Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their selections of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? We'll take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that praised the delightful software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with stellar racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of retro mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to channel a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
