Across the internet, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the greatest titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the failures? We'll take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from European developers received largely negative reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the confusing title grammar is a silly strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers showcases a rude feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Issues included a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially negative, with some stating a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in production delays. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of game-breaking glitches. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
