Across the internet, gamers are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the top games of 2025. However, what of the stinkers, the low achievers? It's time to take a moment to honor the absolute worst games of the year, based on review aggregator Metacritic. Is every one of these games as bad as the ratings suggest? Let's find out.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a free pack-in like competing console launches. Critical opinion spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to somewhat forgiving takes that highlighted the delightful software itself. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with pretty unanimous reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year filled with high-quality racing games. In the eyes of critics, this underwhelming entry was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy's Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
First things first: the confusing punctuation is a silly annoyance. This collection of SNES and PS1 Bubsy titles revives a rude feline known for non-stop jokes. Reviewers noted that these games were mediocre originally and have not improved with age. The notably positive user score stands as a peculiar anomaly to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game was met with widespread disappointment from both professionals and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a minimal offering of features. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Reviewers felt that its effort to channel a rolling-collection experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a premium price seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, User Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the mid-2000s, seeing the light of day after a very long time in development hell. The publishers made the decision to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, acknowledging that contemporary players might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the interesting history of its resurrection was far richer than the end product.
4. Scar-Lead
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. The main issues were repetitive adversaries, repetitive levels, and a snoozy narrative. A controversial mechanic involving the character's attire was widely panned and detracted from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the core gameplay loop to be a slog, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being tone-deaf. The overall experience was deemed not very compelling.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula transforms the franchise into a town-management title. The result, according to critics, was a dull series of simple minigames that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, citing a dearth of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster GTA-style title from a ex-Rockstar veteran's well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic disappointment. Reviews savaged its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a multitude of horrendous bugs. Many found it to be a significant step back compared to previous-generation games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a small handful of positive user reviews found something to enjoy in the experience, providing a rare contrast.
