At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a minor strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a severe lack of content. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic 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 past, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
