At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the charming software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. 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 is a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The developers made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 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 tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
