Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? We'll take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the polished 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
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
