Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year packed with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a minor strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
