Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the polished software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year filled with excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its goal to channel a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
