Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to channel a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
