Everywhere you look, enthusiasts are eagerly sharing their lists of the best games of 2025. However, what of the disasters, the underperformers? Let's take a few moments to examine the absolute worst games of the year, based on the critical consensus on Metacritic. Could each of these games as disappointing as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
Initial reactions to this tech demo were colored by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a complimentary title like competing console launches. Reviewer sentiment varied dramatically, from "crushing disappointment" to slightly kinder reviews that highlighted the charming software underneath the controversy. Despite the controversy, the title proved to be a notable seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Billed as "more than a racing game," this driving sim from Competition Company and Teyon was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in key areas, especially in a year featuring high-quality racing experiences. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the irritating title grammar is a silly annoyance. This anthology of SNES and PS1 platforming games showcases a rude feline known for constant jokes. Critics observed that these games were not good in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score remains a baffling contrast to the Metascore.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* fighting game encountered harsh criticism from both reviewers and players. Issues included a limited character selection and a severe lack of features. User reviews was notably harsh, with some expressing a wish that the title's flop would have consequences for similar releases.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Aggregate Score: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
A part of the niche Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this motorcycle action game tasks players with rounding up cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to channel a unique experience didn't land, coming across as more of a cash grab than a substantial series entry. Its short length combined with a $40 price tag seemed like a bold choice.
5. Captain Blood
Aggregate Score: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a curious artifact from the mid-2000s, finally released after nearly two decades in production delays. The publishers consciously chose to preserve the game as an authentic artifact of its time, accepting that contemporary players might criticize its old-school mechanics. As such, many reviews concluded that the fascinating story of its development was more compelling than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled roguelike shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* fell flat with critics. The main issues centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a snoozy narrative. A much-criticized system involving the outfit degradation was seen as adding nothing and detracted from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the tense medical sims of the past, then remove the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be a slog, and the treatment of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed largely unsatisfying.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Metascore: 43, Audience Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic virtual pet formula makes the franchise into a town-management title. The result, per critics, was a unsatisfying assortment of repetitive tasks that very soon grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to call it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a major GTA-style title from a studio led by industry veterans, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, boring plot, and a multitude of technical problems. Critics found it to be a regression compared to much older games in the same genre. Amidst the overwhelming criticism, a tiny number of positive user reviews found value in the experience, providing a lonely vote of confidence.
