At every turn, gamers are quick to share their lists of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the failures? Let's take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to more generous takes that noted the delightful software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered largely negative reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a silly annoyance. This anthology of retro platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a small roster of characters and a dearth of features. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost 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 a very long time in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an original product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
