Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? It's time to take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced harsh criticism from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics 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 turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
