At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine 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, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
