Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are quick to share their lists of the greatest releases of 2025. But what about the disasters, the low achievers? We'll take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder reviews that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a strong digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was better off left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward colon usage is a minor strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era Bubsy titles revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with significant backlash from both reviewers and players. It was lambasted for a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful series entry. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the tale of its journey was more interesting than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of its subject matter was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This new direction for the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of basic activities that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a major open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a tiny number of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a lonely counterpoint.
