Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong 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 vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This collection of retro Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a severe lack of features. User reviews was especially negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after years and years in development hell. The developers opted to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, 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 new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
