At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience 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 was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning 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 slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the story's portrayal 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 virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
