Tekken 8's Steam page has received hundreds of negative user reviews following the launch of its third season last week. Players have criticized the fighting game's balance, accusing it of favoring aggressive offense over defense. This marks the second time the title has faced such backlash after a seasonal update.
The Tekken community expressed frustration with Tekken 8's season 3 update through a wave of negative Steam reviews. Veteran players with hundreds of hours logged complained that the game has become overly offense-focused, rewarding aggressive playstyles at the expense of defensive options. One reviewer stated, “Tekken 8 general rule of thumb: You must defend from all of your opponent’s bullshit so you can take their 50-50 mixups after.” Another called the developers “delusional,” noting that each patch buffs offense and adds new moves rather than strengthening defense, making matches less enjoyable even in defeat. A particularly harsh review likened the game to an abusive relationship, urging players to spend their money elsewhere and accusing Bandai Namco of gaslighting fans. Simpler feedback included, “Just play Tekken 7.” Bandai Namco had described the season 3 patch as a “back to basics” update aimed at streamlining the game gradually, rather than overhauling its systems entirely. Dissatisfaction also appeared on platforms like the Tekken subreddit. This is not the first instance; a similar surge of negative reviews followed the season 2 update in April 2025, though the game's Steam rating later improved to “mixed.” Console versions fare better, with PlayStation and Xbox ratings around four out of five stars.