Everywhere you look, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that noted the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year filled with stellar racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant quips. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 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 mimic a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. 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, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
