At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the flops, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to channel a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
