Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine 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. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that noted the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a minor strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a sarcastic feline known for constant hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler encountered harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was notably harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the past, finally released after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an original 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. Frequent criticisms included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found fun in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
