Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor point of contention. This collection of retro platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. 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 resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop 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, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
