Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their selections of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor strike against it. This collection of retro Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 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 team behind it opted to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
