Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a notable point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
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 collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
