Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year featuring stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This compilation of retro mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to release the game as an original experience 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 journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
