Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the charming software itself. In spite of the controversy, 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 "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. For many, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a minor annoyance. This anthology of retro mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a dearth of content. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
