At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of 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 "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a silly strike against it. This collection of retro platforming games revives a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in production delays. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
