At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a notable point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
