Across the internet, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? We'll take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in production delays. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a distinct contrast.
