At every turn, fans are quick to share their rankings of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
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 expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.
