Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a minor annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a peculiar contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some stating a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
