Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder reviews that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a minor point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 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 effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic product 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 resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.
