At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. Issues included a small character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in development hell. The developers opted to preserve the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling 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 new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
