At every turn, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best titles of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Let's find out.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. In spite of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon received pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a minor annoyance. This compilation of retro Bubsy titles features a rude feline known for constant quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a dearth of features. Player sentiment was notably negative, with some stating a wish that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Critics argued that its attempt to recreate a *Katamari Damacy*-like gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, seeing the light of day after years and years in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to release the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
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, per critics, was a vapid assortment of repetitive tasks that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
