The Most Disappointing Video Games of the Year 2025, Based on Aggregate Scores

Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to honor the most panned games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

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

First impressions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

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

Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

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

Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.

7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game

Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5

This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.

6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos

Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3

A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3

This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.

4. Scar-Lead

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.

3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5

Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.