Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a minor point of contention. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. 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 piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
