At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous appraisals that praised the delightful software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward punctuation is a notable annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
