Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments 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 the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User 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 complimentary title like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that praised the delightful software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a silly annoyance. This anthology of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant quips. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a dearth of content. User reviews was notably harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
