Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a notable point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Issues included a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter 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 new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
