Across the internet, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the top games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped 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 harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, 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
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter was met with significant backlash from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
