At every turn, fans are eagerly sharing their lists of the best releases of 2025. Yet, where are the stinkers, the low achievers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by the critical consensus on Metacritic. Are all of these games as disappointing as the reviews suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Critical opinion varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving appraisals that highlighted the polished software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a strong commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from Competition Company and Teyon garnered overwhelmingly poor reviews. Reviews pointed out that the game fell short in almost every category, notably in a year filled with high-quality racing experiences. Ultimately, this disappointing sim was best left unplayed.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating title grammar is a notable strike against it. This anthology of 1990s-era platforming games features a "attitude"-filled feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. Reviewers noted that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the Metascore.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both professionals and the dedicated community. Complaints centered on a thin roster of characters and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was particularly negative, with some stating a hope that the title's flop would serve as a lesson for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its goal to recreate a unique gameplay loop was unsuccessful, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its short length combined with a premium price raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after years and years in production delays. The developers consciously chose to keep the game as an original artifact of its time, acknowledging that today's audiences might dislike its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its resurrection was more compelling than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter modeled after games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. The main issues centered on repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the tense surgery games of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is essentially *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of its subject matter was criticized as being poorly executed. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This shift away from the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of simple minigames that rapidly overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a ex-Rockstar veteran's industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a notable critical flop. Reviews universally panned its lousy combat, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Despite the overwhelming criticism, a small handful of optimistic players found fun in the experience, offering a rare counterpoint.
