Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top releases of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, 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 "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for incessant quips. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
