Across the internet, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was notably negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
