Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to examine the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the delightful software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter faced harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, 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 new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
