Everywhere you look, gamers are eagerly sharing their selections of the top games of 2025. But what about the disasters, the underperformers? It's time to take a moment to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as the reviews suggest? We shall see.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from European developers was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in key areas, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the confusing punctuation is a silly annoyance. This compilation of retro platforming games revives a "attitude"-filled feline known for incessant jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious oddity to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of content. Fan reaction was especially negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Hailing from the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its attempt to mimic a *Katamari Damacy*-like feel was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a resurrected relic from the Xbox era, finally released after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it consciously chose to keep the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might dislike its retro feel. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its journey was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Frequent criticisms were uninspired foes, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A particular feature involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the tense surgery games of the past, then take out the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull series of basic activities that rapidly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Critics found it to be a downgrade compared to previous-generation games in the same genre. Amidst the scathing reviews, a few of fans found fun in the experience, providing a lonely contrast.
