2 hours ago
At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the most panned games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward punctuation is a notable annoyance. This anthology of retro mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length 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 curious artifact from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to release the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
