Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. 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 developers opted to release the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, 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 departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid assortment of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. 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 optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a rare contrast.
