At every turn, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from 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, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with significant backlash from both professionals and players. Complaints centered on a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. 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
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics 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 departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. 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 high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
