At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that noted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year packed with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
