Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the polished software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment 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 profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
