At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User 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 competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that praised the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
