At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 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 nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a minor annoyance. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections 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 shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
