Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the polished software itself. Despite 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 studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a minor annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in production delays. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
