Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
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 complimentary title like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a silly strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with significant backlash from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a dearth of content. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
