Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This anthology of retro platforming games revives a rude feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a unique feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
