Across the internet, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their selections of the best releases of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to more generous appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, notably in a year featuring excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward punctuation is a notable annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for constant quips. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre to begin with and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score remains a peculiar oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered widespread disappointment from both critics and players. Issues included a limited fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was notably negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to mimic a rolling-collection experience was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away 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 mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid series of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a tiny number of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a distinct counterpoint.
