At every turn, fans are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a silly point of contention. This anthology of SNES and PS1 mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a small roster of characters and a dearth of features. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in production delays. The developers made the decision to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
