The Most Disappointing Video Games of 2025, Based on Metacritic

At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their selections of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, User 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 free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.

8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a minor strike against it. This collection of retro platforming games features a rude feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious contrast to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This manga-based fighter was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a distinct counterpoint.