At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that praised the charming software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer 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 received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a notable point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *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 tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
