Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game was lacking in nearly every way, especially in a year featuring excellent racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a silly point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler encountered significant backlash from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a small roster of characters and a dearth of content. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a *Katamari Damacy*-like experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful addition to the franchise. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in production delays. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Recall the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare vote of confidence.
