At every turn, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the delightful 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 "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with stellar racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in development hell. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
