Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered harsh criticism from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in production delays. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an original experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely counterpoint.
