Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that noted the charming software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to channel a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections 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
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a few of fans found fun in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
