The Worst Games of the Year 2025, Based on Metacritic

Across the internet, gamers are quick to share their lists of the top releases of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? We'll take a few moments to honor the absolute worst games of the year, according to the aggregate scores from Metacritic. Is every one of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? We shall see.

10. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour

Aggregate Score: 54/100, Audience Score: 3.4/10

Initial reactions to this tech demo were heavily influenced by its $9.99 price tag, with many voicing frustration it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Professional assessment was quite mixed, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that noted the delightful software itself. In spite of the controversy, the title proved to be a notable commercial performer during its launch month.

9. Rennsport

Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10

Presented as "more than a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, especially in a year featuring excellent racing titles. For many, this disappointing sim was better off left unplayed.

8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection

Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10

Before we start: the awkward title grammar is a minor strike against it. This compilation of SNES and PS1 platforming games features a rude feline known for incessant hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre in their time and haven't gotten better with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling contrast to the critical reception.

7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact

Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5

This anime-inspired brawler encountered significant backlash from both critics and fans. Complaints centered on a limited roster of characters and a minimal offering of features. Player sentiment was particularly harsh, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would serve as a lesson for future projects.

6. Riders Vs Dogoos

Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3

Based on the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to mimic a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.

5. Captain Blood

Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3

This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, launched after a very long time in development hell. The team behind it opted to preserve the game as an authentic product of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the tale of its resurrection was more compelling than the game itself.

4. Scar-Lead Salvation

Metascore: 44, User Score: 2.4

This anime-art roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues included bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the outfit degradation was universally disliked and detracted from the game's overall experience.

3. Paramedic Simulator

Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9

Imagine the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the compelling story. That, according to reviews, is pretty much *Ambulance Life*. Players found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.

2. Tamagotchi Plaza

Metascore: 43, User Score: 5.8

This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a dull collection of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the most disappointing titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of engaging content.

1. MindsEye

Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5

Positioned as a major GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews heavily criticized its lousy combat, boring plot, and a plethora of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Among the sea of negativity, a small handful of optimistic players found something to enjoy in the experience, offering a lonely counterpoint.