Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a silly strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration 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 past, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal 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 shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
