Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite 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
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
