At every turn, fans are quick to share their rankings of the top titles of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to examine the most panned games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop 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 was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
