Across the internet, fans are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the failures? We'll take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year filled with excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games revives a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to channel a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
