Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced harsh criticism from both professionals and players. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
