At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? We'll take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored 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 harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of fans found value in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
