Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a notable strike against it. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
