Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable 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 driving sim from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a silly point of contention. This collection of retro mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The developers opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
