Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that praised the charming software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating title grammar is a notable strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was particularly negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities 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 dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
