Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the top games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the failures? Let's take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant quips. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
