At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless 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
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Issues included a small character selection and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to channel a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The developers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
