At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the top titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a minor annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. 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 piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. 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 turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
