Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience 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 free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year packed with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This compilation of retro platforming games showcases a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after a very long time in development hell. The developers opted to release the game as an original product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
