Overhyped or Underappreciated? The Reality of Early Access Games

7 February 2025

Early access games—just the term alone seems to either light up a gamer's eyes with excitement or make them roll their eyes in frustration. It’s a concept that has reshaped the gaming industry, opening doors for indie devs and giving players a sneak peek at games still in development. But let’s be real: it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. For every success story, there’s an abandoned project or disappointing flop that’s left a sour taste in players' mouths. So, the big question is—are early access games overhyped or underappreciated? Let’s dig into it, shall we?

Early Access 101: What’s the Deal?

Before we dive deeper, let’s break down what early access actually means. Early access, in its simplest form, is like buying a product before it’s finished. Developers release unfinished games to the public, allowing players to play (and sometimes pay for) the game while it’s still in development.

The idea is straightforward: developers get much-needed funding to continue building their game, while players get early—sometimes exclusive—access to it. It’s a win-win, right? Well, not always.

Why Early Access Games Are a Big Deal

1. Funding for Indie Developers

Let’s face it: game development isn’t cheap. Indie developers, in particular, don’t have the luxury of deep pockets like AAA studios. Without early access, many promising projects might never see the light of day. Early access allows devs to raise the cash they need to finish their game while simultaneously building a community of players.

Think about a game like Hades. When the game landed in early access back in 2018, it was pretty barebones. Fast forward two years, and Hades became a polished masterpiece, racking up Game of the Year nominations and a cult following. Without the funding and feedback from early access players, who knows if it would’ve reached those heights?

2. Community Feedback = A Better Game

One of the biggest perks of early access is that it turns players into co-developers, in a sense. Those who jump in early can report bugs, suggest changes, and provide feedback that shapes the game’s final version. It’s like having thousands of unpaid QA testers who genuinely care about the game’s future.

Let’s be real: players are opinionated (sometimes a little too opinionated). But when developers listen to their community, magic can happen. Early access is basically a giant brainstorming session.

…But It’s Not All Perfect Pixels

For every Hades, there’s a No Man’s Sky at launch. (We’ll get to that redemption arc in a bit.) While the concept of early access sounds great on paper, the reality can be much messier.

1. The Overpromise and Underdeliver Problem

How many times have you seen a trailer for an early access game and thought, “This looks AMAZING”? Only to find out the actual game barely resembles the trailer? Yeah, same.

There’s a fine line between marketing hype and straight-up false advertising, and some devs cross it. When a game is released in early access, it’s often sold with big promises of what’s coming soon. New features, better graphics, smoother gameplay—it’s all supposedly on the way. But sometimes, “soon” never comes.

Take Starbound, for example. When it launched in early access in 2013, it was praised as the next big thing in sandbox games. The problem? It stayed in early access for years with slow and inconsistent updates. By the time it officially “released,” many players had moved on.

2. Abandoned Projects

Ever bought an early access game only to find out the devs abandoned it halfway through development? It’s like ordering a pizza and only getting the crust—complete with a note saying, “Sorry, we ran out of toppings.”

This is one of the biggest risks of early access. Developers might run out of funding, lose interest, or move on to new projects, leaving players with a half-baked game. While platforms like Steam have cracked down on scams, it still happens more often than you’d think.

3. The Pay Now, Wait Forever Model

Early access can sometimes feel like crowdfunding in disguise. Players are expected to pay upfront for a product they won’t fully enjoy until months—or even years—later. Imagine preordering a game, only to find out the “release date” is TBD. That’s the reality of early access for some unlucky players.

Even great games can take forever to leave early access. Case in point: Baldur’s Gate 3. The game spent three years in early access before its official release in 2023. While the final product was worth the wait, not every player has the patience for such a long journey.

The Redemption Stories

While early access has its fair share of horror stories, it also has some incredible success stories that prove the model can work when done right.

Subnautica

When Subnautica launched in early access, it wasn’t much more than a survival sandbox with underwater vibes. But the devs stayed committed, listened to player feedback, and steadily improved the game. By the time it officially released in 2018, it was one of the most beloved survival games on PC.

No Man’s Sky

Okay, so this one didn’t technically start as an early access game, but hear me out. When No Man’s Sky first launched in 2016, it was riddled with overpromises and underdelivered features. For a while, it was the poster child of disappointment. But instead of walking away, the developers rolled up their sleeves and got to work, adding new content and updates that transformed the game into something remarkable. It’s proof that a rocky start doesn’t have to mean game over.

Are Gamers Just Too Impatient?

Let’s flip the script for a second—is the problem with early access games… us? Gamers are a passionate bunch, and we tend to have sky-high expectations. When a game doesn’t meet our standards right away, we’re quick to call it a flop.

Early access games are, by definition, unfinished. But that doesn’t mean players should give them a free pass. After all, if we’re paying for a product, it’s fair to expect something worth our money. Yet, maybe we could also temper our expectations and understand that not every feature or update will drop overnight.

So, Overhyped or Underappreciated?

Here’s the thing: early access games are both overhyped and underappreciated, depending on how you look at it.

They’re overhyped because some developers use early access as a way to cash in on unfinished products, relying on marketing buzz to sell games that might never live up to their promises. But they’re also underappreciated because, when done right, early access can be a beautiful collaboration between devs and players, leading to some of the best gaming experiences out there.

It’s a double-edged sword, and whether you get cut—or come out victorious—depends on the game and the developers behind it.

Tips for Surviving the World of Early Access

If you’re thinking of diving into the early access pool, here are some tips to avoid disappointment:

1. Research the Dev Team: Look into their track record. Have they released completed games before?
2. Read Player Reviews: Check out what other players are saying about the game’s updates and progress.
3. Set Realistic Expectations: Remember, early access games are unfinished. Don’t expect perfection.
4. Support Games You Believe In: Only buy early access games if you’re okay with taking a risk.

Final Thoughts

At its core, early access is a gamble. Sometimes you strike gold (Hades), and sometimes you’re left with a dud (Cube World, anyone?). While the model has its flaws, it’s also opened doors for innovative games that might never have existed otherwise.

So, are early access games overhyped or underappreciated? The reality lies somewhere in between. It’s up to us, as players, to support the games and developers who do it right while holding the rest accountable.