Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 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 expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the debate, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially negative, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to recreate a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an original artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its development was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of basic activities that quickly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a few of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely vote of confidence.
