Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the top titles of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 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 complimentary title like competing console launches. Critical opinion was quite mixed, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous appraisals that noted the polished software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year filled with stellar racing experiences. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left unplayed.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the irritating colon usage is a minor point of contention. This collection of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced harsh criticism from both critics and players. Complaints centered on a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some expressing a hope that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the past, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The publishers consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the interesting history of its resurrection was more interesting than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game drawing from games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the strategic medical sims of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal 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 shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of basic activities that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major crime saga from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a spectacular disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a rare contrast.
