At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of fans found fun in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
