Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their lists of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? We'll take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a minor point of contention. This collection of retro platforming games showcases a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a severe lack of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an authentic experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from 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 declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
