Everywhere you look, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top titles of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to more generous reviews that highlighted the delightful software itself. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, especially in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a silly point of contention. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a baffling oddity to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter was met with harsh criticism from both critics and fans. It was lambasted for a small fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was particularly vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in production delays. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of fans found value in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
