Across the internet, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible 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 pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed 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 felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The developers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
