Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the best releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year featuring stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling 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 shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly 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
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found value in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
