At every turn, fans are quick to share their lists of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the charming software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to channel a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
