Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? We'll take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped 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 harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a silly point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited character selection and a dearth of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *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 poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
