Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that praised the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year packed with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant quips. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost 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, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
