Across the internet, fans are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that highlighted the polished software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from European developers garnered largely negative reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, particularly in a year featuring excellent racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating punctuation is a silly annoyance. This compilation of retro mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score is a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin fighter lineup and a severe lack of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably negative, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would have consequences for the developers.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection gameplay loop ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a cash grab than a worthy series entry. Its short length combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it opted to release the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the tale of its resurrection was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a vapid series of basic activities that very soon became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, citing a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile crime saga from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its poor shooting mechanics, boring plot, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
