At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year featuring stellar racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a silly strike against it. This compilation of retro platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers opted to release the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms were bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
