It is halfway through 2019, and it’s time to tally up the things we’ve played so far. When reflecting on the year to this point, there have been 3 gaming letdowns that really seem to put a damper on 2019. It hasn’t been a bad year of games, but these three examples definitely left us wanting more.

Kingdom Hearts 3 Falls Short of Expectations

Kingdom Hearts 3 is considered contentious in terms of its quality, but that alone is a letdown. There were years when a KH3 release would have made everyone assume it could be a Game of the Year contender, but there’s no chance for that this year. A few of the main criticisms were narrative related, but overall, the game is just far too easy. It looks great and features some amazing IPs like Toy Story and Frozen, but even the most diehard fans are just a little letdown. If you haven’t played it yet, it’s likely to drop down to under $25 for Black Friday, so keep being patient.

Nintendo Switch Online Lives Up to the Company’s Typical Missteps

The Switch had fans thinking Nintendo was on a hot streak, but the rollout of Nintendo Switch Online brought us all back to Earth. The subscription is cheaper than its competitors, and even offers NES titles for free. That being said, it has no in-console chat functionality, instead opting to make players download a mobile app. The issues don’t stop there either. The fact that Nintendo still can’t provide consistent matchmaking and hosting of popular games like Super Smash Bros. Ultimate and Splatoon 2 is beyond me. If they add SNES games and fix things up connectivity wise, they will be back on track. For now, it seems like the company is stuck in 2013.

E3 2019 Lacks Punch

Think of a highlight from E3 2019 that’s NOT Keanu Reeves. Exactly. Cyberpunk 2077 even felt less exciting than we expected in terms of what we’d see. Sony skipped out, Nintendo played it safe avoiding info on Bayonetta 3 or Metroid Prime 4, and Microsoft continues to be mediocre with its exclusives. Other years make me excited for what’s to come, but everything I’m looking forward to was announced long before this year’s conference.

I don’t mean to be a downer, but these three gaming letdowns are definitely things that make the year feel substandard. With great games to come, as well as a new console cycle on the horizon, it might just be an in-between year. For what it’s worth, there are plenty of things to love about 2019, but these headlines and highlights feel much more like bummers than breakout moments.

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