Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that highlighted the delightful software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a notable strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of features. Player sentiment was notably vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
