At every turn, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder takes that praised the charming software itself. In spite 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
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game fell short in key areas, notably in a year filled with excellent racing titles. For many, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing colon usage is a minor annoyance. This compilation of 1990s-era mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Critics observed that these games haven't aged well in their time and have not improved with age. The improbably high user score is a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. Issues included a small fighter lineup and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably negative, with some stating a wish that the title's failure would have consequences for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its effort to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic experience of its time, fully aware that today's audiences might not appreciate its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its development was more interesting than the actual gameplay.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of simple minigames that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many 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 value in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
