At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? We'll take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that highlighted the charming software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a silly point of contention. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games revives a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game faced widespread disappointment from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers opted to release the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
