Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, 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. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score remains a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighter encountered significant backlash from both professionals and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely contrast.
