Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the greatest releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the failures? Let's take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that praised the charming software itself. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year packed with high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing title grammar is a silly annoyance. This compilation of retro mascot platformers features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar oddity to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a limited fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers made the decision to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that contemporary players might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic surgery games of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, 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 departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying series of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
