Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? Let's take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response 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 some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the delightful 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
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a minor annoyance. This compilation of retro mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of features. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User 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 legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics 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 digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection 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, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.