Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
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 expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the charming software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year filled with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a minor point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
