Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best games of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 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 free pack-in like some other console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous takes that praised the delightful software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon was met with largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year featuring stellar racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a notable annoyance. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles features a sarcastic feline known for incessant quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well to begin with and haven't gotten better with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was notably harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's poor performance would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, launched after years and years in legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an original experience of its time, accepting that contemporary players might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks 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, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
