Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their selections of the top titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to channel a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
