Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities 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 satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
