Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their rankings of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? Let's take a few moments to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Is every one of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped 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 harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this driving sim from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring stellar racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was best left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a notable strike against it. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well to begin with and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a baffling oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighter was met with harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Complaints centered on a small character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Fan reaction was particularly harsh, with some expressing a hope that the title's failure would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its brief runtime combined with a full retail cost seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience 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 legal limbo. The developers opted to release the game as an authentic product of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms centered on uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the treatment of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a vapid collection of repetitive tasks that rapidly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of technical problems. Many found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of positive user reviews found value in the experience, serving as a lonely contrast.
