At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the best games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a notable annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially harsh, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The developers consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
