Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a rare contrast.
