Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This collection of retro platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. 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 rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in development hell. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
