Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that highlighted the charming software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a silly strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely contrast.
