Everywhere you look, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the greatest games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the low achievers? We'll take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo 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 was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "not just a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from Competition Company and Teyon garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in almost every category, especially in a year packed with high-quality racing titles. For many, this sputtering stinker was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward title grammar is a minor annoyance. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop quips. The consensus was that these games were not good originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based brawler was met with widespread disappointment from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a minimal offering of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's poor performance would have consequences for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to channel a unique feel didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial addition to the franchise. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after years and years in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic experience of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might not appreciate its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled third-person shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the core gameplay loop to be tedious and repetitive, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, per critics, was a dull series of basic activities that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a blockbuster crime saga from a team featuring experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare contrast.
