Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after a very long time in production delays. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
