The Worst Titles of This Year, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

At every turn, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the greatest releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10

Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year featuring stellar racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10

First things first: the irritating colon usage is a minor point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a rude feline known for incessant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.

7. Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for the developers.

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. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a unique 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 premium price raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, Audience 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 unsatisfying series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.