Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the top games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with excellent racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games revives a rude feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found fun in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
