Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 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 feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, 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 vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
