Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. But what about the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
