Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a notable strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
