Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that highlighted the polished software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games revives a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. 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 makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
