Everywhere you look, fans are quick to share their rankings of the best releases of 2025. But what about the stinkers, the failures? It's time to take a momentary detour to recognize the absolute worst games of the year, according to review aggregator Metacritic. Could each of these games as bad as their scores suggest? We shall see.
10. Switch 2's Welcome Tour
Aggregate Score: 54/100, User Score: 3.4/10
The early response to this pack-in experience were shaped by its $9.99 price tag, with many feeling cheesed off it wasn't a complimentary title like some other console launches. Professional assessment spanned a wide spectrum, from "crushing disappointment" to more generous reviews that noted the delightful software itself. In spite of the debate, 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 "beyond a racing game," this vroom-vroom title from studios in Germany and Poland received pretty unanimous reviews. The consensus was that the game was lacking in key areas, notably in a year packed with excellent racing games. For many, this disappointing sim was advised to be left on the shelf.
8. Bubsy in: The Purrfect Collection
Aggregate Score: 53/100, User Score: 8.6/10
Before we start: the irritating colon usage is a minor annoyance. This collection of 1990s-era platforming games showcases a rude feline known for non-stop quips. Critics observed that these games were mediocre originally and haven't gotten better with age. The notably positive user score stands as a curious contrast to the critical reception.
7. Hunter x Hunter Fighting Game
Metascore: 53, Audience Score: 3.5
This anime-inspired fighting game was met with harsh criticism from both professionals and fans. Issues included a thin fighter lineup and a minimal offering of content. Fan reaction was particularly vitriolic, with some expressing a wish that the title's failure would be a warning for future projects.
6. Riders Vs Dogoos
Metascore: 51, User Score: 5.3
Based on the anime-style Hyperdimension Neptunia series, this bike-riding title tasks players with collecting cute monsters. Critics argued that its effort to channel a rolling-collection feel didn't land, coming across as more of a low-effort product than a meaningful Neptunia game. Its 3-hour duration combined with a full retail cost was criticized.
5. Captain Blood
Metascore: 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 production delays. The publishers opted to keep the game as an period-accurate artifact of its time, fully aware that modern gamers might criticize its dated design. As such, many reviews remarked that the fascinating story of its development was far richer than the game itself.
4. Salvation
Metascore: 44, Audience Score: 2.4
This anime-styled action game drawing from games like *Returnal* failed to impress with critics. Common complaints were bland enemy design, repetitive levels, and a unengaging plot. A controversial mechanic involving the protagonist's clothing was widely panned and took away from the game's potential charm.
3. Ambulance Life: A Paramedic Simulator
Aggregate Score: 44, User Score: 4.9
Imagine the engaging medical sims of the past, then take out the memorable characters. That, according to reviews, is roughly *Ambulance Life*. Players found the emergency response sections to be monotonous, and the narrative's handling of mental health topics was criticized as being insensitive. The overall experience was deemed a missed opportunity.
2. Tamagotchi Plaza
Aggregate Score: 43, User Score: 5.8
This departure from the classic digital companion formula transforms the franchise into a shopping simulation title. The result, based on critics, was a unsatisfying collection of basic activities that very soon overstayed its welcome. Some reviews went so far as to label it one of the worst titles available on its platform, pointing to a complete absence of satisfying gameplay.
1. MindsEye
Aggregate Score: 37, Audience Score: 2.5
Intended to be a blockbuster open-world action game from a studio led by experienced developers, *MindsEye* was a spectacular critical flop. Reviews savaged its weak action, dull missions, and a host of game-breaking glitches. Several found it to be a significant step back compared to much older games in the similar style. Among the sea of negativity, a few of fans found something to enjoy in the experience, serving as a rare counterpoint.
