At every turn, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their rankings of the top releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving appraisals that praised the delightful software underneath the controversy. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing games. Ultimately, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward colon usage is a minor point of contention. This anthology of retro Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score remains a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a small roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's flop would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its effort to mimic a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, seeing the light of day after years and years in production delays. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was universally disliked and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, citing a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
