At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions 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 some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Issues included a limited character selection and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
