The Most Disappointing Titles of the Year 2025, Per Review Aggregator Metacritic

Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.

10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10

Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring excellent racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.

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 compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after years and years in production delays. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the end product.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4

This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Intended to be a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.