Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each 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 tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Issues included a thin character selection and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
