Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year filled with excellent racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a notable strike against it. This compilation of retro platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. User reviews was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to channel a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after years and years in production delays. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
