Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the low achievers? We'll take a moment 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 their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions 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 competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year featuring excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a minor annoyance. This anthology of retro mascot platformers 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 improbably high user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered significant backlash from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
