Everywhere you look, gamers are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? Let's take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a silly annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, finally released after years and years in development hell. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull assortment of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct counterpoint.
