At every turn, fans are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
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 feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a few of fans found fun in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
