Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title 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 spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a notable strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in development hell. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *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 new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying 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, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a rare contrast.
