Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a minor point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities 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 profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
