Across the internet, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? Let's take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that noted the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a baffling oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced significant backlash from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a small character selection and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of technical problems. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a lonely contrast.
