At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that noted the delightful software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, especially in a year filled with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a limited character selection and a severe lack of features. Fan reaction was particularly negative, with some stating a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a unique experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling 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 transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
