Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to channel a unique gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
