At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 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 competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed 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 key areas, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a notable annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of content. User reviews was especially harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
