Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year featuring excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a notable annoyance. This collection of retro mascot platformers features a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after years and years in development hell. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of fans found value in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
