Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year featuring excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a notable strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with harsh criticism from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. 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
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
