Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the polished software itself. In spite 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 received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing games. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter encountered significant backlash from both critics and players. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its goal to channel a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. 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, according to critics, was a dull series of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
