Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the low achievers? We'll take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a minor point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was particularly negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. 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 curious artifact from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
