Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience 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 dull collection of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
