Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well originally 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, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
