Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience 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. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.
