Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a silly annoyance. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
