Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length 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 past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to 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 dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
