Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some stating a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims 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 monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. 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, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
