Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a notable annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
