At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both critics and players. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience 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 developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
