Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. 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, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year packed with excellent racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a minor strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of features. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag 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, launched after years and years in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
