Across the internet, enthusiasts are quick to share their rankings of the best games of 2025. But what about the flops, the underperformers? Let's take a momentary detour to examine the absolute worst games of the year, according to 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
Metascore: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
First impressions to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many expressing disappointment it wasn't a free pack-in like similar console launches. Professional assessment varied dramatically, from harsh disappointment to slightly kinder takes that praised the charming software underneath the controversy. Regardless of the debate, the title proved to be a surprisingly robust digital seller during its launch month.
9. Rennsport
Metascore: 53/100, Audience Score: 3.2/10
Presented as "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland was met with overwhelmingly poor reviews. The consensus was that the game fell short in nearly every way, particularly in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this sputtering stinker was better off left in the garage.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, Audience Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the awkward colon usage is a silly point of contention. This compilation of 1990s-era Bubsy titles showcases a sarcastic feline known for constant quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre in their time and have not improved with age. The surprisingly strong user score stands as a curious anomaly to the professional reviews.
7. Hunter x Hunter: Nen x Impact
Aggregate Score: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This manga-based fighting game encountered widespread disappointment from both reviewers and fans. Issues included a thin character selection and a severe lack of gameplay modes. Player sentiment was especially negative, with some expressing a desire that the title's poor performance would be a warning for similar releases.
6. Neptunia Motorcycle Game
Metascore: 51, Audience Score: 5.3
Hailing from the quirky Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with gathering slime-like creatures. Reviewers felt that its goal to channel a unique experience ultimately fell flat, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a worthy Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a $40 price tag was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 50, Audience Score: 5.3
This title is a piece of lost media from the past, seeing the light of day after nearly two decades in development hell. The team behind it made the decision to keep the game as an period-accurate experience of its time, acknowledging that modern gamers might not appreciate its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the end product.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-art third-person shooter drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints included uninspired foes, samey environments, and a forgettable story. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was seen as adding nothing and took away from the game's enjoyment.
3. Paramedic Simulator
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 4.9
Recall the tense medical sims of the past, then strip away the satisfying gameplay. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Reviewers found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the story's portrayal of serious themes was criticized as being insensitive. 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 unsatisfying collection of repetitive tasks that quickly grew tiresome. Some reviews went so far as to declare it one of the worst titles available on its platform, noting a profound lack of depth.
1. MindsEye
Metascore: 37, User Score: 2.5
Positioned as a major open-world action game from a studio led by well-known figures, *MindsEye* was a notable commercial failure. Reviews universally panned its weak action, uninspired storytelling, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a downgrade compared to decades-old games in the action genre. Amidst the sea of negativity, a few of optimistic players found fun in the experience, providing a rare counterpoint.
