Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that praised the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a minor point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
