Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a minor point of contention. This compilation of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of content. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like 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 $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 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 development hell. The developers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
