Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the top games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a bundled game like some other console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving reviews that noted the delightful software itself. In spite of the grumbling, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers received overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, notably in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this sputtering stinker was best left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a silly strike against it. This collection of retro Bubsy titles showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score is a peculiar oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Complaints centered on a thin character selection and a minimal offering of content. User reviews was particularly negative, with some stating a hope that the title's failure would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. The assessment was that its attempt to channel a rolling-collection feel ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, finally released after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that today's audiences might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints included repetitive adversaries, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be tedious and repetitive, 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, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull collection of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile open-world action game from a team featuring industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic commercial failure. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, dull missions, and a plethora of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Despite the scathing reviews, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, providing a distinct vote of confidence.
