Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a few moments to recognize 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. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year featuring high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel didn't land, 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
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after years and years in development hell. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities 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 profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a distinct vote of confidence.
