Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the low achievers? Let's take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the charming software itself. Despite 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
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a notable annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. Issues included a thin character selection and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after years and years in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
