Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User 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 free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward punctuation is a minor point of contention. This anthology of retro mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
