At every turn, enthusiasts are foaming at the mouth to post their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to honor the absolute worst games of the year, as determined by review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? Here is the list.
10. Welcome Tour for Switch 2
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response 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 some other console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from scathing critiques to somewhat forgiving takes that praised the polished software itself. Regardless of the controversy, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust commercial performer during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 3.2/10
Marketed as "more than a racing game," this simulation from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. Critics noted that the game felt unfinished in almost every category, particularly in a year packed with stellar racing titles. In the eyes of critics, this disappointing sim was better off left on the shelf.
8. The Purrfect Bubsy Collection
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
To begin with: the awkward punctuation is a notable point of contention. This anthology of retro mascot platformers revives a sarcastic feline known for non-stop hacky one-liners. The consensus was that these games haven't aged well in their time and feel dated with age. The notably positive user score is a curious oddity to the professional reviews.
7. Nen x Impact
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This *Hunter x Hunter* brawler faced harsh criticism from both critics and the dedicated community. It was lambasted for a thin roster of characters and a dearth of gameplay modes. User reviews was notably vitriolic, with some voicing a desire that the title's flop would be a warning for the developers.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this vehicle combat game tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Critics argued that its goal to recreate a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a quick spin-off than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its brief runtime combined with a $40 price tag raised eyebrows.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the Xbox era, launched after a very long time in legal limbo. The team behind it opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, accepting that modern gamers might dislike its dated design. As such, many reviews noted that the fascinating story of its journey was far richer than the actual gameplay.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game inspired by games like *Returnal* disappointed with critics. Common complaints centered on bland enemy design, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was universally disliked and took away from the game's overall experience.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Think of the strategic medical sims of the past, then remove the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the ambulance-driving sequences to be monotonous, 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 new direction for the classic digital companion formula makes the franchise into a minigame collection title. The result, according to critics, was a dull assortment of simple minigames that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the lowest-quality titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a high-profile open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a catastrophic critical flop. Reviews universally panned its poor shooting mechanics, uninspired storytelling, and a host of horrendous bugs. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Despite the sea of negativity, a tiny number of optimistic players found value in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
