At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the polished software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a silly point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
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 years and years in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
