Across the internet, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a minor point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to 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 most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
