At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their selections of the top games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon received largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game felt unfinished in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring high-quality racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a silly strike against it. This collection of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to channel a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The developers made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull assortment of basic activities that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing 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 major GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, providing a rare vote of confidence.
