Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a moment to examine 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? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that praised the charming software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a notable strike against it. This anthology of retro mascot platformers revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
