Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year packed with stellar racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a minor strike against it. This collection of retro mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing 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
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
