, and countless bugs that ruin what could’ve been a stunning remaster. It’s a shame, because the visual upgrade is fantastic, but the technical issues make it a hard pass.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Are developers prioritizing graphical fidelity over optimization, or is the blame on rushed releases? And should gamers hold off on purchases until performance issues are resolved? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
As we wrap up 2025, don’t forget to check out our Best PC Game Graphics of 2025 (https://www.dsogaming.com/articles/best-pc-game-graphics-of-2025/) and Best Optimized PC Games of 2025 (https://www.dsogaming.com/articles/best-optimized-pc-games-of-2025/) articles. Here’s to a smoother gaming experience in 2026!
John, founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming, is a passionate PC gaming advocate with a deep love for modding and indie communities. His journey from 16-bit consoles to PC gaming was cemented by the iconic 3DFX Voodoo 2 graphics card. John also holds a higher degree in the evolution of PC graphics cards.
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