Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder appraisals that noted the charming software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year packed with stellar racing experiences. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing colon usage is a silly strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a rude feline known for incessant quips. Critics observed that these games were not good to begin with and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score stands as a baffling contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired brawler encountered harsh criticism from both professionals and players. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a unique gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the mid-2000s, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to release the game as an original product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's potential charm.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a plethora of technical problems. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found value in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
