Across the internet, gamers are eagerly sharing their lists of the best games of 2025. However, what of the flops, the underperformers? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Are all of these games truly as terrible as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a bundled game like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that praised the delightful software itself. Regardless of the grumbling, the title proved to be a strong seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "not just a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland garnered pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, notably in a year packed with stellar racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Metascore: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a minor annoyance. This collection of retro mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were not good in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, User Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game faced harsh criticism from both reviewers and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin character selection and a dearth of content. User reviews was especially vitriolic, with some voicing a hope that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting Dogoos. Critics argued that its attempt to channel a unique feel 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
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, launched after nearly two decades in production delays. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an authentic experience of its time, accepting that today's audiences might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews concluded that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the game itself.
4. Scar-Lead Salvation
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter inspired by games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. Frequent criticisms included repetitive adversaries, monotonous stage design, and a forgettable story. A much-criticized system involving the character's attire was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Think of the engaging surgery games of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be tedious and repetitive, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula turns the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, according to critics, was a vapid collection 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, pointing to a profound lack of engaging content.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a high-profile GTA-style title from a team featuring well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Despite the scathing reviews, a few of optimistic players found value in the experience, offering a distinct vote of confidence.
