At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their lists of the best titles of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? We'll take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Let's find out.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the delightful software itself. Despite the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "beyond a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in nearly every way, notably in a year featuring excellent racing games. Ultimately, this underwhelming entry was better off left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This anthology of retro platforming games showcases a "attitude"-filled feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good originally and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Issues included a limited character selection and a severe lack of features. User reviews was particularly harsh, with some stating a desire that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up slime-like creatures. The assessment was that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection gameplay loop didn't land, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after nearly two decades in development hell. The publishers made the decision to release the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, accepting that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its journey was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, monotonous stage design, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was widely panned and detracted from the game's enjoyment.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a unsatisfying series of basic activities that quickly became boring. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Arriving as a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews heavily criticized its weak action, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Many found it to be a regression compared to decades-old games in the similar style. Among the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of fans found fun in the experience, serving as a distinct contrast.
