Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year featuring stellar racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler faced significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after a very long time in production delays. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
