At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a silly annoyance. This compilation of retro mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A 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*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
