Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best titles of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing title grammar is a silly strike against it. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The improbably high user score stands as a curious contrast to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighter faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. It was lambasted for a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was notably harsh, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an period-accurate product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its journey was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a forgettable story. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then strip away the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a town-management title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to much older games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct contrast.
