Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to recognize 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? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User 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 unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
