Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous takes that highlighted the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller 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 overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a notable strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was especially harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 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 legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames 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 satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct contrast.
