At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their selections of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games truly as terrible as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this showcase title were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the charming software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year packed with stellar racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a minor strike against it. This compilation of 1990s-era platforming games features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a curious contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a dearth of content. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some stating a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an original product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on uninspired foes, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the engaging medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying series of repetitive tasks that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major crime saga from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Despite the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
