At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that praised the polished software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
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 compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
