Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the greatest games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a notable annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter encountered significant backlash from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience 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 dull collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.
