Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? We'll 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 truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that noted the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a minor point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it opted to release the game as an original product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
