At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year featuring stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it opted to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
