Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a silly strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Issues included a small character selection and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing 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 remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
