Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the charming software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year featuring excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced significant backlash from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
