Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the polished software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a minor annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter was met with significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was especially vitriolic, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in development hell. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on 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, citing a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
