Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the top titles of 2025. Yet, where are the disasters, the failures? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this showcase title were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like similar console launches. Reviewer sentiment spanned a wide spectrum, from scathing critiques to slightly kinder appraisals that highlighted the polished software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a notable digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from European developers garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game was lacking in key areas, particularly in a year featuring stellar racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was advised to be left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the awkward title grammar is a notable point of contention. This compilation of retro mascot platformers features a sarcastic feline known for incessant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a baffling anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Issues included a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some expressing a hope that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering Dogoos. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful series entry. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after a very long time in development hell. The publishers opted to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art action game modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A particular feature involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and undermined the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then strip away the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Critics found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the narrative's handling of its subject matter 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 makes the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a dearth of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular commercial failure. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the similar style. Among the scathing reviews, a small handful of fans found value in the experience, serving as a lonely vote of confidence.
