Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both professionals and the dedicated community. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. The assessment was that its goal to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
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 years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing 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 disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
