Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, 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 Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a notable point of contention. This anthology of retro platforming games features a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a small fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics 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 virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
