Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the flops, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced significant backlash from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a dearth of features. User reviews was notably negative, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag 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 past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. 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 transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
