At every turn, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, 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 "not just a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
