The Most Disappointing Games of the Year 2025, Per Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the best games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to recognize the most panned games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2

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

Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.

8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection

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

Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a silly annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired fighting game faced significant backlash from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of features. User reviews was particularly negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.

6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.

4. Salvation

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.

1. MindsEye

Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a rare vote of confidence.