At every turn, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the delightful software itself. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing titles. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating punctuation is a minor annoyance. This anthology of 1990s-era mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a limited character selection and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its goal to channel a unique feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The developers consciously chose to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Common complaints were repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
