Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that praised the charming software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that rapidly became boring. 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
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.
