The Most Disappointing Games of the Year 2025, Based on Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a moment to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience 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 bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that highlighted the charming software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left on the shelf.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10

First things first: the irritating title grammar is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a severe lack of features. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, finally released after years and years in production delays. The developers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of fans found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.