Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year featuring excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced significant backlash from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a small character selection and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in development hell. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.
